Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

Communication methods and an apparatus, which can be applied to bistatic sensing for transmitting a first signal for sensing and a second signal for reference path measurement to improve the accuracy of a target ranging result and improve sensing precision. A method comprises: a first communication apparatus transmits to a second communication apparatus first configuration information, which is used for configuring the transmission of a first signal and second signal within a first time period, and transmits the first signal for sensing and the second signal for reference path measurement, so that the second communication apparatus can receive an echo signal of the first signal and the second signal on the basis of the first configuration information, also obtain, on the basis of the echo signal of the first signal, a time delay (representing the distance to a target) corresponding to a reflection path, and obtain, on the basis of the second signal, a time delay corresponding to a reference path, so as to eliminate, on the basis of the two time delays, adverse effects of a time synchronization error between the transmitting end and the receiving end on the time delay corresponding to the reflection path, thus improving the accuracy of a target ranging result, and improving sensing precision.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on January 19, 2024, with application number 202410083381.8 and application name “A Communication Method and Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. Background Art

[0003] Communication-aware integration is a key technology in next-generation wireless communication networks, aiming to integrate wireless communication and awareness functions into a single system. This integration leverages the various propagation characteristics of wireless signals to achieve sensing functions such as target positioning, detection, imaging, and identification. It also captures information about the surrounding physical environment, taps into communication capabilities, and enhances the user experience.

[0004] Depending on whether the device sending the sensing signal and the device receiving the echo signal generated by the sensing signal are the same, sensing modes can be divided into single-station sensing and dual-station sensing. In dual-station sensing mode, the device sending the sensing signal and the device receiving the echo signal are two different devices. However, since time synchronization errors often exist between these two different devices, this can affect sensing performance. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and device that can improve the accuracy of target ranging results and enhance perception precision.

[0006] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by a first communication device, or by a component of the first communication device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system of the first communication device, or by a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first communication device. The method includes: sending first configuration information, the first configuration information including first information and second information, the first information being used to configure the transmission of a first signal for sensing within a first time period, and the second information being used to configure the transmission of a second signal for reference path measurement within the first time period; sending the first signal within the first time period; and sending the second signal within the first time period.

[0007] Based on this solution, the first communication device sends first configuration information to the second communication device to configure the transmission of the first signal and the second signal within the first time period, and sends the first signal for perception and the second signal for reference path measurement, so that the receiving end can receive the echo signal and the second signal of the first signal according to the first configuration information, thereby obtaining the delay corresponding to the reflection path (reflecting the distance of the target) according to the echo signal of the first signal, and obtaining the delay corresponding to the reference path according to the second signal, and then eliminating the adverse effect of the time synchronization error between the transmitting and receiving ends on the delay corresponding to the reflection path based on these two delays, thereby improving the accuracy of the target ranging result and enhancing the perception accuracy. In addition, the first configuration information carries the configuration information of the first signal for perception and the configuration information of the second signal for reference path measurement at the same time, thereby saving air interface resources.

[0008] In one possible design, sending a first signal within a first time period includes: sending the first signal within the first time period using a first spatial domain filter, where the first spatial domain filter is used for perception.

[0009] In one possible design, sending the second signal within the first time period includes: sending the second signal within the first time period using a second spatial domain filter, where the second spatial domain filter is used for measuring the reference path.

[0010] Based on this possible design, within the first time period, the first communication device uses a first spatial domain filter for perception to send a first signal, which can concentrate the energy of the first signal in a smaller spatial range, that is, the area that needs to be perceived (detected), thereby improving the quality and reliability of the first signal, reducing interference and energy consumption, and thus improving the perception accuracy; the first communication device uses a second spatial domain filter for reference path measurement to send a second signal, which can concentrate the energy of the second signal in a smaller spatial range, that is, the antenna panel area of ​​the second communication device, thereby improving the quality and reliability of the second signal, reducing interference and energy consumption, and thus improving the accuracy of reference path measurement.

[0011] In one possible design, the communication method further includes: sending at least one of the following: fourth information, or fifth information, the fourth information is used to indicate the starting time unit of the first time period, and the fifth information is used to trigger the sending of the second signal.

[0012] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by a second communication device, or by a component of the second communication device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system of the second communication device. The method can also be implemented by a logic module or software that implements all or part of the functions of the second communication device. The method includes: receiving first configuration information, the first configuration information including first information and second information, the first information being used to configure the transmission of a first signal for sensing within a first time period, and the second information being used to configure the transmission of a second signal for reference path measurement within the first time period; receiving a third signal within the first time period, the third signal being an echo signal of the first signal; and receiving the second signal within the first time period.

[0013] Based on this solution, within a first time period, the second communication device receives first configuration information from the first communication device, which is used to configure the transmission of the first signal and the second signal within the first time period, and receives the echo signal of the first signal for perception from the first communication device, as well as the second signal for reference path measurement, according to the first configuration information. Thus, the time delay corresponding to the reflection path (reflecting the distance of the target) can be obtained based on the echo signal of the first signal, and the time delay corresponding to the reference path can be obtained based on the second signal. Furthermore, based on these two time delays, the adverse effects of the time synchronization error between the transceiver and the transmitter on the time delay corresponding to the reflection path are eliminated, thereby improving the accuracy of the target ranging result and enhancing the perception accuracy. In addition, the first configuration information simultaneously carries the configuration information of the first signal for perception and the configuration information of the second signal for reference path measurement, thereby saving air interface resources.

[0014] In one possible design, receiving the third signal within the first time period includes: receiving the third signal within the first time period using a third spatial domain filter, where the third spatial domain filter is used for perception.

[0015] In one possible design, receiving the second signal within the first time period includes: receiving the second signal within the first time period using a fourth spatial domain filter, the fourth spatial domain filter being used for measuring a reference path.

[0016] Based on this possible design, the second communication device uses a third spatial domain filter for perception to receive the third signal, which can concentrate the energy of the third signal in a smaller spatial range, that is, the area that needs to be perceived (detected), thereby improving the quality and reliability of the third signal, reducing interference and energy consumption, and thus improving the perception accuracy; the second communication device uses a fourth spatial domain filter for reference path measurement to receive the second signal, which can concentrate the energy of the second signal in a smaller spatial range, that is, the antenna panel area of ​​the second communication device, thereby improving the quality and reliability of the second signal, reducing interference and energy consumption, and thus improving the accuracy of reference path measurement.

[0017] In one possible design, the communication method further includes: receiving at least one of the following: fourth information, or fifth information, the fourth information is used to indicate the starting time unit of the first time period, and the fifth information is used to trigger the sending of the second signal.

[0018] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in one possible design, the first spatial domain filter belongs to a first spatial domain filter set, the first spatial domain filter set is used for perception, the first spatial domain filter is the spatial domain filter in the first spatial domain filter set that maximizes the power of the third signal, and the first spatial domain filter is associated with the third spatial domain filter.

[0019] Based on this possible design, the first communication device uses the first spatial domain filter that maximizes the power of the third signal to send the first signal, and the second communication device uses the third spatial domain filter associated with the first spatial domain filter to receive the third signal, thereby improving the signal quality of the third signal and enhancing the perception accuracy.

[0020] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in one possible design, the second spatial domain filter belongs to the second spatial domain filter set, the second spatial domain filter set is used for measuring the reference path, the second spatial domain filter is the spatial domain filter in the second spatial domain filter set that makes the reference path power the largest, and the second spatial domain filter is associated with the fourth spatial domain filter.

[0021] Based on this possible design, the first communication device uses a second spatial domain filter that maximizes the reference path power to send the second signal, and the second communication device uses a fourth spatial domain filter associated with the second spatial domain filter to receive the second signal, thereby improving the signal quality of the second signal and thus improving the accuracy of the reference path measurement.

[0022] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in one possible design, the first information indicates at least one of the following: a first spatial domain filter used to send the first signal, the time domain resources occupied by the first signal, the frequency domain resources occupied by the first signal, or a sequence used to generate the first signal, the first spatial domain filter is associated with a third spatial domain filter, and the third spatial domain filter is used to receive the third signal.

[0023] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in one possible design, the second information indicates at least one of the following: a second spatial domain filter used to send the second signal, the time domain resources occupied by the second signal, the frequency domain resources occupied by the second signal, or a sequence used to generate the second signal, the second spatial domain filter is associated with a fourth spatial domain filter, and the fourth spatial domain filter is used to receive the second signal.

[0024] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in one possible design, the first information indicates the first spatial domain filter, including: the first information includes the index of the first spatial domain filter in the first spatial domain filter set, or includes the identifier of the first spatial domain filter.

[0025] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in one possible design, the second information indicates the second spatial domain filter, including: the second information includes the index of the second spatial domain filter in the second spatial domain filter set; or, includes the identifier of the second spatial domain filter.

[0026] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in one possible design, the first information indicates the time domain resources occupied by the first signal, including: the first information includes a first bit map, the bits in the first bit map correspond one-to-one to the time domain symbols in each time unit in the first time period, and the bits in the first bit map indicate whether the time domain symbol corresponding to the bit in each time unit in the first time period is used to carry the first signal.

[0027] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, the first information indicates the time domain resources occupied by the first signal, including: the first information indicates at least one of the following time domain resources: period, number of occupied continuous time domain symbols, time domain starting position or time domain ending position.

[0028] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, the second information indicates the time domain resources occupied by the second signal, including: the second information indicates at least one of the following time domain resources: the number of occupied continuous time domain symbols, the time domain starting position or the time domain ending position.

[0029] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in one possible design, the first information indicates the frequency domain resources occupied by the first signal, including: the first information indicates the frequency domain starting position and / or comb tooth size of the frequency domain resources.

[0030] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, the second information indicates the frequency domain resources occupied by the second signal, including: the second information indicates the frequency domain starting position and / or comb tooth size of the frequency domain resources.

[0031] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in one possible design, the first information indicates a sequence used to generate the first signal, including: the first information indicates at least one of the following for the sequence: a sequence initial value, a root value, or a cyclic shift value.

[0032] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, the second information indicates a sequence used to generate the second signal, including: the second information indicates at least one of the following items used for the sequence: a sequence initial value, a root value, or a cyclic shift value.

[0033] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in one possible design, the first configuration information also includes third information, and the third information indicates the length of the first time period.

[0034] In a third aspect, a communication device is provided for implementing various methods. The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the methods. The modules, units, or means may 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 functions.

[0035] In some possible designs, the communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module may be configured to implement the processing functionality of any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof. The transceiver module may include a receiving module and a transmitting module, respectively configured to implement the receiving functionality and the transmitting functionality of any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof.

