Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to a communication method and apparatus. In the method, a terminal device can receive from a first network device first information for indicating a first resource, wherein the first resource may be used by the terminal device to communicate with a second network device. That is to say, when there is a first communication connection between the terminal device and the first network device and there is a second communication connection between the terminal device and the second network device, the terminal device can acquire, by means of monitoring a signal of the first network device, the first resource for communication between the terminal device and the second network device, thereby making it possible for the terminal device to not monitor a signal of the second network device. In this way, the power consumption of terminal devices can be reduced, thereby realizing the energy saving of the terminal devices.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application with application number 202410102133.3 filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on January 24, 2024, and priority to the Chinese patent application with the invention name “A Communication Method and Device”, all contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0003] In order to improve the rate and reliability of data transmission, the terminal device can be connected to multiple base stations at the same time. The multiple base stations include a primary base station and multiple secondary base stations. For example, in a dual connectivity (DC) scenario, the terminal device can be connected to a primary base station and a secondary base station. The primary base station can be, for example, a new radio (NR) base station, and the secondary base station can be, for example, a long term evolution (LTE) base station. This means that the terminal device can be scheduled by the primary base station and the secondary base station, resulting in a large power consumption of the terminal device. Therefore, how to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device has become a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently at this stage. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus, which can reduce the power consumption of terminal equipment and achieve energy saving of the terminal equipment.

[0005] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be executed by a terminal device, or by a module (such as a processor, chip, or chip system) applied to the terminal device, or by a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device functions. In this communication method, first information can be received from a first network device, the first information is used to indicate a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal device to communicate with a second network device. A first communication connection is established between the terminal device and the first network device, and a second communication connection is established between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0006] As can be seen, in the above embodiment, when a first communication connection is established between the terminal device and a first network device, and a second communication connection is established between the terminal device and a second network device, the terminal device can receive first information indicating a first resource from the first network device. The first resource can be used for communication between the terminal device and the second network device. In other words, the terminal device can obtain the first resource for communication between the terminal device and the second network device by monitoring the signal from the first network device, eliminating the need for the terminal device to monitor the signal from the second network device. This reduces the power consumption of the terminal device, thereby achieving energy conservation for the terminal device.

[0007] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving second information from the first network device, where the second information is used to instruct the terminal device to receive information from the first network device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0008] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the terminal device can learn to obtain information about resources for instructing the terminal device to communicate with the second network device by monitoring the signal of the first network device, thereby ensuring the smooth implementation of the solution.

[0009] In a possible implementation, receiving the first information from the first network device includes: receiving the first information from the first network device on a second resource, where the second resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0010] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the terminal device can receive the first information on the resource (such as the second resource) used to transmit information indicating the resource for communication between the terminal device and the second network device, thereby ensuring reliable transmission of the first information.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving third information from the first network device, the third information being used to indicate the second resource. Optionally, the third information may be configuration information of the first network device, located within the configuration information of the first network device, configuration information of the second network device, or located within the configuration information of the second network device.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the second resource is a downlink resource dedicated to transmitting information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the second network device; or, the second resource is a downlink resource used to transmit information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the first network device.

[0013] As can be seen, in the above embodiment, the terminal device can receive the first information on a dedicated resource, ensuring that the transmission of the first information is not interfered with by other factors. Alternatively, if the second resource is a downlink resource used to transmit information indicating the resources for communication between the terminal device and the first network device, the second resource is equivalent to being part of the resources for communication between the terminal device and the first network device, providing greater flexibility.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the third information also includes information indicating the timing advance of the second network device. For example, the configuration information of the first network device includes information indicating the timing advance of the second network device. In this way, the terminal device can obtain the timing advance information of the second network device by monitoring the signal of the first network device, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device and achieving energy conservation of the terminal device.

[0015] In a possible implementation, the first information is used to indicate the first resource, including: the first information is used to indicate the first resource and is used to indicate that the first resource is used for communication between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0016] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the first information can display an indication of the first resource and display an indication that the first resource is used for communication between the terminal device and the second network device, so as to help the terminal device correctly understand the first information and avoid information loss caused by inconsistent understanding, thereby causing the risk of unreliable communication.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the first information further includes information for indicating a third resource, where the third resource is used by the terminal device to send feedback information to the second network device, where the feedback information is used to feed back a reception status of data corresponding to the first resource.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving fourth information from the first network device, where the fourth information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop receiving information from the first network device that is used to instruct the terminal device on resources for communication with the second network device.

[0019] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by a first network device, or by a module (such as a processor, chip, or chip system) applied to the first network device. It can also be implemented by a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first network device. In this communication method, information indicating a first resource can be received from a second network device, and the first resource is used for communication between a terminal device and the second network device. Thus, first information can be sent to the terminal device, and the first information is used to indicate the first resource. Among them, a first communication connection is established between the terminal device and the first network device.

[0020] As can be seen, in the above embodiment, when a first communication connection is established between a terminal device and a first network device, the second network device can transmit information indicating a first resource to the first network device, so that the first network device can transmit first information indicating the first resource. The first resource can be used for communication between the terminal device and the second network device. In other words, the terminal device can obtain the first resource for communication between the terminal device and the second network device by monitoring the signal from the first network device, eliminating the need for the terminal device to monitor the signal from the second network device. This reduces the power consumption of the terminal device, thereby achieving energy conservation for the terminal device.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending second information to the terminal device, where the second information is used to instruct the terminal device to receive information from the first network device that is used to indicate resources for communication between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0022] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the first network device sends the second information to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can learn by monitoring the signal of the first network device to obtain information for indicating the resources for communication between the terminal device and the second network device, thereby ensuring the smooth implementation of the solution.

[0023] In a possible implementation, sending the first information to the terminal device includes: sending the first information to the terminal device on a second resource, where the second resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0024] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the first network device sends the first information on the resource (such as the second resource) used to transmit information indicating the resource for communication between the terminal device and the second network device, thereby ensuring reliable transmission of the first information.

[0025] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending third information to the terminal device, where the third information is used to indicate the second resource.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the second resource is a downlink resource dedicated to transmitting information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the second network device; or, the second resource is a downlink resource used to transmit information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the first network device.

[0027] As can be seen, in the above embodiment, the first network device can receive the first information on a dedicated resource, ensuring that the transmission of the first information is not interfered with by other factors. Alternatively, if the second resource is a downlink resource used to transmit information indicating the resources for communication between the terminal device and the first network device, the second resource is equivalent to being part of the resources for communication between the terminal device and the first network device, providing greater flexibility.

[0028] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving, from the second network device, information indicating the timing advance of the second network device. The third information further includes information indicating the timing advance of the second network device.

[0029] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the first network device can send information for indicating the timing advance of the second network device, so that the terminal device can obtain the timing advance information of the second network device by monitoring the signal of the first network device, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device and achieving energy saving of the terminal device.

[0030] In a possible implementation, the first information is used to indicate the first resource, including: the first information is used to indicate the first resource and is used to indicate that the first resource is used for communication between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0031] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the first information can display an indication of the first resource and display an indication that the first resource is used for communication between the terminal device and the second network device, so as to help the terminal device correctly understand the first information and avoid information loss caused by inconsistent understanding, thereby causing the risk of unreliable communication.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the first information further includes information for indicating a third resource, where the third resource is used by the terminal device to send feedback information to the second network device, where the feedback information is used to feed back a reception status of data corresponding to the first resource.

[0033] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: determining a first moment, the first moment being the moment when the first network device sends the first information to the terminal device; sending the first information to the terminal device includes: sending the first information to the terminal device based on the first moment.

[0034] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the first network device can send the first information to the terminal device based on the first moment, so that the terminal device can receive the first information at the corresponding time point, avoiding the problem that the terminal device receives the first information too late and causes the first resource to be unavailable.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending fourth information to the terminal device, where the fourth information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop receiving information from the first network device that is used to instruct the terminal device on resources for communicating with the second network device.

[0036] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving first indication information from the terminal device or the second network device, the first indication information being used to indicate sending, via the first network device, to the terminal device information on resources for indicating communication between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending second indication information to the second network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the first network device supports sending information to the terminal device for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0038] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the second network device can be informed of the capabilities of the first network device, such as supporting the sending of information to the terminal device for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the second network device, which ensures the smooth implementation of the solution.

[0039] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending third indication information to the terminal device or the second network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that information indicating resources for communicating between the terminal device and the second network device is allowed to be sent to the terminal device via the first network device.

[0040] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the terminal device or the second network device can be informed that the first network device agrees to send information for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the second network device to the terminal device through the first network device, which ensures the smooth implementation of the solution.

[0041] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving information indicating a fourth resource from the second network device, wherein the fourth resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the second network device, and the fourth resource includes the second resource.

[0042] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending information indicating a fifth resource to the second network device, where the fifth resource is used to determine the fourth resource. The fifth resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving second information from the second network device, where the second information is used to instruct the terminal device to receive information from the first network device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0044] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by a second network device, or by a module (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system) applied to the second network device, or by a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the second network device. In this communication method, information indicating a first resource can be sent to a first network device, and the first resource is used for communication between a terminal device and a second network device. A second communication connection is established between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0045] As can be seen, in the above embodiment, when a second communication connection exists between a terminal device and a second network device, the second network device can transmit information indicating a first resource to the first network device, so that the first network device can transmit first information indicating the first resource. The first resource can be used for communication between the terminal device and the second network device. In other words, the terminal device can obtain the first resource for communication between the terminal device and the second network device by monitoring the signal from the first network device, eliminating the need for the terminal device to monitor the signal from the second network device. This reduces the power consumption of the terminal device, thereby achieving energy conservation for the terminal device.

[0046] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending information indicating a third resource to the first network device, the third resource being used by the terminal device to send feedback information to the second network device, the feedback information being used to feed back a reception status of data corresponding to the first resource.

[0047] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending first indication information to the first network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate that information on resources for indicating communication between the terminal device and the second network device is sent to the terminal device via the first network device.

[0048] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving second indication information from the first network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the first network device supports sending information to the terminal device for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0049] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the second network device can be informed of the capabilities of the first network device, such as supporting the sending of information to the terminal device for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the second network device, which ensures the smooth implementation of the solution.

[0050] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving third indication information from the first network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that information indicating resources for communicating between the terminal device and the second network device is allowed to be sent to the terminal device via the first network device.

[0051] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the second network device can be informed that the first network device agrees to send information for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the second network device to the terminal device through the first network device, which ensures the smooth implementation of the solution.

[0052] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending information indicating a fourth resource to the first network device, wherein the fourth resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the second network device, and the fourth resource includes the second resource.

[0053] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving information indicating a fifth resource from the first network device, the fifth resource being used to determine the fourth resource, wherein the fifth resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0054] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending second information to the first network device, where the second information is used to instruct the terminal device to receive information from the first network device that is used to indicate resources for communication between the terminal device and the second network device.

[0055] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a unit or module for implementing the method described in any one of aspects 1 to 3. The communication device can be a terminal device or a network device, or a module (such as a processor, chip, or chip system) of a terminal device or a network device (such as a first network device or a second network device, etc.), or a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of a terminal device or a network device (such as a first network device or a second network device, etc.).

[0056] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, the communication device including at least one processor; wherein the at least one processor is used to execute any one of the methods described in any one of the first to third aspects. The communication device can be a terminal device or a network device (such as a first network device or a second network device, etc.), or a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) of a terminal device or a network device (such as a first network device or a second network device, etc.), or a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal device or the network device (such as a first network device or a second network device, etc.). At least one processor can execute a computer program or instruction in a memory so that the above method is executed. The memory can be included in the communication device or can be located outside the communication device. In addition, the communication device can further include an interface.

[0057] In a sixth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a terminal device, a first network device, and a second network device. The terminal device is configured to execute the method described in any one of the first aspects; the first network device is configured to execute the method described in any one of the second aspects; and the second network device is configured to execute the method described in any one of the third aspects.

[0058] In a seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and when the computer instructions are executed, the computer executes any one of the methods described in any one of the first to third aspects.

[0059] In an eighth aspect, a computer program product is provided, the computer program product comprising: a computer program code, and when the computer program code is executed by a computer, the computer executes any one of the methods described in any one of the first to third aspects.

[0060] In a ninth aspect, a chip is provided, comprising at least one processor and an interface, wherein the processor is configured to read and execute instructions stored in a memory, and when the instructions are executed, the chip executes any of the methods described in any of the first to third aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] FIG1 is a basic architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] FIG2 shows the SFN of a cell of a primary network device and the SFN of a cell of a secondary network device;

[0063] FIG3 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] FIG4 is a flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] FIG5 is a flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0066] FIG6 is a flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0068] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "system" and "network" can be used interchangeably. 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 only a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. A and B can be singular or plural. In addition, in the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" refers to two or more than two. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, c can be one or more. In addition, to facilitate a clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between network elements and identical or similar items with substantially the same functions. Those skilled in the art will understand that terms such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or execution order, and terms such as "first" and "second" do not necessarily limit differences.

[0070] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" in the embodiments of the present application mean that one or more embodiments of the present application include specific features, structures or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment", "in some embodiments", "in some other embodiments", "in some other embodiments", etc. that appear in different places in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but mean "one or more but not all embodiments", unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "including", "comprising", "having" and their variations all mean "including but not limited to", unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0071] In this application, "sending" and "receiving" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "sending information to XX" can be understood as the destination of the information being XX, which can include direct transmission through the air interface, as well as indirect transmission through the air interface from other units or modules. "Receiving information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information being YY, which can include direct reception from YY through the air interface, as well as indirect reception from YY through the air interface from other units or modules. "Sending" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receiving" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can be carried out between devices, for example, between a network device and a terminal device, or within a device, for example, between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device through a bus, trace, or interface. It is understandable that information may undergo necessary processing, such as encoding, modulation, etc., between the source and destination of the information, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be understood similarly and will not be repeated here.

[0072] The "indication" in this application may include direct indications and indirect indications, and may also include explicit indications and implicit indications. The information indicated by a certain information (such as the indication information described below) is called information to be indicated. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated, such as but not limited to, the information to be indicated can be directly indicated, such as the information to be indicated itself or the index of the information to be indicated. The information to be indicated can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, where there is an association between the other information and the information to be indicated; it is also possible to indicate only a part of the information to be indicated, while the other parts of the information to be indicated are known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of specific information can be achieved with the help of the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (such as predefined by the protocol), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. This application does not limit the specific method of indication. It can be understood that for the sender of the indication information, the indication information can be used to indicate the information to be indicated, and for the receiver of the indication information, the indication information can be used to determine the information to be indicated.

[0073] The following specific implementation methods further describe in detail the objectives, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present application. It should be understood that the following are only specific implementation methods of the present application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made on the basis of the technical solutions of the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

[0074] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0075] It should be understood that the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to long term evolution (LTE) architecture, fifth generation mobile communication technology (5G), wireless local area networks (WLAN) systems, vehicle to everything (V2X) communication systems, LTE-vehicle (LTE-V), vehicle to vehicle (V2V), vehicle networking, machine type communications (MTC), etc. The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to other future communication systems, such as 6G communication systems, etc. In future communication systems, the functions may remain the same, but the names may change.

[0076] The following describes the infrastructure of the communication system provided by the embodiment of the present application. The communication system provided by the present application may include one or more network devices and one or more terminal devices.

[0077] The following is an example explanation using the system architecture shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system includes a first network device 10, a second network device 20, and a terminal device 30. Among them, the first network device 10 can communicate with the second network device 20, the first network device 10 can communicate with the terminal device 30, and the second network device 20 can communicate with the terminal device 30. This application does not limit the communication method between each device. For example, the first network device 10 can communicate with the second network device 20 through the interface between the first network device 10 and the second network device 20. For example, the first network device 10 can communicate with the terminal device 30 through the interface between the first network device 10 and the terminal device 30, and the second network device 20 can communicate with the terminal device 30 through the interface between the second network device 20 and the terminal device 30. The interface between network devices can be called an XN interface. The interface between a network device and a terminal device can be called an air interface, and this application does not limit the interface name.

[0078] In DC technology, the first network device 10 can be referred to as a master node (MN) or a primary network device, and the second network device 20 can be referred to as a secondary node (SN) or a secondary network device. This application does not limit their names. The following description uses the first network device and the second network device as the master network device and the secondary network device, respectively, as an example, which should not be considered a limitation of this application.

[0079] In one possible implementation, DC may include Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access and New Radio Dual Connectivity (E-UTRA-NR dual connectivity, EN-DC), Next Generation Radio Access Network Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access and New Radio Dual Connectivity (NG-RAN E-UTRA-NR dual connectivity, NGEN-DC), New Radio and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Dual Connectivity (NR-E-UTRA dual connectivity, NE-DC), or New Radio and New Radio Dual Connectivity (NR-NR dual connectivity, NR-DC). EN-DC, i.e., LTE-NR DC, has a primary network device that is an LTE base station connected to a 4G core network, and a secondary network device that is an NR base station. NGEN-DC, has a primary network device that is an LTE base station connected to a 5G core network, and a secondary network device that is an NR base station. NE-DC, i.e., NR-LTE DC, has a primary network device that is an NR base station connected to a 5G core network, and a secondary network device that is an LTE base station. NR-DC, i.e., NR-NR DC, has both a primary network device and a secondary network device that are NR base stations connected to a 5G core network. These are just some possible examples, and this application does not limit the standards of the primary network device and the secondary network device. For example, at least one of the primary network device and the secondary network device can be a base station of other future communication systems, such as a 6G base station.

[0080] Optionally, the primary network device and the secondary network device may be co-located or non-co-located. This application does not limit the deployment method of the primary network device and the secondary network device.

[0081] In a possible implementation, the primary network device may provide one or more cells for the terminal device to form a primary cell group, and the secondary network device may provide one or more cells for the terminal device to form a secondary cell group.

[0082] Optionally, the communication system may further include a core network device (not shown in FIG1 ). The primary network device and / or the secondary network device may further communicate with the core network device. The core network device may provide communication services to the terminal device. The core network device is, for example, a device in a 5G core network (CN). As a bearer network, the core network provides an interface to the data network, providing communication connection, authentication, management, policy control, and carrying of data services for the terminal.