[0036] In some possible designs, the transceiver module may be composed of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver or a communication interface.

[0037] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions, and when the processor executes the instructions, the communication device executes the method described in any one of the aspects.

[0038] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a communication interface; the communication interface is used to communicate with a module outside the communication device; the processor is used to execute a computer program or instruction so that the communication device executes the method described in any aspect.

[0039] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: at least one processor; the processor is configured to execute a computer program or instruction stored in a memory, so that the communication device performs the method described in any one of the aspects. The memory may be coupled to the processor, or may be independent of the processor.

[0040] In a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided (for example, the communication device may be a chip or a chip system), which includes a processor for implementing the functions involved in any one of the first to second aspects.

[0041] In some possible designs, the communication device includes a memory for storing necessary program instructions and data.

[0042] In some possible designs, when the device is a chip system, it can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0043] It can be understood that the communication device provided in the third to seventh aspects can be the first communication device of the first aspect, or it can be a module or unit (for example, a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit) in the first communication device that corresponds one-to-one to the method / operation / step / action described in the first aspect, or it can be a module or unit that can be matched with the first communication device, or it can also be a logical node, logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the first communication device; or, the communication device can be the second communication device in the second aspect, or it can be a module or unit (for example, a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit) in the second communication device that corresponds one-to-one to the method / operation / step / action described in the second aspect, or it can be a module or unit that can be matched with the second communication device, or it can also be a logical node, logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the second communication device.

[0044] It can be understood that when the communication device provided in any one of the third to seventh aspects is a chip, the sending action / function of the communication device can be understood as output information, and the receiving action / function of the communication device can be understood as input information.

[0045] In an eighth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, in which a computer program or instruction is stored. When the computer-readable storage medium is run on a communication device, the communication device can execute the method described in any one of the first to second aspects.

[0046] In a ninth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a communication device, enables the communication device to execute the method described in any one of the first to second aspects.

[0047] In a tenth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device is configured to execute the method described in the first aspect and any possible design thereof, and the second communication device is configured to execute the method described in the second aspect and any possible design thereof.

[0048] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in the third aspect to the tenth aspect can refer to the technical effects brought about by different design methods in the first aspect to the second aspect, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a single-station sensing scenario provided by this application;

[0050] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a dual-station sensing scenario provided by this application;

[0051] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a synchronization error suppression method based on a reference path provided by the present application;

[0052] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system provided by the present application;

[0053] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which a reference path signal cannot be received provided by the present application;

[0054] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication system provided by the present application;

[0055] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication system provided by the present application;

[0056] FIG8 is a flow chart of a communication method provided by the present application;

[0057] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of cooperative perception of two network devices provided by the present application;

[0058] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of two network devices cooperating to send and receive a second signal provided by the present application;

[0059] FIG11 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by the present application;

[0060] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of transmission of a first signal and a second signal provided by the present application;

[0061] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of comb teeth of a frequency domain resource provided by the present application;

[0062] FIG14 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0063] FIG15 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by the present application;

[0064] FIG16 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0065] In the description of this 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 this application is merely a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist, 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.

[0066] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means 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 mean: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or plural.

[0067] In addition, to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, the words "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 the words "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or execution order, and the words "first" and "second" do not necessarily mean different.

[0068] In the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner to facilitate understanding.

[0069] It will be understood that the “embodiment” mentioned throughout the specification means that the specific features, structures or characteristics related to the embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Therefore, the various embodiments throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, these specific features, structures or characteristics can be combined in one or more embodiments in any suitable manner. It will be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the sequence number of each process does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiment of the present application.

[0070] It can be understood that in this application, "when" and "if" both mean that corresponding processing will be taken under certain objective circumstances, and do not limit the time, nor do they require any judgment action when implementing, nor do they mean that there are other limitations.

[0071] It is understood that some optional features in the embodiments of the present application may, in certain scenarios, be implemented independently of other features, such as the solution on which they are currently based, to solve corresponding technical problems and achieve corresponding effects. They may also be combined with other features in certain scenarios as needed. Accordingly, the devices provided in the embodiments of the present application may also implement these features or functions accordingly, which will not be described in detail here.

[0072] In this application, unless otherwise specified, the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can refer to each other. In each embodiment of this application, unless otherwise specified and there is no logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other. Different embodiments, and the technical features of each embodiment in each embodiment can be combined to form a new embodiment according to their inherent logical relationships. The embodiments of this application described below do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.

[0073] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, a brief introduction to the relevant technologies of the present application is first given as follows.

[0074] 1) Perception:

[0075] Perception, also known as detection, is used to detect information about targets in a physical environment, such as their location and speed. For example, a transmitter can emit electromagnetic waves, and a receiver can detect targets by receiving echo signals generated by the electromagnetic waves reflecting off the targets.

[0076] 2) Perception signal:

[0077] The perception signal is used to perceive (or detect) information about the perceived target (or target object). The perception signal can also be called a detection signal, linear frequency modulation signal, radar signal, radar perception signal, radar detection signal, or environmental perception signal.

[0078] The sensing signal can be a pulse signal or a signal in a wireless communication system. For example, the sensing signal can be an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal obtained by modulating a specific sequence on a subcarrier. The specific sequence can be any of the following sequences: a ZC (Zadoff-Chu) sequence, a pseudo-random sequence, a predefined sequence, etc.

[0079] Exemplarily, the pseudo-random sequence may be a longest linear feedback shift register sequence (m-sequence for short), or a Gold sequence, etc. The predefined sequence may be a random data symbol, for example, the predefined sequence may be a random data symbol modulated by quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), 16-bit quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), etc.

[0080] 3) Communication signal:

[0081] Communication signals are used for communication between communication devices. For example, a communication signal may be a signal carried on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmitted between a network device and a terminal device, or a signal carried on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmitted between a network device and a terminal device, or a signal carried on a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) transmitted between terminal devices.

[0082] 4) Echo signal:

[0083] The echo signal is the signal generated by the sensing signal reflecting off the target. The time delay of the echo signal relative to the sensing signal reflects the target's distance from the transmitter, and the Doppler shift of the echo signal relative to the sensing signal reflects the target's speed.

[0084] 5) Communication and perception integration:

[0085] Communication-aware integration (also known as communication-aware fusion) is a key technology in next-generation wireless communication networks. It aims to integrate wireless communication and awareness functions into a single system. This integration leverages the various propagation characteristics of wireless signals to achieve perception functions such as target positioning, detection, imaging, and identification. It also acquires information about the surrounding physical environment, taps into communication capabilities, and enhances the user experience.

[0086] Depending on whether the device sending the sensing signal and the device receiving the echo signal generated by the sensing signal are the same, sensing modes can be divided into single-station sensing and dual-station sensing. In single-station sensing mode, the device sending the sensing signal and the device receiving the echo signal are the same device; in dual-station sensing mode, the device sending the sensing signal and the device receiving the echo signal are different devices.

[0087] For example, in an integrated perception and communication system, a typical single-station perception scenario includes: a network device spontaneously transmitting and receiving a perception signal as shown in (a) of Figure 1, and a terminal device spontaneously transmitting and receiving a perception signal as shown in (b) of Figure 1. A typical dual-station perception scenario includes: network device #1 transmitting a perception signal and network device #2 receiving an echo signal as shown in (a) of Figure 2; terminal device #1 transmitting a perception signal and terminal device #2 receiving an echo signal as shown in (b) of Figure 2; network device #1 transmitting a perception signal and terminal device #1 receiving an echo signal as shown in (c) of Figure 2; and terminal device #1 transmitting a perception signal and network device #1 receiving an echo signal as shown in (d) of Figure 2.

[0088] However, in dual-station sensing mode, time synchronization errors may exist between the transmitting and receiving devices, reducing sensing performance. Therefore, when processing the echo signal using a signal processing algorithm, a synchronization error suppression method based on a reference path may be used to suppress the time synchronization error between the transmitting and receiving devices.

[0089] For example, as shown in Figure 3, network device #1 sends a sensing signal, which is denoted as s(t). Network device #2 receives the sensing signal sent by network device #1 after being scattered by the environment, which is denoted as r(t). r(t) can be considered as the superposition of the direct path signal (denoted as r1(t)) and the reflected path signal (i.e., the echo signal, denoted as r2(t)). The time synchronization error between network device #1 and network device #2 is denoted as τ. e , the transmission delay of the direct path signal is recorded as τ1, and the transmission delay of the reflected path signal is recorded as τ2. For example, the direct path signal r1(t)=s(t-τ1-τ e ), the reflected path signal r2(t)=s(t-τ2-τ e ). Network device #2 can detect the direct path signal delay by signal processing algorithm and obtain τ1+τ e , the time delay of the reflected path signal is τ2+τ e , subtract the two (i.e. (τ2+τ e )-(τ1+τ e )) can eliminate the synchronization error between the transmitting and receiving ends and obtain the value of τ2-τ1, where τ1 can be calculated based on the distance between network device #1 and network device #2 (for example, τ1 is equal to the distance between network device #1 and network device #2 divided by the speed of light), so that the delay τ2 corresponding to the target distance can be calculated.

[0090] In a fifth-generation (5G) new radio (NR) system, two network devices collaborate for sensing, as shown in Figure 4. The transceiver devices employ beamforming, with network device #1 transmitting a sensing signal using a transmit beam, and network device #2 receiving the echo signal generated by the sensing signal reflecting off a target using a receive beam. The transmit and receive beams are typically directed toward the target to maximize the power of the echo signal, thereby improving target sensing performance. Typically, the synchronization error between two network devices in a 5G network is typically in the tens to hundreds of nanoseconds, and the synchronization error between the network device and the terminal device is typically in the microsecond range, significantly reducing the accuracy of target ranging. However, as shown in Figure 5, when the transceiver devices employ beamforming, network device #2 may not receive the reference path signal, or the received reference path signal may be very weak. This results in network device #2 being unable to accurately obtain the reference path's delay information and unable to mitigate the adverse effects of the synchronization error between the transceiver devices on sensing performance, thereby affecting the accuracy of target ranging results.

[0091] Based on this, this paper proposes a communication method. In a dual-station sensing mode, a first communication device sends first configuration information to a second communication device to configure the transmission of a first signal and a second signal within a first time period. The first signal is sent for sensing, and a second signal is sent for reference path measurement. This allows the second communication device to receive the echo signal and the second signal of the first signal according to the first configuration information. The method then determines the time delay corresponding to the reflection path (reflecting the target distance) based on the echo signal of the first signal, and the time delay corresponding to the reference path based on the second signal. These two time delays eliminate the adverse effects of time synchronization errors between the transmitter and receiver on the time delay corresponding to the reflection path, thereby improving the accuracy of target ranging results and enhancing sensing accuracy. Furthermore, the first configuration information carries both the configuration information of the first signal for sensing and the configuration information of the second signal for reference path measurement, thereby saving air interface resources.

[0092] The technical solution provided in this application can be used in various communication systems, which may be a third generation partnership project (3GPP) communication system, for example, a fourth generation (4G) long term evolution (LTE) system, a 5G NR system, a sixth generation (6G) communication system, a vehicle to everything (V2X) system, a system of hybrid networking of LTE and NR, or a sidelink (SL) communication system, a device-to-device (D2D) system, a machine-to-machine (M2M) communication system, an Internet of Things (IoT), a Bluetooth system, a wireless fidelity (Wifi) system, a long range radio (LoRa) system, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) system, and other next generation communication systems. Alternatively, the communication system may also be a non-3GPP communication system, without limitation.

[0093] Among them, the above-mentioned communication system applicable to the present application is only an example, and the communication system applicable to the present application is not limited to this. It is uniformly described here and will not be repeated below.

[0094] The present application provides an exemplary communication system. The communication system includes a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device and the second communication device have a sensing function, or in other words, the first communication device and the second communication device support sensing.

[0095] The first communication device can serve as a transmitter of a sensing signal, and the second communication device can serve as a receiver of an echo signal. The echo signal is a signal generated by the sensing signal being reflected from a target. For example, the first communication device can be a network device, and the second communication device can be a network device; or, the first communication device can be a terminal device, and the second communication device can be a network device; or, the first communication device can be a network device, and the second communication device can be a terminal device.

[0096] Assume that both the first communication device and the second communication device are network devices. As shown in FIG6(a), network device #1 can send a sensing signal. The sensing signal can be reflected by an object in the environment to form an echo signal. Network device #2 can receive the echo signal.

[0097] Furthermore, the first communication device and / or the second communication device also has a communication function. For example, as shown in FIG6(b), network device #1 sends a communication signal to communicate with communication device A while sending a sensing signal.

[0098] Assume that the first communication device is a network device and the second communication device is a terminal device. As shown in FIG7(a), network device #1 can send a sensing signal. The sensing signal can be reflected by an object in the environment to form an echo signal. Terminal device #1 can receive the echo signal.

[0099] Furthermore, the first communication device and / or the second communication device also has a communication function. For example, as shown in FIG7( b ), network device #1 sends a communication signal to communicate with communication device B while sending a sensing signal.

[0100] Optionally, the first communication device may perform sensing and communication in a time division multiplexing manner, or may perform sensing and communication in other multiplexing manners such as frequency division, space division, and code division.

[0101] The target can be any tangible object in the environment that can reflect electromagnetic waves. For example, the target can be an immovable object such as a mountain, forest, or building, or a movable object such as a vehicle, drone, pedestrian, or terminal device. The target can also be referred to as a perceived target, a detected target, a perceived object, a detected object, or a perceived device, etc., and is not specifically limited in the present embodiments.

[0102] Optionally, the first communication device and the second communication device communicate through an interface protocol between the communication devices. As an example, taking the first communication device and the second communication device as network devices, the first communication device and the second communication device communicate through an interface between the network devices, for example, in a 5G communication system, the interface is an Xn interface. The Xn interface is an interface between a next generation node B (gNodeB or gNB) or an evolutionary base station (eNB or eNodeB) connected to a 5G core network (5G Core, 5GC). As another example, network device #1 and terminal device #1 communicate through an interface between a network device and a terminal device, for example, in a 5G communication system, the interface is an air interface (Uu interface).

[0103] Optionally, a terminal device may refer to a user-side device with wireless transceiver capabilities. A terminal device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), terminal, access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station (MS), remote station, remote terminal, mobile terminal (MT), user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device. The terminal device may be, for example, a terminal device in an SL communication system, IoT, V2X, D2D, M2M, 5G network, or a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN).

[0104] Exemplarily, the terminal device may be an IoT device (e.g., a sensor, an electricity meter, a water meter, etc.), a V2X device, a station (ST) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device (also referred to as a wearable smart device), a tablet computer or a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical care, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a transportation security device, or a wireless terminal device in a smart grid. Safety), wireless terminal devices in smart furniture, wireless terminal devices in smart offices, wireless terminal devices in smart transportation, wireless terminal devices in smart cities, wireless terminal devices in smart homes, robots, vehicle-mounted terminal devices, vehicles with vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication capabilities, intelligent connected vehicles, drones with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication capabilities, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal device.

[0105] Optionally, the network device is a network-side device with wireless transceiver functions, and is also a device that connects a terminal device to a wireless network. It can be an eNB in ​​an LTE or evolved LTE system (LTE-Advanced, LTE-A), such as a traditional macro base station eNB and a micro base station eNB in ​​a heterogeneous network scenario; or it can be a gNB in ​​a 5G system; or it can be one or more transmission reception points (TRPs), and multiple TRPs can be co-located or non-co-located; or it can be a base station in a future evolved PLMN; or it can be a broadband network service gateway (BNG), an aggregation switch or a non-3GPP access device; or it can be a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN); or it can be an access point (AP) in a WiFi system; or it can be a wireless relay node or a wireless backhaul node; or it can be a road side unit (RSU) in a V2X system; or it can be a device that implements base station functions in IoT, D2D, or M2M. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this. Exemplarily, the network devices in the embodiments of the present application may include various forms of base stations, such as: macro base stations, micro base stations (also called small stations), relay stations, access points, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0106] In some possible scenarios, the network device may also be a module or unit that can implement some or all of the functions of a base station. For example, the network device may be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU and a DU, a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU and DU may be configured separately or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU may be included in a radio frequency device or radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0107] 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, the network device may be a network device or a module of a network device in an open radio access network (open RAN, ORAN) system. In the ORAN system, CU may also be referred to as open (open, O)-CU, DU may also be referred to as O-DU, CU-CP may also be referred to as O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be referred to as O-CU-UP, and RU may also be referred to as O-RU. Any of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application may be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0108] Network devices and terminal devices can be fixed or mobile. Network devices and terminal devices can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on water (such as ships); and can also be deployed in the air (such as on airplanes, balloons, and artificial satellites). The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of network devices and terminal devices.

[0109] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, when the first communication device and the second communication device are both network devices, the first communication device and the second communication device may be network devices of the same type or network devices of different types.

[0110] The functions of the network device can also be performed by a module in the network device (such as a chip or chip system), or by a control subsystem that includes the network device function. For example, the control subsystem that includes the network device function here can be a control center in the above-mentioned application scenarios such as smart grid, industrial control, smart transportation, and smart city. The functions of the terminal device can also be performed by a module in the terminal device (such as a chip or chip system or modem), or by a device that includes the terminal device function.

[0111] It should be noted that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present application is intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0112] The communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments of the present application, the method steps executed by the execution subject or each device can be implemented by at least one chip in the execution subject or each device in a specific implementation.

[0113] It is understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the execution subject or each device may perform some or all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application. These steps or operations are merely examples, and the embodiments of the present application may also perform other operations or variations of various operations. In addition, the various steps may be performed in a different order than those presented in the embodiments of the present application, and it is possible that not all operations in the embodiments of the present application need to be performed.

[0114] It should be noted that the message names between the devices or the names of the parameters in the messages in the following embodiments of the present application are only examples. Other names may be used in specific implementations, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0115] As shown in FIG8 , a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application includes the following steps:

[0116] S801: A first communication device sends first configuration information to a second communication device. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the first configuration information from the first communication device.

[0117] The first configuration information includes first information and second information. The first information is used to configure the transmission of a first signal within a first time period, and the first signal is used for sensing. The second information is used to configure the transmission of a second signal within the first time period, and the second signal is used for measuring a reference path. Exemplarily, the measurement of the reference path may include measuring a reference path delay. The reference path may be referred to as a direct path or a direct path, where the reference path signal is not reflected by objects in the environment. The reference path signal may refer to the second signal.

[0118] Optionally, the first information is used to configure the transmission of the first signal within the first time period, which can be understood as: the first information is used to configure the sending of the first signal within the first time period, that is, the second communication device can determine how the first communication device sends the first signal within the first time period (such as the time-frequency resources occupied by the first signal, etc.), or the method of transmitting / sending the first signal (such as the spatial domain filter for sending the first signal, etc.) based on the received first information.

[0119] Optionally, the second information is used to configure the transmission of the second signal within the first time period, which can be understood as: the second information is used to configure the sending of the second signal within the first time period, that is, the second communication device can determine how the first communication device sends the second signal within the first time period (such as the time-frequency resources occupied by the second signal, etc.), or the method of transmitting / sending the second signal (such as the spatial domain filter for sending the second signal, etc.) based on the received second information.

[0120] It is understood that the first time period represents a period of time occupied in the time domain. For example, the first time period may include multiple time domain symbols (such as OFDM symbols), one or more mini-time slots, one or more time slots, one or more subframes, one or more frames, or a period of time predetermined by a protocol. In addition, the first time period may have other names, such as the first duration, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific name of the first time period.

[0121] S802: A first communication device sends a first signal to a second communication device within a first time period. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives a third signal within the first time period, wherein the third signal is an echo signal of the first signal.

[0122] Optionally, the first communication device sends the first signal to the second communication device within the first time period, including: the first communication device uses a first spatial domain filter to send the first signal to the second communication device within the first time period, and the first spatial domain filter is used for perception.

[0123] Exemplarily, the spatial filter in the embodiment of the present application can also be called a beam or spatial transmission filter, and the three can be replaced with each other without limitation.

[0124] Optionally, the first spatial domain filter belongs to a first spatial domain filter set, the first spatial domain filter set is used for perception, and the first spatial domain filter is a spatial domain filter in the first spatial domain filter set that maximizes the power of the third signal. Exemplarily, the power of the third signal may refer to the received power of the third signal.

[0125] As one possible implementation, the first spatial filter set includes multiple spatial filters, each of which points to different regions, or in other words, has different directions. The first communication device can determine which spatial filter in the first spatial filter set to use as the first spatial filter based on the specific region to be sensed. In this case, when the first communication device uses the first spatial filter to send the first signal, the power of the third signal received by the second communication device is the highest.