[0083] It should be noted that the number of network devices and terminal devices in Figure 1 is only for illustration and should not be considered as a specific limitation of the present application. The terminal devices and network devices involved in the system architecture are described in detail below.

[0084] 1. Terminal Equipment

[0085] A terminal device is an entity on the user side that is used to receive signals, or send signals, or both receive and send signals. The terminal device is used to provide one or more of voice services and data connectivity services to the user. The terminal device may be a device that includes wireless transceiver functions and can cooperate with network equipment to provide communication services to the user. Specifically, the terminal device may refer to user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, user device or road side unit (RSU). The terminal device may also be a drone, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a station (ST) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), a cellular phone, a smart phone, a cordless phone, a wireless data card, a tablet computer, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, a laptop computer, a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, 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 virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in remote medical care, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a transportation security system, or a similar device. The terminal device may also be a terminal in a 5G system or a terminal in a next-generation communication system, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0086] The embodiments of this application do not limit the device form factor of the terminal device. The device used to implement the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device; it can also be a device that supports the terminal device to implement the functions, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the terminal device or used in conjunction with the terminal device. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete components.

[0087] 2. Network Equipment

[0088] A network device is an entity on the network side that is used to send signals, receive signals, or both send and receive signals. A network device can be a device deployed in a radio access network (RAN) to provide wireless communication functions for terminal devices.

[0089] In one possible scenario, a network device may be a device with base station functionality, such as an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmitting and receiving point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a next-generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, or non-terrestrial network equipment in an NTN, i.e., equipment that can be deployed on a high-altitude platform or satellite. A network device may be a transmission reception point (TRP), a base station, or various forms of control nodes, such as a network controller or a wireless controller. Specifically, network devices can include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small cells) in heterogeneous network (HetNet) scenarios, relay stations, access points (APs), radio network controllers (RNCs), node Bs (NBs), base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), home base stations (e.g., home evolved node Bs, or home node Bs, HNBs), baseband units (BBUs) and remote radio units (RRUs) in distributed base station scenarios, transmission points (TRPs), transmitting points (TPs), mobile switching centers, and the like. They can also be antenna panels for base stations. A control node can connect to multiple base stations and configure resources for multiple terminals covered by these base stations. In systems using different wireless access technologies, the names of devices with base station functionality may vary. For example, it can be a gNB in ​​5G, or a network-side device in a network after 5G, or a network device in a future evolved public land mobile (communication) network (public land mobile network, PLMN) network, or a device that performs base station functions in device-to-device (D2D) communication, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and vehicle network communication, etc. This application does not limit the specific name of the network device.The network equipment may also be an open access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a baseband pool (BBU pool) and RRU under a cloud radio access network (CRAN), etc.

[0090] All or part of the functions of the network device in this application may also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform). The network device in this application may also be a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the network device functions.

[0091] In another possible scenario, multiple network devices collaborate to assist the terminal device in achieving wireless access, and different network devices respectively implement part of the functions of the base station. For example, the network device may include a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU and DU may be set separately, or may be 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). It is understandable that the network device may be a CU node, a DU node, or a device including a CU node and a DU node. In addition, the CU may be divided into a network device in the access network RAN, or the CU may be divided into a network device in the core network CN, without limitation here.

[0092] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0093] In the embodiments of the present application, the form of the network device is not limited. The device used to implement the function of the network device can be a network device; it can also be a device that can support the network device to implement the function, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the network device or used in conjunction with the network device.

[0094] In order to facilitate understanding of the contents of this solution, some of the terms involved in the embodiments of this application are explained below to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. This part is only for ease of understanding and cannot be regarded as a specific limitation of this application.

[0095] 1. System Frame Number and Frame Timing Difference (SFN and Frame Timing Difference, SFTD)

[0096] Generally speaking, the downlink timing of different network devices, such as the main network device and the auxiliary network device, may be the same or different, but the absolute time point corresponding to the starting point of the same wireless frame may be different. For example, when the downlink timing of different network devices is the same, because the distance between the terminal device and different network devices is different, the terminal device may measure a different frame boundary offset (frame boundary offset), which in turn causes the starting points of the wireless frames of the cells in different network devices to be different. In other words, due to the different delays in transmitting information between the terminal device and different network devices, the starting points of the wireless frames of the cells in different network devices received by the terminal device will be different. In order to obtain this difference, the measurement of SFTD is introduced, that is, the terminal device measures the deviation of the system frame number (SFN) and the timing deviation of the frame boundary between the two cells. For example, measuring the SFN offset (SFN offset) and the frame boundary offset.

[0097] In one possible implementation, SFTD may include SFN offset and frame boundary offset. For example, in FIG2 , SFTD may be determined based on the difference between a signal of a cell of a primary network device (e.g., a signal of SFN=50) and a signal of a cell of a secondary network device (e.g., a signal of SFN=2).

[0098] In a possible implementation, the terminal device may further report the SFTD to the primary network device and / or the secondary network device.

[0099] 2. Timing Advance (TA)

[0100] The TA may be used for synchronization between the terminal device and the network device, such as uplink time synchronization, etc. In a possible implementation, the TA may be determined based on the round-trip delay between the terminal device and the network device.

[0101] In a possible implementation, the TAs of different network devices may be the same or different. For example, the TA of the primary network device and the TA of the secondary network device may be the same or different.

[0102] 3. Downlink Control Information (DCI)

[0103] The communication system can support multiple DCI formats. DCI can include multiple indication fields, each corresponding to its own indication function. DCI corresponding to different DCI formats can include one or more different indication fields. In one possible implementation, some DCI can be used to schedule uplink transmission resources, and some DCI can be used to schedule downlink transmission resources. The following examples combine these two situations, specifically:

[0104] 1. DCI can be used to schedule the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). Exemplarily, DCI can be used to indicate PUSCH resources. For example, DCI may include at least one of the following indication fields: DCI format identifier, time-frequency domain location of PUSCH resources (such as at least one of frequency domain resource indication, time domain resource indication, carrier indication, uplink (UL) / supplementary uplink (SUL) indication, and partial bandwidth (BWP) indication), data modulation and coding strategy carried on PUSCH resources, redundancy version, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process number, PUSCH transmit power command, precoding information, and number of layers.

[0105] Exemplarily, the secondary network device may receive a resource scheduling request (which may be a BSR or SR) from the terminal device to trigger the secondary network device to determine the PUSCH resources scheduled for the terminal device based on the scheduling algorithm. In this way, the PUSCH resources may be indicated by DCI. The resource scheduling request may be, for example, a buffer status report (BSR) or a scheduling request (SR).

[0106] 2. DCI can be used to schedule the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). Exemplarily, DCI can be used to indicate PDSCH resources and can also indicate physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources. For example, DCI may include at least one of the following indication fields: DCI format identifier, time-frequency domain position of PDSCH resources (such as at least one of frequency domain resource indication, time domain resource indication, carrier indication, BWP indication, etc.), modulation and coding strategy of data carried in PDSCH resources, indication of whether it is information data, redundancy version, HARQ process number, PUCCH resource indication, PDSCH transmit power command, time indication between PDSCH resources and HARQ feedback information, etc. HARQ feedback information may include positive acknowledgment (ACK) or negative acknowledgment (NACK). For example, when the terminal device successfully decodes the data on the PDSCH, the HARQ feedback information may include ACK. When the terminal device fails to decode the data on the PDSCH, the HARQ feedback information may include NACK.

[0107] Exemplarily, the secondary network device may receive downlink data from the core network device or the primary network device to trigger the secondary network device to determine the PDSCH resources scheduled for the terminal device based on the scheduling algorithm. In this way, the PDSCH resources may be indicated by DCI. Optionally, the secondary network device may also determine PUCCH resources, such as by indicating PUCCH resources by DCI.

[0108] In a possible implementation, the formats of the DCI used by different network devices may be the same or different. For example, the format of the DCI used by the primary network device and the format of the DCI used by the secondary network device may be the same or different.

[0109] In a possible implementation, the DCI may be carried in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[0110] It should be pointed out that in this application, PUSCH, PDSCH, PUCCH and PDCCH are only used as examples of uplink data channels, downlink data channels, uplink control channels and downlink control channels, respectively. In different systems and different scenarios, data channels and control channels may have different names, and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0111] Generally, in DC technology, the terminal device is connected to the primary network device and the secondary network device at the same time. The terminal device needs to monitor (monitoring in this application can be understood as receiving or detecting, etc.) the PDCCH of the primary network device and the PDCCH of the secondary network device at the same time, which makes the terminal device power consumption relatively high. Based on this, this application provides an embodiment shown in Figure 3 to solve this problem. It should be noted that this application uses the DC scenario as an example for explanation, and the method provided in this application can also be applied to other scenarios where this technology exists.

[0112] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below. Specifically, the terminal mentioned below may be the terminal involved in Figure 1, and the network device mentioned below (such as the main network device or the auxiliary network device) may be the network device involved in Figure 1. It should be pointed out that the message name between the network elements or the name of the parameters in the message in the following embodiment is only an example, and other names may be used in the specific implementation, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this. The processing performed by the single execution subject (terminal or network device (such as the main network device or the auxiliary network device)) shown in the embodiment of the present application can also be divided into executions by multiple execution subjects, and these execution subjects can be logically and / or physically separated. For example, the processing performed by the network device (such as the main network device or the auxiliary network device) can be divided into executions by at least one of the CU, DU and RU.