[0126] For example, the identifiers of the spatial filters included in the first spatial filter set are denoted as {SF#1, SF#2, SF#3}, the spatial filter SF#1 points to area F, the spatial filter SF#2 points to area G, and the spatial filter SF#3 points to area H. For example, if it is necessary to perceive the target in area G, the spatial filter SF#2 is selected as the first spatial filter, and the first communication device uses the spatial filter SF#2 to send a first signal to the second communication device within the first time period. At this time, the second communication device can receive the third signal with maximum power within the first time period.

[0127] Optionally, the second communication device receives the third signal within the first time period, including: the second communication device uses a third spatial domain filter to receive the third signal within the first time period, the third spatial domain filter is used for perception, and the first spatial domain filter is associated with the third spatial domain filter. Exemplarily, when the first communication device uses the first spatial domain filter to send the first signal within the first time period, the power of the third signal received by the second communication device is the largest. This can be understood as: when the first communication device uses the first spatial domain filter to send the first signal within the first time period, and the second communication device uses the third spatial domain filter to receive the third signal within the first time period, the power of the received third signal is the largest.

[0128] As a possible implementation, the association relationship between the first spatial domain filter and the third spatial domain filter is predefined by the protocol, or configured by high-level signaling, or agreed upon by the first communication device and the second communication device, so that the first communication device and the second communication device collaborate to perceive a certain area in the space.

[0129] Exemplarily, the first spatial domain filter and the third spatial domain filter point to the same area. For example, the first spatial domain filter points to area G, and the third spatial domain filter also points to area G. As a possible implementation form, the protocol predefines that the first spatial domain filter is associated with the third spatial domain filter. As shown in Figure 9, taking the first communication device as network device #1 and the second communication device as network device #2 as an example, network device #1 uses the first spatial domain filter to send a first signal to the second communication device within the first time period, and network device #2 uses the third spatial domain filter to receive the third signal within the first time period, thereby maximizing the received power of the third signal.

[0130] Optionally, the third spatial domain filter belongs to a third spatial domain filter set, and the third spatial domain filter set is used for perception. Any spatial domain filter in the first spatial domain filter set is associated with a spatial domain filter in the third spatial domain filter set.

[0131] As a possible implementation, the association relationship between any spatial domain filter in the first spatial domain filter set and a spatial domain filter in the third spatial domain filter is predefined by the protocol, or configured by high-level signaling, or agreed upon by the first communication device and the second communication device.

[0132] For example, taking the identifiers of the spatial filters included in the first spatial filter set as {SF#1, SF#2, SF#3}, the spatial filter SF#1 points to region F, the spatial filter SF#2 points to region G, and the spatial filter SF#3 points to region H, and the identifiers of the spatial filters included in the third spatial filter set as {SF#31, SF#32, SF#33}, the spatial filter SF#31 points to region F, the spatial filter SF#32 points to region G, and the spatial filter SF#33 points to region H as an example, as a possible implementation form, the protocol predefines that the spatial filter SF#1 is associated with the spatial filter SF#31, the spatial filter SF#2 is associated with the spatial filter SF#32, and the spatial filter SF#3 is associated with the spatial filter SF#33.

[0133] Optionally, the first communication device uses a first spatial domain filter to periodically send a first signal to the second communication device within a first time period, and correspondingly, the second communication device uses a third spatial domain filter to periodically receive a third signal within the first time period.

[0134] S803: The first communication device sends a second signal to the second communication device within the first time period. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the second signal from the first communication device within the first time period.

[0135] Optionally, the first communication device sending the second signal to the second communication device within the first time period includes: the first communication device sending the second signal to the second communication device within the first time period using a second spatial domain filter, where the second spatial domain filter is used for measuring the reference path. Exemplarily, the first spatial domain filter is different from the second spatial domain filter.

[0136] Optionally, the second spatial domain filter belongs to a second spatial domain filter set, and the second spatial domain filter set is used for measuring the reference path. The second spatial domain filter is a spatial domain filter in the second spatial domain filter set that maximizes the reference path power. Exemplarily, the reference path power may refer to the received power of the second signal, and the maximum reference path power may be understood as the maximum reference path signal power or the maximum second signal power.

[0137] As one possible implementation, the second spatial domain filter set includes multiple spatial domain filters, each of which points to different areas, or in other words, has different directions. The first communication device can select a spatial domain filter pointing to the antenna panel area of ​​the second communication device as the second spatial domain filter. In this case, when the first communication device uses the second spatial domain filter to send the second signal, the power of the second signal received by the second communication device is maximized.

[0138] Optionally, the second communication device receives the second signal from the first communication device within the first time period, including: the second communication device uses a fourth spatial domain filter to receive the second signal from the first communication device within the first time period, the fourth spatial domain filter is used for measuring the reference path, and the second spatial domain filter is associated with the fourth spatial domain filter. Exemplarily, when the first communication device uses the second spatial domain filter to send the second signal within the first time period, the power of the second signal received by the second communication device is the largest. This can be understood as: when the first communication device uses the second spatial domain filter to send the second signal within the first time period, and the second communication device uses the fourth spatial domain filter to receive the second signal within the first time period, the power of the received second signal is the largest.

[0139] Exemplarily, the second spatial domain filter is directed toward the antenna panel area of ​​the second communication device, and the fourth spatial domain filter is directed toward the antenna panel area of ​​the first communication device. The second spatial domain filter is associated with the fourth spatial domain filter and is used for reference path measurement. Exemplarily, the third spatial domain filter is different from the fourth spatial domain filter.

[0140] As a possible implementation, the association relationship between the second spatial domain filter and the fourth spatial domain filter is predefined by the protocol, or configured by high-level signaling, or agreed upon by the first communication device and the second communication device, so that the first communication device and the second communication device collaborate to measure the reference path.

[0141] As one possible implementation, the protocol predefines an association between the second spatial domain filter and the fourth spatial domain filter. As shown in Figure 10, taking network device #1 as the first communication device and network device #2 as the second communication device, network device #1 uses the second spatial domain filter to send a second signal to the second communication device during a first time period. Network device #2 uses the fourth spatial domain filter to receive the second signal during the first time period, thereby maximizing the received power of the second signal.

[0142] Optionally, the fourth spatial domain filter belongs to a fourth spatial domain filter set, and the fourth spatial domain filter set is used for measuring the reference path.

[0143] As a possible implementation, the association relationship between any spatial domain filter in the second spatial domain filter set and a spatial domain filter in the fourth spatial domain filter is predefined by the protocol, or configured by high-level signaling, or agreed upon by the first communication device and the second communication device.

[0144] For example, taking the example of the spatial filter included in the second spatial filter set being identified as {SF#21} and the spatial filter included in the fourth spatial filter set being identified as {SF#41}, as a possible implementation form, the protocol predefines that the spatial filter SF#21 is associated with the spatial filter SF#41.

[0145] Exemplarily, taking the second spatial filter set including the spatial filters identified as {SF#21, SF#22} and the fourth spatial filter set including the spatial filters identified as {SF#41, SF#42} as an example, as a possible implementation form, the protocol predefines spatial filter SF#21 to be associated with spatial filter SF#41, and spatial filter SF#22 to be associated with spatial filter SF#42. Taking SF#21 pointing to the antenna panel area of ​​the second communication device and SF#41 pointing to the antenna panel area of ​​the first communication device as an example, during the transmission of the second signal, the first communication device uses spatial filter SF#21 to send the second signal, and the second communication device uses spatial filter SF#41 to receive the second signal with the maximum signal strength.

[0146] Optionally, the first spatial domain filter set and the second spatial domain filter set may be the same or different, and the third spatial domain filter set and the fourth spatial domain filter set may be the same or different.

[0147] Optionally, the first communication device uses a second spatial domain filter to non-periodically send a second signal to the second communication device within the first time period. Correspondingly, the second communication device uses a fourth spatial domain filter to non-periodically receive the second signal from the first communication device within the first time period. It should be noted that there is no strict order between the above steps S802 and S803. Step S803 can be performed first, and then step S802; or, step S802 can be performed first and then step S803; or, step S803 and step S802 can be performed simultaneously, and this application does not make any specific restrictions on this.

[0148] Optionally, the second communication device can perceive the target in the environment based on the third signal, and combine the third signal with the second signal to suppress the time synchronization error between the first communication device and the second communication device, and eliminate the adverse effects of the time synchronization error on the perception results, thereby obtaining perception information of the target in the environment, such as the position and speed of the target.

[0149] For example, the time synchronization error between the first communication device and the second communication device is denoted as τ e , the transmission delay of the reference path is recorded as τ1, and the transmission delay of the reflection path signal is recorded as τ2. For example, the second communication device can sense the target based on the third signal and obtain the delay corresponding to the reflection path, which is τ2+τ e The second communication device can also measure the reference path based on the second signal to obtain the delay corresponding to the reference path, that is, τ1+τ e, then subtracting the time delay corresponding to the reflection path from the time delay corresponding to the reference path can eliminate the time synchronization error between the first communication device and the second communication device, and obtain the value of τ2-τ1, where τ1 is equal to the distance between the first communication device and the second communication device divided by the speed of light, so that the time delay τ2 corresponding to the target distance can be calculated.

[0150] Based on this solution, in the dual-station perception mode, the first communication device sends first configuration information to the second communication device to configure the transmission of the first signal and the second signal within the first time period, and sends the first signal for perception, and the second signal for reference path measurement, so that the second communication device can receive the echo signal and the second signal of the first signal according to the first configuration information, and can also obtain the delay corresponding to the reflection path (reflecting the distance of the target) according to the echo signal of the first signal, and obtain the delay corresponding to the reference path according to the second signal, and then eliminate the adverse effect of the time synchronization error between the transceiver and the transmitter on the delay corresponding to the reflection path based on these two delays, thereby improving the accuracy of the target ranging result and enhancing the perception accuracy. In addition, the first configuration information carries the configuration information of the first signal for perception and the configuration information of the second signal for reference path measurement at the same time, thereby saving air interface resources.

[0151] In a possible implementation, the first configuration information further includes third information, where the third information indicates the length of the first time period. Exemplarily, the third information indicates the number of time units included in the first time period.

[0152] For example, the time unit in this application may be a mini-time slot, an aggregated time slot, a subframe, a time unit agreed upon in a protocol, etc. A radio frame may include multiple subframes, each subframe may include multiple time slots, and each time slot may include multiple time domain symbols. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific name of the time unit.

[0153] As a possible implementation, the third information includes at least one bit, and the number of time units included in the first time period is the number corresponding to the value of the at least one bit.