[0113] As shown in Figure 3, a communication method is provided for an embodiment of the present application, which includes but is not limited to the following steps. It should be noted that the various embodiments of the present application are only described by taking all the steps included therein as an example, and should not be regarded as specific limitations of the present application. In other words, the steps included in the embodiments of the present application (i.e., any one of the embodiments in Figures 3 to 6) can be partially or fully executed in the absence of logical conflicts.

[0114] 301. A secondary network device sends information indicating a first resource to a primary network device, where the first resource is used for communication between a terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0115] Correspondingly, the primary network device receives information indicating the first resource from the secondary network device.

[0116] In one possible implementation, the first resource being used for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device includes: the first resource being used for uplink communication and / or downlink communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. In this application, uplink communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device can be understood as the terminal device sending uplink data and / or uplink signaling to the secondary network device. Downlink communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device can be understood as the secondary network device sending downlink data and / or downlink signaling to the terminal device.

[0117] For example, uplink data can be carried on the PUSCH. In this case, the first resource can be referred to as a PUSCH resource, and this application does not limit its name. Furthermore, in one possible implementation, the information used to indicate the first resource can be located in a message, such as a DCI, an XN message, or other message. When the information used to indicate the first resource is located in the DCI, it can also be described as the information used to indicate the first resource being the DCI or at least one indication field in the DCI. This application does not limit the description method.

[0118] As another example, downlink data can be carried on PDSCH. In this case, the first resource can be referred to as PDSCH resource, and this application does not limit its name. Optionally, the auxiliary network device can also send information indicating a third resource to the main network device, and the third resource is used for the terminal device to send feedback information to the auxiliary network device. The feedback information is used to feedback the reception status of the data corresponding to the first resource, such as the feedback information is used to feedback the reception status of the downlink data transmitted on the first resource. Optionally, the feedback information can be ACK or NACK. In one possible implementation, the feedback information can be carried on PUCCH. In this case, the third resource can be referred to as PUCCH resource, etc., and this application does not limit its name.

[0119] In a possible implementation, the information indicating the first resource and the information indicating the third resource may be located in different messages, or in different indication fields of different messages, or in the same message, or in the same indication field of the same message, etc. The message here may be, for example, a DCI message, an XN message, or other message.

[0120] It should be noted that the resources mentioned in this application may refer to time domain resources and / or frequency domain resources, etc.

[0121] Time domain resources may include, for example, at least one of the following: frame, subframe, time slot, symbol, etc. In NR, the duration of a frame is 10 milliseconds (ms), and each frame is divided into 10 subframes, each subframe is 1ms long. Each subframe is divided into several time slots: when the cyclic prefix (CP) is a normal cyclic prefix (NCP), each time slot consists of 14 symbols; when the cyclic prefix is ​​an extended cyclic prefix (ECP), each time slot consists of 12 symbols. Of course, with the evolution of communication technology, the number of symbols included in a time slot may also be other values, which is not limited in this application. The symbols involved in this application may be orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols.

[0122] Frequency domain resources may include, for example, at least one of the following: subcarrier, resource block (RB), resource block group (RBG), sub-channel, bandwidth part (BWP), carrier. A resource block is a plurality of subcarriers that are continuous in the frequency domain. For example, a resource block may include 12 subcarriers. Multiple resource blocks may constitute a resource block group. A carrier is a continuous frequency range that complies with system regulations. This frequency range may be determined by the center frequency of the carrier (denoted as the carrier frequency) and the bandwidth of the carrier. A carrier may include one or more partial bandwidths. A partial bandwidth may include one or more subchannels, and a subchannel may include multiple resource blocks. A subchannel may also be called a subband.

[0123] 302. The primary network device sends first information to the terminal device, where the first information is used to indicate a first resource.

[0124] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first information from the main network device. There is a first communication connection between the terminal device and the main network device, and a second communication connection between the terminal device and the auxiliary network device. It should be noted that a certain communication connection mentioned in this application (such as the first communication connection or the second communication connection, etc.) may be a data connection and / or a radio resource control (RRC) connection. The data connection is used for the terminal device and the network device to transmit data, including uplink data and / or downlink data. The RRC connection is used for the terminal device and the network device to transmit data and / or signaling. For example, the terminal device may perform random access with the main network device so that there is a first communication connection between the terminal device and the main network device. For example, the terminal device may perform random access with the auxiliary network device so that there is a second communication connection between the terminal device and the auxiliary network device.

[0125] The first information is introduced in detail below.

[0126] In one possible implementation, the first information may be, for example, DCI or at least one indication field in DCI. Optionally, the information indicating the first resource may trigger the primary network device to send the first information. The following describes two examples, specifically:

[0127] 1. The master network device may parse the information indicating the first resource. For example, the master network device may forward the information indicating the first resource, i.e., the first information and the information indicating the first resource are the same information. Alternatively, the master network device may generate the first information based on the information indicating the first resource.

[0128] For ease of understanding, the following describes these two methods using the example of DCI as the information indicating the first resource. For ease of distinction, the DCI is referred to as the DCI of the secondary network device, and this application does not limit its name. It should be understood that the primary network device receives the DCI of the secondary network device, and for example, can forward the DCI of the secondary network device. In this case, it can be said that the first information is the DCI of the secondary network device or at least one indication field in the DCI. Alternatively, the primary network device receives the DCI of the secondary network device, and the primary network device can parse the DCI of the secondary network device to understand the physical meaning of each field in the DCI of the secondary network device, and then generate the first information based on the physical meaning of each field in the DCI of the secondary network device. In this case, the first information can be DCI (referred to as the DCI of the primary network device for ease of distinction) or at least one indication field in the DCI.

[0129] 2. The master network device cannot parse the information indicating the first resource. For example, the master network device can forward the information indicating the first resource, that is, the first information and the information indicating the first resource are the same information.

[0130] In a possible implementation, the first information is used to indicate the first resource, including: the first information is used to indicate the first resource and is used to indicate that the first resource is used for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. Taking the first information being DCI as an example to introduce "the first information is used to indicate the first resource and is used to indicate that the first resource is used for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device", specifically: at least one indication field in the DCI can be used to indicate the first resource and is used to indicate that the first resource is used for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. For example, the time-frequency domain position of the PUSCH resource or the time-frequency domain position of the PDSCH resource in the DCI can determine the first resource. For example, the DCI format identifier in the DCI can be used to indicate that the first resource is used for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. For example, 1 bit in the DCI can be used to indicate that the first resource is used for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device, such as the value of 1 bit is 0 or 1, indicating that the first resource is used for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. For example, the format of the DCI is the format used by the secondary network device. This is equivalent to the DCI format used by the primary network device being different from the DCI format used by the secondary network device. In this way, the terminal device can learn through the DCI format that the first resource indicated by the DCI is used for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0131] In a possible implementation, the first information may further include information indicating a third resource. For example, when the first resource is used for downlink communication between the terminal device and the auxiliary network device, the first information may further include information indicating the third resource.

[0132] In one possible implementation, the primary network device may also send second information to the terminal device. For example, before step 302, the primary network device sends the second information to the terminal device. The second information is used to instruct the terminal device to receive information from the primary network device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. In one possible implementation, the primary network device may generate the second information or forward the second information from the secondary network device. The following examples illustrate these two methods, specifically:

[0133] 1. The primary network device generates (also understood as determining or obtaining) second information. Exemplarily, when the terminal device establishes a first communication connection with the primary network device and the terminal device establishes a second communication connection with the secondary network device, the primary network device generates the second information and sends a message carrying the second information to the terminal device. The message may be an RRC message (such as an RRC configuration message or an RRC reconfiguration message), DCI, or a medium access control-control element (MAC CE).

[0134] In a possible implementation, the second information may be part or all of the configuration information of the primary network device.

[0135] It should be noted that, in the present application, the configuration information of the primary network device may include configuration parameters of the radio bearer (RB) between the terminal device and the primary network device, such as the configuration parameters of the signaling radio bearer (SRB) for transmitting signaling data and / or the data radio bearer (DRB) for transmitting service data. This application does not limit this.

[0136] 2. The primary network device forwards the second information from the secondary network device. That is, the secondary network device may send the second information to the terminal device through the primary network device. The second information may be generated, determined, or obtained by the primary network device. For example, the secondary network device sends a first message carrying the second information (such as a secondary station addition response message or other message) to the primary network device. The primary network device generates a second message carrying the second information based on the first message (such as an RRC message (such as an RRC configuration message or an RRC reconfiguration message, etc.), DCI, or MAC CE, etc.), and sends the second message to the terminal device.

[0137] In a possible implementation, the second information may be part or all of the configuration information of the secondary network device.

[0138] It should be noted that, in the present application, the configuration information of the auxiliary network device may include configuration parameters of RBs between the terminal device and the auxiliary network device, such as configuration parameters of SRBs for transmitting signaling data and / or DRBs for transmitting service data, etc. This application does not limit this.

[0139] Optionally, the above-mentioned "information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device" can be described as the DCI of the secondary network device or at least one indication field in the DCI. Optionally, the DCI can be located in the PDCCH. In this case, the second information is used to indicate that the terminal device receives information from the primary network device for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device, which can be understood as at least one of the following: the second information is used to indicate that the terminal device monitors the DCI of the secondary network device from the primary network device, the second information is used to indicate that the terminal device monitors the PDCCH of the primary network device to obtain the DCI of the secondary network device, the second information is used to indicate that the terminal device is not monitoring the DCI of the secondary network device on the secondary network device, and the second information is used to indicate that the terminal device is not monitoring the PDCCH of the secondary network device on the secondary network device.

[0140] In one possible implementation, step 302 may include: the primary network device sending first information to the terminal device on a second resource. The second resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device, and may be implemented in at least one of the following ways, specifically:

[0141] 1. The second resource may be a downlink resource dedicated to transmitting information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the auxiliary network device, such as part or all of the downlink resources.

[0142] In a possible implementation, the downlink resources may include downlink control resources and / or downlink data resources. Optionally, the downlink control resources may be PDCCH resources. The downlink data resources may be PDSCH resources.

[0143] In a possible implementation, when the second resource is part of the downlink resources dedicated to transmitting information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device, the primary network device may schedule the remaining resources for downlink transmission.

[0144] 2. The second resource may be a downlink resource used to transmit information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the primary network device, such as part or all of the downlink resources.

[0145] In a possible implementation, when the second resource is part of the downlink resources used to transmit information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the primary network device, the primary network device may schedule the remaining resources for downlink transmission.

[0146] In one possible implementation, the primary network device may further send third information to the terminal device, where the third information is used to indicate the second resource. The primary network device may generate the third information or forward the third information from the secondary network device. The following examples illustrate these two methods, specifically:

[0147] 1. The primary network device generates the third information.

[0148] Exemplarily, when the main network device allocates a second resource to the terminal device, the main network device generates third information and sends a message carrying the third information to the terminal device. The message may be an RRC message (such as an RRC configuration message or an RRC reconfiguration message, etc.), a DCI or a medium access control layer control element (MAC CE), etc.

[0149] In one possible implementation, the primary network device may further send information indicating a sixth resource to the secondary network device. The sixth resource may be used to transmit information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. Alternatively, the sixth resource may be part or all of the second resource. Alternatively, the information indicating the sixth resource may be included in a resource sharing confirmation message or other message.

[0150] As another example, the primary network device may receive information indicating a fourth resource from the secondary network device, and determine and generate third information based on the fourth resource. The fourth resource may include the second resource, such as the second resource may be part or all of the fourth resource. The fourth resource may be a downlink resource dedicated to transmitting information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device, such as part or all of the downlink resources. Alternatively, the fourth resource may be a downlink resource used to transmit information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the primary network device, such as part or all of the downlink resources. Optionally, the information indicating the fourth resource may be located in a secondary station add response message or other message.

[0151] In a possible implementation, the primary network device may further send information indicating a fifth resource to the secondary network device, where the fifth resource is used to determine the fourth resource. For example, the fourth resource may be part or all of the fifth resource. For example, the fourth resource is different from the fifth resource, such as the fourth resource is located after the fifth resource in the time domain. This application does not limit the relationship between the fourth resource and the fifth resource. The fifth resource may be a downlink resource dedicated to transmitting information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device, such as part or all of the downlink resources. Alternatively, the fifth resource may be a downlink resource used to transmit information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the primary network device, such as part or all of the downlink resources. Optionally, the information indicating the fifth resource may be located in a secondary station addition request message, a resource sharing confirmation message, a response message, or other messages.

[0152] In one possible implementation, the third information may be part or all of the configuration information of the primary network device. Alternatively, the third information and the second information in the implementation of "the primary network device generates the second information" may be located in different messages, or in the same indication field or different indication fields of different messages, or in the same message, or in the same indication field of the same message, etc.

[0153] Among them, when the third information and the second information are located in different messages or different indication fields of different messages, for example, the third information is located in an RRC message (such as an RRC configuration message or an RRC reconfiguration message, etc.), and the second information is located in a DCI or a MAC CE, it can be considered that the third information also includes information for instructing the terminal device not to receive resources from the primary network device that instruct the terminal device to communicate with the secondary network device. This is equivalent to the operation of the terminal device receiving information from the primary network device that instructs the terminal device to communicate with the secondary network device. This operation is not activated. In this way, the network device can also send the second information to the terminal device to activate the operation.

[0154] When the third information and the second information are located in the same message or the same indication field of the same message, for example, the third information and the second information are both located in an RRC message (such as an RRC configuration message or an RRC reconfiguration message, etc.), it can be considered that the RRC message activates the process in which the terminal device receives information from the primary network device indicating the resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0155] 2. The primary network device forwards the third information from the secondary network device. That is, the secondary network device sends the third information to the terminal device through the primary network device, and the third information can be generated, determined or obtained by the primary network device. For example, the secondary network device sends a third message carrying the third information to the primary network device (such as a secondary station addition response message or other message), and the primary network device generates a fourth message carrying the third information based on the third message (such as an RRC message (such as an RRC configuration message or an RRC reconfiguration message, etc.), a DCI or a MAC CE, etc.), and sends the fourth message to the terminal device. Optionally, the first message and the third message may be the same message or different messages. The second message and the fourth message may be the same message or different messages. In a possible implementation, the third information may be part or all of the configuration information of the secondary network device.

[0156] Optionally, the master network device may further receive information from the terminal device indicating that the terminal device has successfully received the third information. Correspondingly, the terminal device may send the information to the network device. For example, after the terminal device receives the third information, it may send information to the network device indicating that the terminal device has successfully received the third information. Optionally, the information may be located in an RRC message (such as an RRC reconfiguration complete message or an RRC configuration complete message).

[0157] In one possible implementation, the primary network device may further receive information indicating the timing advance of the secondary network device from the secondary network device. Thus, the third information may further include information indicating the timing advance of the secondary network device. It should be understood that when the terminal device receives information indicating the timing advance of the secondary network device, the terminal device may further synchronize with the secondary network device based on the timing advance of the secondary network device, such as for uplink time synchronization.

[0158] In one possible implementation, the master network device may further determine a first moment, where the first moment is the moment at which the master network device sends the first information to the terminal device. In this case, the master network device may send the first information to the terminal device based on the first moment. For example, the master network device may send the first information to the terminal device before or at the first moment. The master network device may determine the first moment in at least one of the following ways:

[0159] 1. The primary network device receives information indicating a first resource and can parse the information indicating the first resource. Therefore, the primary network device can determine a first moment based on the first resource and time information between the primary network device and the secondary network device. For example, the primary network device can determine the first moment based on the time domain location of the first resource and the time information. In one possible implementation, the first moment is, for example, at least one of the SFN, time slot number, and symbol number of the cell of the primary network device.

[0160] The time information between the primary network device and the secondary network device may be, for example, SFTD, and this application does not limit the specific implementation of the time information.

[0161] 2. The primary network device receives information indicating the first resource, but the primary network device cannot parse the information indicating the first resource. In this case, the primary network device may also receive auxiliary information from the auxiliary network device.

[0162] For example, the auxiliary information is used to indicate the first moment or includes the first moment, which is equivalent to the auxiliary network device being able to determine the first moment based on the position of the first resource in the time domain and the time information, so as to indicate the first moment through the auxiliary information.

[0163] For example, the auxiliary information is used to indicate or include a reference time. For example, the reference time is the time at which the secondary network device expects the primary network device to send the first information to the terminal device. The reference time may be at least one of the SFN, time slot number, and symbol number of the cell of the secondary network device. In this case, the primary network device may determine the first moment based on the reference time and time information between the primary and secondary network devices.

[0164] In a possible implementation, the primary network device may further receive the first indication information from the terminal device or the secondary network device, or the primary network device may further receive the fourth indication information from the secondary network device.

[0165] The first indication information is used to instruct or request that the primary network device send information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device to the terminal device. Optionally, the first indication information is in a message, which may be a UCI, a secondary station addition response message, or other message.

[0166] For example, the primary network device receives first indication information from the terminal device, and the first indication information may be located in the UCI or other messages.

[0167] For example, the primary network device receives first indication information from the secondary network device, and the first indication information is located in a secondary station addition response message or other message. In this case, the first indication information is used to indicate or request that information for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device be sent to the terminal device through the primary network device. It can also be described as: the first indication information is used to instruct the secondary network device to send information for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device to the terminal device through the primary network device. Optionally, the first indication information can be located in different messages from at least one of the second information, the third information, etc., or in different indication fields of different messages, or in the same message, or in the same indication field of the same message, etc.

[0168] The fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device not to transmit information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device via the primary network device. For example, this can be understood as follows: the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device not to transmit DCI for the secondary network device via the primary network device. In this case, the terminal device can directly obtain information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device from the secondary network device. Optionally, the fourth indication information can be included in a secondary station add response message or other message.