[0154] Exemplarily, taking the time unit as the time slot, the third information includes 4 bits, and the values ​​of the 4 bits correspond to the number of time slots included in the first time period. The correspondence between the two is shown in Table 1. For example, when the value of the 4 bits included in the third information is 1001, the third information indicates that the first time period includes 80 time slots.

[0155] Table 1

[0156] Optionally, the third information may not be carried in the first configuration information, but may be carried in other information and sent separately.

[0157] In a possible implementation, as shown in FIG11 , after step S801 and before step S802 , the communication method further includes steps S800a and S800b:

[0158] S800a: The first communication device sends fourth information to the second communication device. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the fourth information from the first communication device.

[0159] Optionally, the fourth information is used to indicate a starting time unit of the first time period, or to indicate a starting time domain position of the first time period.

[0160] As a possible implementation form, the fourth information indicates that the offset between the start time unit of the first time period and the time unit where the fourth information is located is P time units, where P is a positive integer.

[0161] For example, taking the time unit as a time slot and the time slot where the fourth information is located as time slot 1, if P is 1, the offset of the starting time slot of the first time period relative to the time slot where the fourth information is located is 1, that is, the starting time slot of the first time period is the next time slot of the time slot where the fourth information is located, that is, time slot 2; if P is 2, the offset of the starting time slot of the first time period relative to the time slot where the fourth information is located is 2, that is, the starting time slot of the first time period is the next 2 time slots of the time slot where the fourth information is located, that is, time slot 3.

[0162] Optionally, the first communication device may not send the fourth information. In this case, the starting time unit of the first time period may be the next time unit of the time unit where the first configuration information is located, or the offset between the starting time unit of the first time period and the time unit where the first configuration information is located is P' time units, where P' is a value predefined by the protocol and P' is a positive integer.

[0163] S800b: The first communication device sends fifth information to the second communication device. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the fifth information from the first communication device.

[0164] Optionally, the fifth information is used to trigger the sending of the second signal, or the fifth information is used to indicate the time unit in which the second signal is located.

[0165] As a possible implementation form, the fifth information indicates that the offset between the time unit where the second signal is located and the time unit where the fifth information is located is Q time units, where Q is a positive integer.

[0166] For example, if the time unit is a time slot, the time slot containing the fifth information is time slot 3, and Q is 2, then the time slot containing the second signal is offset by 2 relative to the time slot containing the fifth information. That is, the time slot containing the second signal is two time slots after the time slot containing the fifth information, that is, time slot 5. At this time, in time slot 5, the first communication device transmits the second signal, and the second communication device receives the second signal from the first communication device.

[0167] Optionally, the fourth information and / or the fifth information may also be carried in the first configuration information, or the fourth information and / or the fifth information may be carried in other information other than the first configuration information, without limitation.

[0168] It should be noted that there is no strict order for the above steps S800a and S800b. Step S800a may be performed first, followed by step S800b; or step S800b may be performed first, followed by step S800a; or step S800a and step S800b may be performed simultaneously. This application does not impose any specific restrictions on this.

[0169] The above describes the overall process of the communication method provided in this application. The following describes in detail the specific implementation of the first information and the second information included in the first configuration information.

[0170] In one possible implementation, the first information indicates at least one of the following: the time domain resources occupied by the first signal (recorded as the first time domain resources), the frequency domain resources occupied by the first signal (recorded as the first frequency domain resources), the sequence used to generate the first signal (recorded as the first sequence), or the first spatial domain filter.

[0171] As a possible implementation, the first information indicates the first time domain resource, including: the first information includes a first bit map, the number of bits included in the first bit map is the same as the number of time domain symbols in each time unit in the first time period, the bits in the first bit map correspond one-to-one to the time domain symbols in each time unit in the first time period, and the bits in the first bit map indicate whether the time domain symbol corresponding to the bit in each time unit in the first time period is used to carry the first signal.

[0172] For example, taking the time unit as a time slot, each time slot includes 14 time domain symbols, and the 14 time domain symbols are respectively recorded as symbol #1, symbol #2, symbol #3, symbol #4, symbol #5, symbol #6, symbol #7, symbol #8, symbol #9, symbol #10, symbol #11, symbol #12, symbol #13, and symbol #14, the first bit map includes 14 bits, and the 14 bits correspond one-to-one to the 14 time domain symbols in each time slot.

[0173] If the value of a certain bit is a first value, then the time domain symbol corresponding to the bit in each time unit in the first time period is used to carry the first signal. If the value of a certain bit is a second value, then the time domain symbol corresponding to the bit in each time unit in the first time period is not used to carry the first signal. For example, if the first value is 1, then the second value is 0; or, if the first value is 0, then the second value is 1.

[0174] Taking the time unit as time slot, the first value as 1, and the second value as 0 as an example, if the first bitmap value is

[0175] 00000010000001, that is, when the 7th bit and the 14th bit in the first bit map are 1 and the remaining bits are 0, as shown in Figure 12, the 7th symbol (that is, symbol #7, corresponding to the 7th bit in the first bit map) and the 14th symbol (that is, symbol #14, corresponding to the 14th bit in the first bit map) of each time slot in the first time period are used to carry the first signal. If the value of the first bit map is 00000110000011, that is, the 6th bit, the 7th bit, the 13th bit and the 14th bit in the first bit map are 1, and the remaining bits are 0, the 6th symbol (that is, symbol #6, corresponding to the 6th bit in the first bit map), the 7th symbol (that is, symbol #7, corresponding to the 7th bit in the first bit map), the 13th symbol (that is, symbol #13, corresponding to the 13th bit in the first bit map) and the 14th symbol (that is, symbol #14, corresponding to the 14th bit in the first bit map) of each time slot in the first time period are used to carry the first signal.

[0176] As another possible implementation, the first information indicates the first time domain resource, including: the first information indicates at least one of the following items of the first time domain resource: a period, a number of occupied continuous time domain symbols, a time domain starting position, or a time domain ending position.

[0177] Optionally, the period of the first time domain resource is a plurality of time domain symbols. In the case where the first information indicates the period of the first time domain resource, the first signal is periodically sent within the first time period.

[0178] Optionally, the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied by the first time domain resource can be understood as the number of consecutive time domain symbols used to carry the first signal.

[0179] As a possible implementation form, the offset between the time domain starting position or the time domain ending position of the first time domain resource and the first time domain symbol within the period of the first time domain resource is W time domain symbols, that is, W represents the offset between the time domain starting position or the time domain ending position of the first time domain resource and the first time domain symbol within the period of the first time domain resource, and W is a positive integer. Alternatively, the offset between the time domain starting position or the time domain ending position of the first time domain resource and the last time domain symbol within the period of the first time domain resource is W' time domain symbols, that is, W' represents the offset between the time domain starting position or the time domain ending position of the first time domain resource and the last time domain symbol within the period of the first time domain resource, and W' is a positive integer.

[0180] As another possible implementation, the offset between the time domain starting position or the time domain ending position of the first first time domain resource in the time unit and the first time domain symbol in the time unit is Z time domain symbols, that is, Z represents the offset between the time domain starting position or the time domain ending position of the first first time domain resource in the time unit and the first time domain symbol in the time unit, and Z is a positive integer. Alternatively, the offset between the time domain starting position or the time domain ending position of the first first time domain resource in the time unit and the last time domain symbol in the time unit is Z' time domain symbols, that is, Z' represents the offset between the time domain starting position or the time domain ending position of the first first time domain resource in the time unit and the last time domain symbol in the time unit, and Z' is a positive integer.

[0181] As a possible example, the first information may include at least one of a first field, a second field, or a third field. The first field indicates the number of time domain symbols included in the period of the first time domain resource, such as the value of the first field is the number of time domain symbols included in the period, or the value of the first field corresponds to the number of time domain symbols included in the period, and the correspondence may be predefined by a protocol or configured by the first communication device.

[0182] The second field indicates the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied by the first time domain resource, such as the value of the second field is the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied by the first time domain resource, or there is a correspondence between the value of the second field and the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied by the first time domain resource, and the correspondence may be predefined by the protocol or configured by the first communication device.

[0183] The third field indicates the offset between the time domain start position or the time domain end position of the first time domain resource and the first time domain symbol in the period. If the value of the third field is the offset between the time domain start position or the time domain end position of the first time domain resource and the first time domain symbol in the period, or the value of the third field corresponds to the offset between the time domain start position or the time domain end position of the first time domain resource and the first time domain symbol in the period. Alternatively, the third field indicates the offset between the time domain start position or the time domain end position of the first first time domain resource in the time unit and the first time domain symbol in the time unit. If the value of the third field is the offset between the time domain start position or the time domain end position of the first first time domain resource in the time unit and the first time domain symbol in the time unit, or the value of the third field corresponds to the offset between the time domain start position or the time domain end position of the first first time domain resource in the time unit and the first time domain symbol in the time unit, the correspondence may be predefined by the protocol or configured by the first communication device.

[0184] For example, the time unit is a time slot, each time slot includes 14 time domain symbols, and the 14 time domain symbols are respectively recorded as symbol #1, symbol #2, symbol #3, symbol #4, symbol #5, symbol #6, symbol #7, symbol #8, symbol #9, symbol #10, symbol #11, symbol #12, symbol #13, and symbol #14.

[0185] Taking the value of the first field as the number of time domain symbols included in the period of the first time domain resource as an example, if the value of the first field is 7, the period of the first time domain resource is 7 time domain symbols, that is, symbol #1, symbol #2, symbol #3, symbol #4, symbol #5, symbol #6 and symbol #7 in the time slot are one period, and symbol #8, symbol #9, symbol #10, symbol #11, symbol #12, symbol #13 and symbol #14 in the time slot are one period, that is, there are 2 periods in the time slot.

[0186] Taking the value of the second field as the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied by the first time domain resource as an example, if the value of the second field is 1, the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied by the first time domain resource is 1.

[0187] Taking the value of the third field as an example of the offset between the time domain starting position of the first time domain resource and the first time domain symbol in the period, if the value of the third field is 6, then the offset between the time domain starting position of the first time domain resource and the first time domain symbol in the period is 6 (that is, the value of W is 6), that is, the time domain starting position of the first time domain resource is the seventh time domain symbol in the period.

[0188] Taking the value of the third field as an example, which is the offset between the time domain starting position of the first first time domain resource in the time slot and the first time domain symbol in the time slot, if the value of the third field is 6, then the offset between the time domain starting position of the first first time domain resource in the time slot and the first time domain symbol in the time slot is 6 (that is, the value of Z is 6).