[0169] As an example, the primary network device may also send a second indication message to the secondary network device. For example, the primary network device may send a second indication message to the secondary network device based on the capabilities of the terminal device and the power saving requirements of the terminal device. The capabilities of the terminal device may include whether the terminal device supports receiving information from the primary network device for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. The second indication information is used to indicate that the primary network device supports sending information to the terminal device for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. Optionally, the second indication information may be located in a secondary station add request message or other message. Optionally, the second indication information may be located in different messages from the information used to indicate the fifth resource, or in different indication fields of different messages, or in the same message, or in the same indication field of the same message, etc.

[0170] In one possible implementation, the primary network device sends the second indication information to the secondary network device, so that the secondary network device receives the second indication information and then sends the first indication information or the fourth indication information to the primary network device to notify the primary network device whether to send information on resources for indicating communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device to the terminal device through the primary network device.

[0171] As another example, the primary network device may further send third indication information to the terminal device or the secondary network device. Alternatively, the primary network device may further send fifth indication information to the secondary network device.

[0172] The third indication information is used to indicate permission to send, to the terminal device through the primary network device, information for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. Optionally, the third indication information is located in a message, which may be a DCI, an RRC message (such as an RRC configuration message or an RRC reconfiguration message), a MAC CE, a resource sharing confirmation message, a response message, or other messages.

[0173] For example, the primary network device sends third indication information to the terminal device, and the third indication information can be located in DCI, RRC message (such as RRC configuration message or RRC reconfiguration message, etc.), or MAC CE.

[0174] For example, the primary network device sends third indication information to the secondary network device. The third indication information can be located in a resource sharing confirmation message, a response message, or another message. In this case, the third indication information can be located in a different message from the information indicating the fifth resource, or in different indication fields of different messages, or in the same message, or in the same indication field of the same message, etc. Alternatively, the third indication information can be located in a different message from the information indicating the sixth resource, or in different indication fields of different messages, or in the same message, or in the same indication field of the same message, etc.

[0175] The fifth indication information is used to indicate that information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device is not permitted to be sent to the terminal device via the primary network device. For example, this can be understood as follows: the fifth indication information is used to indicate that DCI of the secondary network device is not permitted to be sent to the terminal device via the primary network device. In this case, the terminal device can directly obtain information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device from the secondary network device. Optionally, the fifth indication information can be included in a secondary station add response message or other message.

[0176] In a possible implementation, the primary network device receives the first indication information from the secondary network device and may send the third indication information or the fifth indication information to the secondary network device to notify the secondary network device whether it can send information for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device to the terminal device through the primary network device.

[0177] As can be seen in the above embodiment, when a first communication connection is established between a terminal device and a primary network device, and a second communication connection is established between the terminal device and a secondary network device, the secondary network device can transmit information indicating a first resource to the primary network device, so that the primary network device can transmit first information indicating the first resource. The first resource can be used for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. In other words, the terminal device can obtain the first resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device by monitoring the signal from the primary network device, eliminating the need for the terminal device to monitor the signal from the secondary network device. This reduces the power consumption of the terminal device, thereby achieving energy conservation for the terminal device.

[0178] In one possible implementation, the primary network device may further send fourth information to the terminal device. For example, the primary network device may be resource-constrained or receive an instruction from the secondary network device, causing the primary network device to send the fourth information to the terminal device. The fourth information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop receiving information from the primary network device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. Optionally, the fourth information may be in a message, such as a DCI, an RRC message (such as an RRC configuration message or an RRC reconfiguration message), a MAC CE, or other message.

[0179] The method embodiment shown in FIG3 above includes many possible implementation schemes. The following examples illustrate some of these implementation schemes in conjunction with FIG4, FIG5, or FIG6. It should be noted that the relevant concepts, operations, or logical relationships not explained in FIG4, FIG5, or FIG6 can refer to the corresponding descriptions in the embodiment shown in FIG3, and thus will not be repeated here. Optionally, the embodiment shown in FIG4, FIG5, or FIG6 can be performed before step 301 in FIG3.

[0180] See Figure 4, which is a flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0181] 401. The primary network device sends a secondary station adding request message to the secondary network device.

[0182] Correspondingly, the secondary network device receives the secondary station adding request message from the primary network device. Optionally, the secondary station adding request message can be used to request the secondary network device to provide uplink resources and / or downlink resources for the terminal device to communicate.

[0183] In one possible implementation, the secondary station addition request message may include at least one of the following: second indication information and information indicating a fifth resource. The second indication information is used to indicate that the primary network device supports sending information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device to the terminal device, or the second indication information is used to instruct the secondary network device to send information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device to the terminal device via the primary network device. The fifth resource is used to determine the fourth resource. For example, the fourth resource may be part or all of the fifth resource. For example, the fourth resource is different from the fifth resource, such as the fourth resource is located after the fifth resource in the time domain. This application does not limit the relationship between the fourth resource and the fifth resource.

[0184] The fourth resource may include the second resource.

[0185] 402. The secondary network device sends a secondary station adding response message to the primary network device.

[0186] Correspondingly, the primary network device receives a secondary station adding response message from the secondary network device.

[0187] In one possible implementation, the secondary station addition response message may include at least one of the following: first indication information, information indicating a fourth resource, and second information. The first indication information indicates that information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device is sent to the terminal device by the primary network device. The second information indicates that the terminal device receives information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device from the primary network device. Optionally, the secondary station addition response message may also include configuration information of the secondary network device. As an example, at least one of the information indicating the fourth resource and the second information may be located within the configuration information of the secondary network device.

[0188] In another possible implementation, the secondary station addition response message may include fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device is not sent to the terminal device via the primary network device. For example, this can be understood as follows: the fourth indication information is used to indicate that DCI of the secondary network device is not sent to the terminal device via the primary network device. In this case, the terminal device can directly obtain information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device from the secondary network device.

[0189] 403. The primary network device sends an RRC reconfiguration message to the terminal device.

[0190] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives an RRC reconfiguration message from the primary network device.

[0191] The RRC reconfiguration message may be used by the terminal device to receive information from the primary network device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0192] In a possible implementation, the RRC reconfiguration message may include third information, where the third information is used to indicate the second resource.

[0193] In a possible implementation, the RRC reconfiguration message may further include configuration information of the secondary network device and / or configuration information of the primary network device. As an example, the third information may be located in the configuration information of the primary network device.

[0194] Optionally, the RRC reconfiguration message may further include second information. For example, if the RRC reconfiguration message includes configuration information of the primary network device, the RRC reconfiguration message may further include the second information. The second information is used to instruct the terminal device to receive information from the primary network device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. As an example, the second information may be located within the configuration information of the primary network device.

[0195] Optionally, after step 403 , step 404 may also be performed.

[0196] 404. The terminal device sends an RRC reconfiguration completion message to the primary network device. The RRC reconfiguration completion message is used to indicate that the terminal device has successfully received the RRC reconfiguration message.

[0197] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the primary network device, the secondary network device and the terminal device interact with each other to achieve a consistent understanding of "receiving information from the primary network device for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device", thereby ensuring the smooth implementation of the solution.

[0198] See Figure 5, which is a flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0199] 501. The primary network device sends a secondary station adding request message to the secondary network device. The secondary station adding request message is used to request the secondary network device to provide uplink resources and / or downlink resources for the terminal device to communicate.

[0200] Correspondingly, the secondary network device receives the secondary station adding request message from the primary network device.

[0201] 502. The secondary network device sends a secondary station adding response message to the primary network device. The secondary station adding response message includes first indication information. The first indication information is used to request that the primary network device send information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device to the terminal device.

[0202] Correspondingly, the primary network device receives a secondary station adding response message from the secondary network device.

[0203] In a possible implementation manner, the secondary station adding response message may further include configuration information of the secondary network device.

[0204] 503. The primary network device sends a resource sharing confirmation message to the secondary network device.

[0205] Correspondingly, the secondary network device receives a resource sharing confirmation message from the primary network device.

[0206] In one possible implementation, the resource sharing confirmation message may include at least one of the following: third indication information and information indicating a sixth resource. The third indication information indicates permission to transmit, via the primary network device, to the terminal device, information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. The sixth resource is part or all of the second resource.

[0207] The sixth resource may be used to transmit information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. It should be understood that, when the primary network device allocates the second resource to the terminal device, the primary network device may send information indicating the sixth resource to the secondary network device, that is, indicating which resources may be used to transmit information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0208] In another possible implementation, the resource sharing confirmation message may include fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate that information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device is not allowed to be sent to the terminal device via the primary network device. For example, this can be understood as follows: the fifth indication information is used to indicate that DCI of the secondary network device is not allowed to be sent to the terminal device via the primary network device. In this case, the terminal device can directly obtain information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device from the secondary network device.

[0209] Here, step 503 may be executed or not.

[0210] 504. The primary network device sends an RRC reconfiguration message to the terminal device.

[0211] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives an RRC reconfiguration message from the primary network device.

[0212] Step 504 is similar to step 403 in FIG. 4 and is not described in detail here.

[0213] Optionally, after step 504 , step 505 may also be performed.

[0214] 505. The terminal device sends an RRC reconfiguration completion message to the primary network device. The RRC reconfiguration completion message is used to indicate that the terminal device has successfully received the RRC reconfiguration message.