[0189] At this time, as shown in FIG12 , the time domain symbols occupied by the first time domain resource in a time slot are symbol #7 and time domain symbol #14, that is, symbol #7 and time domain symbol #14 of each time slot in the first time period are used to carry the first signal.

[0190] In a possible implementation manner, the first information indicating the first frequency domain resource includes: the first information indicating the comb tooth size and / or the frequency domain starting position of the first frequency domain resource.

[0191] As a possible implementation, the first information includes a fourth field, and the fourth field indicates the size of the comb teeth of the first frequency domain resource, such as the value of the fourth field is the size of the comb teeth of the first frequency domain resource, or the value of the fourth field corresponds to the size of the comb teeth of the first frequency domain resource, and the correspondence may be predefined by the protocol or configured by the first communication device.

[0192] For example, taking the value of the fourth field as the size of the comb teeth of the first frequency domain resource as an example, if the value of the fourth field is 2, as shown in Figure 13, the shaded part in the figure is the resource unit (resource element, RE) carrying the first signal. At this time, the comb tooth size of the first frequency domain resource is 2, that is, one RE in every two REs is used to carry the first signal, or the difference between the numbers of any two adjacent REs occupied by the first signal in the frequency domain is 2.

[0193] Optionally, the frequency domain starting position of the first frequency domain resource is the position of the first RE occupied by the first signal, and the first information indicates the offset (or frequency shift) between the first RE occupied by the first signal in each time unit or each period and the first RE in the resource block (RB).

[0194] As a possible implementation, the first information includes a fifth field, and the fifth field indicates the offset between the first RE occupied by the first signal in each time unit or each cycle and the first RE in the RB. If the value of the fifth field is the offset between the first RE occupied by the first signal in each time unit or each cycle and the first RE in the RB, or there is a corresponding relationship between the value of the fifth field and the offset between the first RE occupied by the first signal in each time unit or each cycle and the first RE in the RB, the corresponding relationship may be predefined by the protocol or configured by the first communication device.

[0195] As a possible implementation form, taking the value of the fifth field as the offset between the first RE occupied by the first signal in each time unit and the first RE in the RB as an example, the fifth field includes X characters, where X is the number of first signals included in each time unit; the X characters correspond one-to-one to the X first signals, and the value of the character is the offset of the first RE occupied by the first signal corresponding to the character in each time unit relative to the first RE in the RB, where X is a positive integer.

[0196] For example, the time unit is a time slot, the number of first signals included in each time slot is 2, that is, X is 2, and the fifth field includes 2 characters, the first character corresponds to the first first signal in each time slot, and the second character corresponds to the second first signal in each time slot. For example, if the two characters are "01", as shown in Figure 13, the first character "0" indicates that the offset of the first RE occupied by the first first signal in each time slot relative to the first RE in the RB is 0, and the second character "1" indicates that the offset of the first RE occupied by the second first signal in each time slot relative to the first RE in the RB is 1.

[0197] In a possible implementation, the first information indicates the first sequence, including: the first information indicates at least one of the following items used for the first sequence: a sequence initial value, a root value, or a cyclic shift value.

[0198] As a possible implementation form, when the first signal is generated based on a Gold sequence, the first sequence is a Gold sequence, and the first information indicates an initial value of the Gold sequence used to generate the first signal.

[0199] As another possible implementation form, when the first signal is generated based on a Zadoff-Chu sequence (ZC sequence for short), the first information indicates a root value of the ZC sequence and / or a cyclic shift value of the ZC sequence used by the first signal.

[0200] In a possible implementation manner, the first information indicates the first spatial domain filter, including: the first information includes an index of the first spatial domain filter in the first spatial domain filter set; or includes an identifier of the first spatial domain filter.

[0201] As a possible implementation, the first information includes a sixth field, and the sixth field indicates the index of the first spatial domain filter in the first spatial domain filter set. If the value of the sixth field is the index of the first spatial domain filter in the first spatial domain filter set, or there is a correspondence between the value of the sixth field and the index of the first spatial domain filter in the first spatial domain filter set, the correspondence may be predefined by the protocol or configured by the first communication device. Taking the index of the first spatial domain filter in the first spatial domain filter set as an example, illustratively, the first spatial domain filter set includes 8 spatial domain filters, and the indexes are integers from 0 to 7 respectively. If the value of the sixth field is 1, the index of the first spatial domain filter is 1. At this time, the first communication device uses the spatial domain filter with an index of 1 to send the first signal.

[0202] Alternatively, the sixth field indicates the identifier of the first spatial domain filter. If the value of the sixth field is the identifier of the first spatial domain filter, or there is a correspondence between the value of the sixth field and the identifier of the first spatial domain filter, the correspondence may be predefined by the protocol or configured by the first communication device. Taking the value of the sixth field as the identifier of the first spatial domain filter as an example, if the value of the sixth field is 8, the identifier of the first spatial domain filter is 8, and the first communication device uses the spatial domain filter identified as 8 to send the first signal.

[0203] The above describes the implementation of the first information in detail. The following describes the implementation of the second information in detail.

[0204] Exemplarily, the second information indicates at least one of the following: time domain resources occupied by the second signal (recorded as second time domain resources), frequency domain resources occupied by the second signal (second frequency domain resources), a sequence used to generate the second signal (recorded as second sequence), or a second spatial domain filter.

[0205] As a possible implementation form, the second information indicates the second time domain resource, including: the second information indicates at least one of the following items of the second time domain resource: the number of occupied continuous time domain symbols, the time domain starting position, or the time domain ending position.

[0206] Optionally, the number of continuous time domain symbols occupied by the second time domain resource can refer to the relevant description of the number of continuous time domain symbols occupied by the first time domain resource, and the time domain starting position or time domain ending position of the second time domain resource can refer to the relevant description of the time domain starting position or time domain ending position of the first time domain resource, which will not be repeated here.

[0207] As a possible example, the second information includes a seventh field and / or an eighth field. The seventh field indicates the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied by the second time domain resource, such as the value of the seventh field is the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied by the second time domain resource, or the value of the seventh field corresponds to the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied by the second time domain resource, and the corresponding relationship may be predefined by a protocol or configured by the first communication device.

[0208] The eighth field indicates the offset between the time domain starting position or the time domain ending position of the second time domain resource in the time unit and the first time domain symbol in the time unit. If the value of the eighth field is the offset between the time domain starting position or the time domain ending position of the second time domain resource in the time unit and the first time domain symbol in the time unit, or there is a corresponding relationship between the value of the eighth field and the offset between the time domain starting position or the time domain ending position of the second time domain resource in the time unit and the first time domain symbol in the time unit, the corresponding relationship may be predefined by the protocol or configured by the first communication device. For example, taking the time unit as a time slot, and the 14 time domain symbols included in the time slot as symbol #1, symbol #2, symbol #3, symbol #4, symbol #5, symbol #6, symbol #7, symbol #8, symbol #9, symbol #10, symbol #11, symbol #12, symbol #13, and symbol #14 as an example:

[0209] Taking the value of the seventh field as the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied by the second time domain resource as an example, if the value of the seventh field is 2, the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied by the second time domain resource is 2.

[0210] Taking the value of the eighth field as an example, which is the offset between the time domain starting position of the second time domain resource in the time slot and the first time domain symbol in the time slot, if the value of the eighth field is 10, then the offset between the time domain starting position of the second time domain resource and the first time domain symbol in the time slot (i.e., symbol #1) is 10, that is, the time domain starting position of the second time domain resource is symbol #11.

[0211] At this time, as shown in FIG12 , the time domain symbols occupied by the second time domain resource are symbol #11 and symbol #12, that is, symbol #11 and time domain symbol #12 of a certain time slot in the first time period are used to carry the second signal.

[0212] Optionally, by combining the second time domain resource indicated by the fifth information and the second information, the second communication device can determine the specific time domain location of the second signal. In addition, the second signal can be sent aperiodically or periodically during the first time period, which is not specifically limited in this application.

[0213] Optionally, the second information indicates the second frequency domain resource, including: the second information indicates the comb tooth size and / or the frequency domain starting position of the second frequency domain resource.

[0214] Optionally, the comb tooth size of the second frequency domain resource can refer to the relevant description of the comb tooth size of the first frequency domain resource, and the frequency domain starting position of the second frequency domain resource can refer to the relevant description of the frequency domain starting position of the first frequency domain resource, which will not be repeated here.

[0215] As a possible implementation, the second information includes a ninth field, which indicates the size of the comb teeth of the second frequency domain resource, such as the value of the ninth field is the size of the comb teeth of the second frequency domain resource, or the value of the ninth field corresponds to the size of the comb teeth of the second frequency domain resource, and the correspondence may be predefined by the protocol or configured by the first communication device.

[0216] For example, taking the value of the ninth field as the size of the comb teeth of the second frequency domain resource, if the value of the ninth field is 4, the comb tooth size of the second frequency domain resource is 4, that is, one RE in every 4 REs is used to carry the second signal, or the difference between the numbers of any two adjacent REs occupied by the second signal in the frequency domain is 4.

[0217] As a possible implementation, the second information includes a tenth field, and the tenth field indicates the offset between the first RE occupied by the second signal in a certain time unit in the first time period and the first RE in the RB. If the value of the tenth field is the offset between the first RE occupied by the second signal in a certain time unit in the first time period and the first RE in the RB, or there is a corresponding relationship between the value of the tenth field and the offset between the first RE occupied by the second signal in a certain time unit in the first time period and the first RE in the RB, the corresponding relationship may be predefined by the protocol or configured by the first communication device.

[0218] As a possible implementation form, taking the value of the tenth field as the offset between the first RE occupied by the second signal in a certain time unit in the first time period and the first RE in the RB as an example, the tenth field includes Y characters, where Y is the number of second signals included in a certain time unit in the first time period; the Y characters correspond one-to-one to the Y second signals, and the value of the character is the offset of the first RE occupied by the second signal corresponding to the character in a certain time unit in the first time period relative to the first RE in the RB, and Y is a positive integer.

[0219] For example, taking the time unit as a time slot, the number of second signals included in a time slot in the first time period is 1, that is, Y is 1, the tenth field includes 1 character, and the first character corresponds to the first second signal in a time slot in the first time period. For example, if the first character is "1", it means that the offset of the first RE occupied by the first second signal in a time slot in the first time period relative to the first RE in the RB is 1.