[0215] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the primary network device, the secondary network device and the terminal device interact with each other to achieve a consistent understanding of "receiving information from the primary network device for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device", thereby ensuring the smooth implementation of the solution.

[0216] See Figure 6, which is a flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0217] 601. The primary network device sends a secondary station adding request message to the secondary network device. The secondary station adding request message is used to request the secondary network device to provide uplink resources and / or downlink resources for the terminal device to communicate.

[0218] Correspondingly, the secondary network device receives the secondary station adding request message from the primary network device.

[0219] 602. The secondary network device sends a request message to the primary network device, where the request message includes first indication information. The first indication information is used to request that the primary network device send to the terminal device information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0220] Correspondingly, the primary network device receives the request message from the secondary network device.

[0221] Here, step 602 may or may not be performed.

[0222] 603. The primary network device sends a response message to the secondary network device.

[0223] Correspondingly, the secondary network device receives a response message from the primary network device.

[0224] In one possible implementation, the response message may include at least one of the following: third indication information and information indicating a fifth resource. The third indication information indicates permission to send, via the primary network device, to the terminal device information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. The fifth resource is used to determine the fourth resource. For example, the fourth resource may be part or all of the fifth resource. For example, the fourth resource is different from the fifth resource, such as being located after the fifth resource in the time domain. This application does not limit the relationship between the fourth resource and the fifth resource. The fourth resource may include the second resource.

[0225] In another possible implementation, the response message may include fifth indication information. The fifth indication information is used to indicate that information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device is not allowed to be sent to the terminal device via the primary network device. For example, this can be understood as follows: the fifth indication information is used to indicate that DCI of the secondary network device is not allowed to be sent to the terminal device via the primary network device. In this case, the terminal device can directly obtain information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device from the secondary network device.

[0226] Wherein, step 603 may be executed or not executed. For example, if step 602 is executed, step 603 may be executed or not executed. If step 602 is not executed, step 603 is also not executed.

[0227] 604. The secondary network device sends a secondary station adding response message to the primary network device.

[0228] Correspondingly, the primary network device receives a secondary station adding response message from the secondary network device.

[0229] In one possible implementation, the secondary station addition response message may include at least one of the following: first indication information, information indicating a fourth resource, and second information. The first indication information indicates that information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device is sent to the terminal device by the primary network device. The second information indicates that the terminal device receives information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device from the primary network device. Optionally, the secondary station addition response message may also include configuration information of the secondary network device. As an example, at least one of the information indicating the fourth resource and the second information may be located within the configuration information of the secondary network device.

[0230] 605. The primary network device sends an RRC reconfiguration message to the terminal device.

[0231] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives an RRC reconfiguration message from the primary network device.

[0232] Among them, step 605 is similar to step 403 in Figure 4 and is not described again here.

[0233] Optionally, after step 605 , step 606 may be further executed.

[0234] 606. The terminal device sends an RRC reconfiguration completion message to the primary network device. The RRC reconfiguration completion message is used to indicate that the terminal device has successfully received the RRC reconfiguration message.

[0235] Optionally, step 606 may be executed or not executed, which is not limited here.

[0236] It can be seen that in the above embodiment, the primary network device, the secondary network device and the terminal device interact with each other to achieve a consistent understanding of "receiving information from the primary network device for indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device", thereby ensuring the smooth implementation of the solution.

[0237] It is understandable that, in order to realize the above functions, the above-mentioned devices include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in 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.

[0238] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device or network device (such as a primary network device or an auxiliary network device, etc.) can be divided into functional modules according to the above method examples. 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 module can be implemented in the form of hardware or 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.

[0239] Refer to Figure 7, which is a structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 700 can be applied to the method shown in any of the embodiments in Figures 3 to 6 above. As shown in Figure 7, the communication device 700 includes: a processing module 701 and a transceiver module 702. The processing module 701 can be one or more processors, and the transceiver module 702 can be a transceiver or a communication interface. The communication device can be used to implement the terminal device or network device (such as a primary network device or a secondary network device, etc.) involved in any of the above method embodiments, or to implement the functions of the network element involved in any of the above method embodiments. The network element or network function can be a network element in a hardware device, a software function running on dedicated hardware, or a virtualization function instantiated on a platform (for example, a cloud platform). Optionally, the communication device 700 can also include a storage module 703 for storing program code and data of the communication device 700.

[0240] In one embodiment, when the communication device serves as a terminal device or a chip used in a terminal device, and executes the steps performed by the terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiments. The transceiver module 702 is used to specifically execute the sending and / or receiving actions performed by the terminal device in any of the embodiments of Figures 3 to 6, for example, to support the terminal device in executing other processes of the technology described herein. The processing module 701 can be used to support the communication device 700 in executing the processing actions in the above-mentioned method embodiments, for example, to support the terminal device in executing other processes of the technology described herein.

[0241] Exemplarily, the transceiver module 702 is configured to receive first information from the primary network device, the first information being used to indicate a first resource, the first resource being used for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. A first communication connection exists between the terminal device and the primary network device, and a second communication connection exists between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0242] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to receive second information from the primary network device, where the second information is configured to instruct the terminal device to receive information from the primary network device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0243] In a possible implementation, when receiving the first information from the primary network device, the transceiver module 702 is configured to receive the first information from the primary network device on a second resource for transmitting information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0244] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to receive third information from the primary network device, where the third information is used to indicate the second resource.

[0245] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to receive fourth information from the primary network device, where the fourth information is configured to instruct the terminal device to stop receiving information from the primary network device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0246] In one embodiment, when the communication device serves as a network device (such as a primary network device or a secondary network device, etc.) or is a chip used in a network device (such as a primary network device or a secondary network device, etc.), and executes the steps performed by the network device (such as a primary network device or a secondary network device, etc.) in the above method embodiment. The transceiver module 702 is used to specifically execute the sending and / or receiving actions performed by the network device (such as a primary network device or a secondary network device, etc.) in any embodiment of Figures 3 to 6, for example, to support the network device (such as a primary network device or a secondary network device, etc.) to execute other processes of the technology described herein. The processing module 701 can be used to support the communication device 700 to execute the processing actions in the above method embodiment, for example, to support the network device (such as a primary network device or a secondary network device, etc.) to execute other processes of the technology described herein.

[0247] Illustratively, the transceiver module 702 is configured to: receive information indicating a first resource from a secondary network device, the first resource being used for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device; and send first information indicating the first resource to the terminal device, wherein a first communication connection exists between the terminal device and the primary network device.

[0248] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to send second information to the terminal device, where the second information is configured to instruct the terminal device to receive information from the primary network device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0249] In a possible implementation, when sending the first information to the terminal device, the transceiver module 702 is configured to send the first information to the terminal device on a second resource. The second resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the auxiliary network device.

[0250] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to send third information to the terminal device, where the third information is used to indicate the second resource.

[0251] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to receive information indicating the timing advance of the secondary network device from the secondary network device. The third information also includes information indicating the timing advance of the secondary network device.

[0252] In one possible implementation, the processing module 701 is further used to determine a first moment, where the first moment is the moment when the main network device sends the first information to the terminal device; when sending the first information to the terminal device, the transceiver module 702 is used to send the first information to the terminal device based on the first moment.

[0253] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to send fourth information to the terminal device, where the fourth information is configured to instruct the terminal device to stop receiving information from the primary network device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0254] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to receive first indication information from a terminal device or an auxiliary network device, where the first indication information is configured to indicate that information on resources for communication between the terminal device and the auxiliary network device is sent to the terminal device via the primary network device.

[0255] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to send second indication information to the secondary network device, where the second indication information is configured to indicate that the primary network device supports sending information to the terminal device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0256] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to send third indication information to the terminal device or the auxiliary network device, where the third indication information is configured to indicate that information on resources for indicating communication between the terminal device and the auxiliary network device is allowed to be sent to the terminal device via the primary network device.

[0257] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to receive information indicating a fourth resource from the secondary network device. The fourth resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. The fourth resource includes the second resource.

[0258] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to send information indicating a fifth resource to the secondary network device, where the fifth resource is used to determine the fourth resource. The fifth resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0259] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to receive second information from the secondary network device, where the second information is configured to instruct the terminal device to receive information from the primary network device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0260] As another example, the transceiver module 702 is configured to send information indicating a first resource to the primary network device, where the first resource is used for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device, wherein a second communication connection exists between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0261] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further used to send information indicating a third resource to the primary network device. The third resource is used by the terminal device to send feedback information to the secondary network device. The feedback information is used to feedback the reception status of the data corresponding to the first resource.

[0262] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to send first indication information to the primary network device, where the first indication information is configured to indicate that information indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device is sent to the terminal device via the primary network device.

[0263] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to receive second indication information from the primary network device, where the second indication information is configured to indicate that the primary network device supports sending information to the terminal device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0264] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to receive third indication information from the primary network device, where the third indication information is configured to indicate that information indicating resources for communicating between the terminal device and the secondary network device is allowed to be sent to the terminal device via the primary network device.

[0265] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to send information indicating a fourth resource to the primary network device. The fourth resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device. The fourth resource includes the second resource.

[0266] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to receive information indicating a fifth resource from the primary network device, the fifth resource being used to determine the fourth resource, wherein the fifth resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0267] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 702 is further configured to send second information to the primary network device, where the second information is configured to instruct the terminal device to receive information from the primary network device indicating resources for communication between the terminal device and the secondary network device.

[0268] In one possible embodiment, when the terminal device or network device (such as a primary network device or a secondary network device) is a chip, the transceiver module 702 can be a communication interface, a pin, or a circuit. The communication interface can be used to input data to be processed to the processor and can output the processing results of the processor. In a specific implementation, the communication interface can be a general purpose input and output (GPIO) interface that can be connected to multiple peripheral devices (such as a display (LCD), a camera, a radio frequency (RF) module, an antenna, etc.). The communication interface is connected to the processor via a bus.

[0269] The processing module 701 can be a processor that can execute computer-executable instructions stored in the storage module to cause the chip to perform the method involved in any of the embodiments shown in Figures 3 to 6. Furthermore, the processor can include a controller, an arithmetic unit, and registers. For example, the controller is primarily responsible for decoding instructions and issuing control signals for operations corresponding to the instructions. The arithmetic unit is primarily responsible for performing fixed-point or floating-point arithmetic operations, shift operations, and logical operations, and can also perform address operations and conversions. The registers are primarily responsible for storing register operands and intermediate operation results temporarily stored during instruction execution. In a specific implementation, the processor hardware architecture can be an ASIC architecture, a microprocessor without interlocked piped stages architecture (MIPS) architecture, an advanced RISC machine (ARM) architecture, or a network processor (NP) architecture, etc. The processor can be single-core or multi-core. The storage module can be a storage module within the chip, such as a register or cache. The storage module may also be a storage module located outside the chip, such as a ROM or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, RAM, etc.

[0270] It should be noted that the functions corresponding to the processor and the interface can be implemented through hardware design, software design, or a combination of hardware and software, and there is no limitation here.

[0271] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. It is understandable that the communication device 810 includes necessary means such as modules, units, elements, circuits, or interfaces, which are appropriately configured together to implement this solution. The communication device 810 can be the above-mentioned terminal device or network device (such as a primary network device or a secondary network device, etc.), or it can be a component (such as a chip) in these devices to implement the method described in the above method embodiment. The communication device 810 includes one or more processors 811. The processor 811 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, etc. For example, it can be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as a terminal device, a network device (such as a primary network device or a secondary network device, etc.), or a chip, etc.), execute software programs, and process data of software programs.

[0272] Optionally, in one design, the processor 811 may include a program 813 (sometimes also referred to as code or instruction), and the program 813 may be run on the processor 811, so that the communication device 810 performs the method described in the above embodiment. In another possible design, the communication device 810 includes a circuit (not shown in FIG8 ), and the circuit is used to implement the functions of the terminal device, network device (such as a primary network device or a secondary network device, etc.) in the above embodiment. Optionally, the communication device 810 may include one or more memories 812, on which a program 814 (sometimes also referred to as code or instruction) is stored, and the program 814 can be run on the processor 811, so that the communication device 810 performs the method described in the above method embodiment.

[0273] Optionally, data may be stored in the processor 811 and / or the memory 812. The processor and the memory may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0274] Optionally, the communication device 810 may further include a transceiver 815 and / or an antenna 816. The processor 811 may also be referred to as a processing unit, and controls the communication device (e.g., a terminal device or a network device (e.g., a primary network device or a secondary network device)). The transceiver 815 may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver, and is configured to implement the transceiver function of the communication device via the antenna 816.

[0275] An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, comprising at least one processor; wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute any one of the methods described in any one of the embodiments in FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 .

[0276] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed, the computer executes any method as described in any one of the embodiments in Figures 3 to 6.

[0277] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code, and when the computer program code is executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute any of the methods described in any of the embodiments shown in Figures 3 to 6.

[0278] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip, which includes at least one processor and an interface. The processor is used to read and execute instructions stored in a memory. When the instructions are executed, the chip executes any method as described in any of the embodiments in Figures 3 to 6.

[0279] The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place, or they may be distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the objectives of the embodiments of the present application. In addition, the network element units in the various embodiments 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. The above-mentioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software network element units.

[0280] If the above-mentioned integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software network element unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the part that essentially contributes to the technical solution of the present application, or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a terminal device, a cloud server, or a network device (such as a primary network device or a secondary network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the above-mentioned methods in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk. The above is only a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of various equivalent modifications or replacements within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, and these modifications or replacements should be included in the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application shall be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Including: Receiving first information from a first network device, where the first information is used to indicate a first resource for a terminal device to communicate with a second network device; Wherein, there is a first communication connection between the terminal device and the first network device, and there is a second communication connection between the terminal device and the second network device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The method further includes: Receiving second information from the first network device, where the second information is used to indicate that the terminal device receives information from the first network device for indicating a resource for the terminal device to communicate with the second network device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The receiving the first information from the first network device includes: Receiving the first information from the first network device on a second resource, where the second resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for the terminal device to communicate with the second network device.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The method further includes: Receiving third information from the first network device, where the third information is used to indicate the second resource.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that The second resource is a downlink resource dedicated to transmitting information indicating a resource for the terminal device to communicate with the second network device; or, The second resource is a downlink resource for transmitting information indicating a resource for the terminal device to communicate with the first network device.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The first information being used to indicate a first resource includes: The first information is used to indicate the first resource and that the first resource is for the terminal device to communicate with the second network device.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The first information further includes information for indicating a third resource, where the third resource is for the terminal device to send feedback information to the second network device, and the feedback information is used to feedback the reception situation of data corresponding to the first resource.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receiving fourth information from the first network device, where the fourth information is used to indicate that the terminal device stops receiving information from the first network device for indicating a resource for the terminal device to communicate with the second network device.

9. A communication method, characterized in that, Including: Receiving information for indicating a first resource from a second network device, where the first resource is for a terminal device to communicate with the second network device; Sending first information to the terminal device, where the first information is used to indicate the first resource; Wherein, there is a first communication connection between the terminal device and the first network device.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein The method further includes: Sending second information to the terminal device, where the second information is used to indicate that the terminal device receives information from the first network device for indicating a resource for the terminal device to communicate with the second network device.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The sending the first information to the terminal device includes: Sending the first information to the terminal device on a second resource; the second resource is used to transmit information indicating a resource for the terminal device to communicate with the second network device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein The method further includes: Sending third information to the terminal device, where the third information is used to indicate the second resource.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that The second resource is a downlink resource dedicated to transmitting information about a resource for instructing the terminal device to communicate with the second network device; or, The second resource is a downlink resource for transmitting information about a resource for instructing the terminal device to communicate with the first network device.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9-13, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate a first resource, including: The first information is used to indicate the first resource and is used to indicate that the first resource is for the terminal device to communicate with the second network device.

15. The method according to any one of claims 9-14, characterized in that, The first information further includes information for indicating a third resource, where the third resource is for the terminal device to send feedback information to the second network device, and the feedback information is used to feedback the reception situation of data corresponding to the first resource.

16. The method according to any one of claims 9-15, characterized in that, The method further includes: Determining a first moment, where the first moment is the moment when the first network device sends the first information to the terminal device; Sending the first information to the terminal device includes: Sending the first information to the terminal device based on the first moment.

17. The method according to any one of claims 9-16, characterized in that, The method further includes: Sending fourth information to the terminal device, where the fourth information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop receiving information about a resource for instructing the terminal device to communicate with the second network device from the first network device.

18. The method according to any one of claims 9-17, characterized in that The method further includes: Receiving first indication information from the terminal device or the second network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate sending information about a resource for instructing the terminal device to communicate with the second network device to the terminal device through the first network device.

19. The method according to any one of claims 9-18, characterized in that, The method further includes: Sending second indication information to the second network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the first network device supports sending information about a resource for instructing the terminal device to communicate with the second network device to the terminal device.

20. The method according to any one of claims 9-18, characterized in that, The method further includes: Sending third indication information to the terminal device or the second network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that it is allowed to send information about a resource for instructing the terminal device to communicate with the second network device to the terminal device through the first network device.

21. The method according to any one of claims 9-20, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receiving information for indicating a fourth resource from the second network device; Wherein, the fourth resource is for transmitting information about a resource for instructing the terminal device to communicate with the second network device; the fourth resource includes the second resource.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that, The method further includes: Sending information for indicating a fifth resource to the second network device, where the fifth resource is used to determine the fourth resource; Wherein, the fifth resource is for transmitting information about a resource for instructing the terminal device to communicate with the second network device.

23. The method according to any one of claims 9-22, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receiving second information from the second network device, where the second information is used to instruct the terminal device to receive information about a resource for instructing the terminal device to communicate with the second network device from the first network device.

24. A communication device, characterized in that, Including a unit or module for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

25. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes at least one processor; wherein, the at least one processor is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

26. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, which, when executed, cause the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

27. A communication system, characterized in that, The communication system includes a terminal device and a network device; The terminal device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8; The first network device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 9 to 23.

28. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes: computer program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

29. A chip, characterized in that, The chip includes at least one processor and an interface, the processor is used to read and execute instructions stored in a memory, and when the instructions are run, the chip is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

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