[0220] Optionally, the second information indicates the second sequence, including: the second information indicates at least one of the following items used for the second sequence: a sequence initial value, a root value, or a cyclic shift value.

[0221] As a possible implementation form, when the second signal is generated based on a Gold sequence, the second sequence is a Gold sequence, and the second information indicates an initial value of the Gold sequence used to generate the second signal.

[0222] As another possible implementation form, when the second signal is generated based on a Zadoff-Chu sequence (ZC sequence for short), the second information indicates a root value of the ZC sequence and / or a cyclic shift value of the ZC sequence used by the second signal.

[0223] Optionally, the second sequence and the first sequence may be the same or different.

[0224] Optionally, the second information indicates the second spatial domain filter, including: the second information includes an index of the second spatial domain filter in the second spatial domain filter set; or includes an identifier of the second spatial domain filter.

[0225] As a possible implementation, the second information includes an eleventh field, which indicates the index of the second spatial domain filter in the second spatial domain filter set. If the value of the eleventh field is the index of the second spatial domain filter in the second spatial domain filter set, or there is a correspondence between the value of the eleventh field and the index of the second spatial domain filter in the second spatial domain filter set, the correspondence may be predefined by the protocol or configured by the first communication device. Taking the value of the eleventh field being the index of the second spatial domain filter in the second spatial domain filter set as an example, illustratively, the second spatial domain filter set includes 10 spatial domain filters, and the indexes are integers from 0 to 9 respectively. If the value of the eleventh field is 6, the index of the second spatial domain filter is 6. At this time, the first communication device uses the spatial domain filter with an index of 6 to send the second signal.

[0226] Alternatively, the eleventh field indicates the identifier of the second spatial domain filter. If the value of the eleventh field is the identifier of the second spatial domain filter, or there is a correspondence between the value of the eleventh field and the identifier of the second spatial domain filter, the correspondence may be predefined by the protocol or configured by the first communication device. Taking the value of the eleventh field as the identifier of the second spatial domain filter as an example, if the value of the eleventh field is 9, the identifier of the second spatial domain filter is 9, and at this time the first communication device uses the spatial domain filter identified as 9 to send the second signal.

[0227] The above description is based on the example of two network devices cooperating to sense, or a network device and a terminal device cooperating to sense. The above solution can also be appropriately modified to be used in the scenario of two terminal devices cooperating to sense. For example:

[0228] The above step S801 can be replaced by: the network device sends the first configuration information to the first communication device and the second communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device and the second communication device receive the first configuration information from the network device.

[0229] In the above step S802, the first communication device sends the first signal according to the received first configuration information. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the third signal according to the received first configuration information.

[0230] In step S803, the first communication device sends the second signal according to the received first configuration information. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the second signal according to the received first configuration information.

[0231] Optionally, step S800a may be replaced by: the network device sends fourth information to the first communication device and the second communication device. Accordingly, the first communication device and the second communication device receive the fourth information from the network device. Optionally, step S800b may be replaced by: the network device sends fifth information to the first communication device and the second communication device. Accordingly, the first communication device and the second communication device receive the fifth information from the network device.

[0232] Optionally, when the first communication device and the second communication device are both terminal devices, the first communication device and the second communication device may be terminal devices of the same type or terminal devices of different types.

[0233] The method provided in this application is described above. In addition, this application also provides a communication device for implementing the functions described in the above method embodiments.

[0234] It is understandable that, in order to realize the above functions, the communication device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. It should be easily appreciated by those skilled in the art 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 the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware 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.

[0235] The embodiment of the present application can divide the functional modules of the communication device according to the above 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 integrated modules 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. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0236] Communication Device Figure 14 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 140. The communication device 140 includes a processing module 1401 and a transceiver module 1402. The communication device 140 can be used to implement the functions of the first communication device or the second communication device described above.

[0237] In some embodiments, the communication device 140 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 14 ) for storing program instructions and data.

[0238] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1402, which may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, is configured to implement a transmitting and / or receiving function. The transceiver module 1402 may be composed of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

[0239] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1402 may include a receiving module and a sending module, which are respectively used to execute the receiving and sending steps performed by the first communication device or the second communication device in the above method embodiments, and / or used to support other processes of the technology described herein; the processing module 1401 may be used to execute the processing steps performed by the first communication device or the second communication device in the above method embodiments, and / or used to support other processes of the technology described herein.

[0240] When the communication device 140 is used to implement the function of the first communication device, in a possible implementation manner:

[0241] The transceiver module 1402 is used to send first configuration information, which includes first information and second information. The first information is used to configure the transmission of a first signal for perception within a first time period, and the second information is used to configure the transmission of a second signal for reference path measurement within the first time period; the transceiver module 1402 is also used to send the first signal within the first time period; the transceiver module 1402 is also used to send the second signal within the first time period.

[0242] Optionally, the transceiver module 1402 is further used to send at least one of the following: fourth information or fifth information, the fourth information is used to indicate the starting time unit of the first time period, and the fifth information is used to trigger the sending of the second signal.

[0243] When the communication device 140 is used to implement the function of the second communication device, in a possible implementation manner:

[0244] The transceiver module 1402 is used to receive first configuration information, which includes first information and second information. The first information is used to configure the transmission of a first signal for perception within a first time period, and the second information is used to configure the transmission of a second signal for reference path measurement within the first time period; the transceiver module 1402 is also used to receive a third signal within the first time period; the transceiver module 1402 is also used to receive a second signal within the first time period.

[0245] Optionally, the transceiver module 1402 is further used to receive at least one of the following: fourth information or fifth information, the fourth information is used to indicate the starting time unit of the first time period, and the fifth information is used to trigger the sending of the second signal.

[0246] Among them, all relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module and will not be repeated here.

[0247] In the present application, the communication device 140 may be presented in the form of functional modules divided in an integrated manner. The "module" here may refer to a specific application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a circuit, a processor and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and / or other devices that can provide the above functions.

[0248] In some embodiments, when the communication device 140 in Figure 14 is a chip or a chip system, the function / implementation process of the transceiver module 1402 can be implemented through the input and output interface (or communication interface) of the chip or chip system, and the function / implementation process of the processing module 1401 can be implemented through the processor (or processing circuit) of the chip or chip system.

[0249] Since the communication device 140 provided in this embodiment can execute the above method, the technical effects that can be obtained can refer to the above method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0250] As a possible product form, the first communication device or the second communication device described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented using the following: one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gate logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuits, or any combination of circuits capable of performing the various functions described throughout this application.

[0251] As another possible product form, the first communication device or the second communication device described in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by a general bus architecture. For ease of explanation, refer to Figure 15, which is a structural diagram of a communication device 1500 provided in an embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 1500 includes a processor 1501 and a transceiver 1502. The communication device 1500 can be a first communication device, or a chip or chip system therein; or, the communication device 1500 can be a second communication device, or a chip or module therein. Figure 15 only shows the main components of the communication device 1500. In addition to the processor 1501 and the transceiver 1502, the communication device may further include a memory 1503, and an input and output device (not shown in the figure).

[0252] Optionally, the processor 1501 is mainly used to process the communication protocol and communication data, as well as to control the entire communication device, execute the software program, and process the data of the software program, thereby implementing the method provided in the above method embodiment. The memory 1503 is mainly used to store the software program and data. The transceiver 1502 may include a radio frequency circuit and an antenna. The radio frequency circuit is mainly used to convert baseband signals into radio frequency signals and process radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly used to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input and output devices, such as a touch screen, display screen, keyboard, etc., are mainly used to receive data input by the user and output data to the user.

[0253] Optionally, the processor 1501 , the transceiver 1502 , and the memory 1503 may be connected via a communication bus.

[0254] When the communication device is powered on, the processor 1501 can read the software program in the memory 1503, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be sent wirelessly, the processor 1501 performs baseband processing on the data to be sent and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and then transmits the radio frequency signal to the outside in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1501. The processor 1501 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0255] In another implementation, the RF circuit and antenna may be provided independently of the processor performing baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the RF circuit and antenna may be remotely arranged independent of the communication device.

[0256] In some embodiments, in terms of hardware implementation, those skilled in the art may conceive that the above-mentioned communication device 140 may take the form of a communication device 1500 as shown in FIG. 15 .

[0257] As an example, the functions / implementation process of the processing module 1401 in FIG14 can be implemented by the processor 1501 in the communication device 1500 shown in FIG15 calling the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1503. The functions / implementation process of the transceiver module 1402 in FIG14 can be implemented by the transceiver 1502 in the communication device 1500 shown in FIG15.

[0258] As another possible product form, the first communication device or the second communication device in this application may adopt the structure shown in Figure 16, or include the components shown in Figure 16. Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 1600 provided in this application. The communication device 1600 may be a first communication device or a chip or system-on-chip in the first communication device; or, it may be a second communication device or a module, chip, or system-on-chip in the second communication device.

[0259] As shown in FIG16 , the communication device 1600 includes at least one processor 1601 and at least one communication interface ( FIG16 is merely an example of one communication interface 1604 and one processor 1601). Optionally, the communication device 1600 may further include a communication bus 1602 and a memory 1603.

[0260] Processor 1601 can be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. Processor 1601 can also be other devices with processing capabilities, such as circuits, devices, or software modules, without limitation.

[0261] Communication bus 1602 is used to connect the various components in communication device 1600, enabling communication between them. Communication bus 1602 may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, for example. This bus can be categorized as an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and so on. For ease of illustration, FIG16 shows only one thick line, but this does not imply that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0262] Communication interface 1604 is used to communicate with other devices or communication networks. Exemplarily, communication interface 1604 can be a module, circuit, transceiver, or any other device capable of communication. Optionally, communication interface 1604 can also be an input / output interface within processor 1601, used to implement signal input and output to the processor.

[0263] The memory 1603 may be a device with a storage function, used to store instructions and / or data, wherein the instructions may be computer programs.

[0264] Exemplarily, the memory 1603 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and / or instructions, or a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and / or 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 compact discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, etc., without limitation.

[0265] It should be noted that the memory 1603 can exist independently of the processor 1601 or can be integrated with the processor 1601. The memory 1603 can be located within the communication device 1600 or outside the communication device 1600, without limitation. The processor 1601 can be used to execute instructions stored in the memory 1603 to implement the methods provided in the following embodiments of the present application.

[0266] As an optional implementation, the communication device 1600 may further include an output device 1605 and an input device 1606. The output device 1605 communicates with the processor 1601 and can display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device 1605 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 1606 communicates with the processor 1601 and can receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device 1606 can be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device.

[0267] In some embodiments, in terms of hardware implementation, those skilled in the art may conceive that the communication device 140 shown in FIG. 14 may take the form of the communication device 1600 shown in FIG. 16 .

[0268] As an example, the functions / implementation process of the processing module 1401 in FIG14 can be implemented by the processor 1601 in the communication device 1600 shown in FIG16 calling the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1603. The functions / implementation process of the transceiver module 1402 in FIG14 can be implemented by the communication interface 1604 in the communication device 1600 shown in FIG16.

[0269] It should be noted that the structure shown in FIG16 does not constitute a specific limitation on the first communication device or the second communication device. For example, in other embodiments of the present application, the first communication device or the second communication device may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or combine or separate certain components, or arrange the components differently. The components shown in the figure may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0270] In some embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, which includes a processor for implementing the method in any of the above method embodiments.

[0271] As a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a memory. The memory is used to store necessary computer programs and data. The computer program may include instructions, and the processor may invoke the instructions in the computer program stored in the memory to instruct the communication device to execute any of the above-described method embodiments. Of course, the memory may not be located in the communication device.

[0272] As another possible implementation, the communication device also includes an interface circuit, which is a code / data read / write interface circuit, and the interface circuit is used to receive computer execution instructions (computer execution instructions are stored in a memory, may be read directly from the memory, or may pass through other devices) and transmit them to the processor.

[0273] As another possible implementation, the communication device further includes a communication interface, where the communication interface is used to communicate with a module outside the communication device.

[0274] It can be understood that the communication device can be a chip or a chip system. When the communication device is a chip system, it can be composed of chips or include chips and other discrete devices. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0275] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program or instruction stored thereon, which implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

[0276] The present application also provides a computer program product, which implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

[0277] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, for the sake of convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, devices, and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0278] It is understood that the systems, devices, and methods described in this application may also be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interface, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0279] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, i.e., they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Components shown as units may or may not be physical units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the objectives of this embodiment as needed.

[0280] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0281] 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 drive (SSD)). In the embodiment of the present application, the computer may include the aforementioned device.

[0282] 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.

[0283] 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 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 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.

[0284] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Sending first configuration information, where the first configuration information includes first information and second information. The first information is used to configure the transmission of a first signal within a first time period, the first signal being used for sensing, and the second information is used to configure the transmission of a second signal within the first time period, the second signal being used for the measurement of a reference path; Sending the first signal within the first time period; Sending the second signal within the first time period.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Sending the first signal within the first time period includes: Sending the first signal using a first spatial domain filter within the first time period, the first spatial domain filter being used for sensing; and / or, Sending the second signal within the first time period includes: Sending the second signal using a second spatial domain filter within the first time period, the second spatial domain filter being used for the measurement of the reference path.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first spatial domain filter belongs to a first set of spatial domain filters, the first set of spatial domain filters being used for sensing. The first spatial domain filter is the spatial domain filter in the first set of spatial domain filters that maximizes the power of a third signal, where the third signal is the echo signal of the first signal; and / or, The second spatial domain filter belongs to a second set of spatial domain filters, the second set of spatial domain filters being used for the measurement of the reference path. The second spatial domain filter is the spatial domain filter in the second set of spatial domain filters that maximizes the power of the reference path.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The first information indicates at least one of the following: the first spatial domain filter for sending the first signal, the time domain resources occupied by the first signal, the frequency domain resources occupied by the first signal, or the sequence for generating the first signal; and / or, The second information indicates at least one of the following: the second spatial domain filter for sending the second signal, the time domain resources occupied by the second signal, the frequency domain resources occupied by the second signal, or the sequence for generating the second signal.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein The first information indicating the first spatial domain filter includes: The first information includes the index of the first spatial domain filter in the first set of spatial domain filters, or includes the identifier of the first spatial domain filter.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein The second information indicating the second spatial domain filter includes: The second information includes the index of the second spatial domain filter in the second set of spatial domain filters; or includes the identifier of the second spatial domain filter.

7. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that The first information indicating the time domain resources occupied by the first signal includes: The first information includes a first bit map, where the bits in the first bit map correspond one-to-one with the time domain symbols in each time unit within the first time period, and the bits in the first bit map indicate whether the time domain symbols corresponding to the bits in each time unit within the first time period are used to carry the first signal; or, The first information indicates the time-domain resources occupied by the first signal, including: the first information indicates at least one of the following for the time-domain resources: period, number of consecutive time-domain symbols occupied, time-domain start position, or time-domain end position; and / or, The second information indicates the time-domain resources occupied by the second signal, including: the second information indicates at least one of the following for the time-domain resources: number of consecutive time-domain symbols occupied, time-domain start position, or time-domain end position.

8. The method according to any one of claims 4-7, characterized in that The first information indicates the frequency-domain resources occupied by the first signal, including: the first information indicates the frequency-domain start position and / or comb size of the frequency-domain resources; and / or, The second information indicates the frequency-domain resources occupied by the second signal, including: the second information indicates the frequency-domain start position and / or comb size of the frequency-domain resources.

9. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that The first information indicates the sequence for generating the first signal, including: the first information indicates at least one of the following for the sequence: sequence initial value, root value, or cyclic shift value; and / or, The second information indicates the sequence for generating the second signal, including: the second information indicates at least one of the following for the sequence: sequence initial value, root value, or cyclic shift value.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The first configuration information further includes third information, and the third information indicates the time length of the first time period; and / or, The method further includes: transmitting at least one of the following: fourth information, or fifth information, where the fourth information is used to indicate the start time unit of the first time period, and the fifth information is used to trigger the transmission of the second signal.

11. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receiving first configuration information, where the first configuration information includes first information and second information. The first information is used to configure the transmission of a first signal within a first time period, and the first signal is used for sensing. The second information is used to configure the transmission of a second signal within the first time period, and the second signal is used for the measurement of the reference path; Receiving a third signal within the first time period, where the third signal is an echo signal of the first signal; Receiving the second signal within the first time period.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein Receiving the third signal within the first time period includes: receiving the third signal within the first time period using a third spatial-domain filter, and the third spatial-domain filter is used for sensing; and / or, Receiving the second signal within the first time period includes: receiving the second signal within the first time period using a fourth spatial-domain filter, and the fourth spatial-domain filter is used for the measurement of the reference path.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein The first spatial-domain filter belongs to a first set of spatial-domain filters, and the first set of spatial-domain filters is used for sensing. The first spatial-domain filter is the spatial-domain filter in the first set of spatial-domain filters that maximizes the power of the third signal, and the first spatial-domain filter is associated with the third spatial-domain filter; and / or, The second spatial domain filter belongs to a set of second spatial domain filters, and the set of second spatial domain filters is used for the measurement of the reference path. The second spatial domain filter is the spatial domain filter in the set of second spatial domain filters that maximizes the power of the reference path, and the second spatial domain filter is associated with the fourth spatial domain filter.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11-13, characterized in that The first information indicates at least one of the following: the first spatial domain filter for transmitting the first signal, the time domain resources occupied by the first signal, the frequency domain resources occupied by the first signal, or the sequence for generating the first signal. The first spatial domain filter is associated with a third spatial domain filter, and the third spatial domain filter is used for receiving the third signal; and / or, The second information indicates at least one of the following: the second spatial domain filter for transmitting the second signal, the time domain resources occupied by the second signal, the frequency domain resources occupied by the second signal, or the sequence for generating the second signal. The second spatial domain filter is associated with a fourth spatial domain filter, and the fourth spatial domain filter is used for receiving the second signal.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein The first information indicating the first spatial domain filter includes: the first information includes the index of the first spatial domain filter in the set of first spatial domain filters, or includes the identifier of the first spatial domain filter.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The second information indicating the second spatial domain filter includes: the second information includes the index of the second spatial domain filter in the set of second spatial domain filters; or includes the identifier of the second spatial domain filter.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 - 16, characterized in that, The first information indicating the time domain resources occupied by the first signal includes: the first information includes a first bit map, and the bits in the first bit map correspond one-to-one with the time domain symbols in each time unit within the first time period. The bits in the first bit map indicate whether the time domain symbols corresponding to the bits in each time unit within the first time period are used to carry the first signal; or, The first information indicating the time domain resources occupied by the first signal includes: the first information indicates at least one of the following for the time domain resources: period, the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied, the time domain start position, or the time domain end position; and / or, The second information indicating the time domain resources occupied by the second signal includes: the second information indicates at least one of the following for the time domain resources: the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied, the time domain start position, or the time domain end position.

18. The method according to any one of claims 14-17, characterized in that, The first information indicating the frequency domain resources occupied by the first signal includes: the first information indicates the frequency domain start position and / or the comb size of the frequency domain resources; and / or, The second information indicating the frequency domain resources occupied by the second signal includes: the second information indicates the frequency domain start position and / or the comb size of the frequency domain resources.

19. The method according to any one of claims 14-18, characterized in that, The first information indicating the sequence for generating the first signal includes: the first information indicates at least one of the following for the sequence: sequence initial value, root value, or cyclic shift value; and / or, The second information indicates a sequence for generating the second signal, including: the second information indicates at least one of the following for the sequence: a sequence initial value, a root value, or a cyclic shift value.

20. The method according to any one of claims 11-19, characterized in that, The first configuration information further includes third information, where the third information indicates the time length of the first time period; and / or, The method further includes: receiving at least one of the following: fourth information, or fifth information, where the fourth information is used to indicate the start time unit of the first time period, and the fifth information is used to trigger the transmission of the second signal.

21. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a module for performing the method according to any one of claims 1-10, or includes a module for performing the method according to any one of claims 11-20.

22. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processor; the processor is configured to run a computer program or instruction to cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-10, or to cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 11-20.

23. A communication system, characterized in that, The communication system includes a first communication device and a second communication device; The first communication device is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-10, and the second communication device is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 11-20.

24. A chip or chip system, characterized in that, The chip or chip system includes a processor, the processor is coupled to a memory, and the memory is used to store a program or instruction. When the program or instruction is executed by the processor, the method according to any one of claims 1-10 is caused to be executed, or the method according to any one of claims 11-20 is caused to be executed.

25. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, A computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions or a program. When the computer instructions or program run on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1-10 is caused to be executed, or the method according to any one of claims 11-20 is caused to be executed.

26. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes computer instructions; when part or all of the computer instructions run on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1-10 is caused to be executed, or the method according to any one of claims 11-20 is caused to be executed.

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