Communication method and related apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and a related apparatus. One method comprises: a first apparatus determining first information, which is used for indicating time information of communication between the first apparatus and a second apparatus; and the first apparatus sending the first information to a third apparatus. It can be seen that in the method, a third apparatus can learn about time information of communication between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, thereby being conducive to reducing or avoiding interference of the third apparatus on the first apparatus. Another method comprises: a fourth apparatus determining first information, which is used for indicating time information of communication between a first apparatus and a second apparatus; and the fourth apparatus sending the first information to a third apparatus. It can be seen that in the method, a fourth apparatus can allocate, to each first apparatus, time information of communication with a second apparatus, thereby being conducive to reducing or avoiding interference between the first apparatuses.

Description

Communication method and related device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application with application number 202410384976.7 filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on March 28, 2024, and priority to the Chinese patent application with the invention name “Communication Methods and Related Devices”, 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 related devices. Background Art

[0003] With the development of communication technology, the ambient internet of things (A-IoT) technology has been introduced. The A-IoT in A-IoT technology is based on the cellular network communication infrastructure and consists of readers and passive / semi-passive / active tag devices. Both readers and tags are devices in the cellular network. For example, the functions of the reader can be implemented by the network device, and the tag device can be implemented by the terminal in the cellular network. In the A-IoT architecture, the functions implemented by the network device and the terminal will be different from the traditional functions, which may cause interference between network devices. For example, base station 1 and base station 2 are in adjacent locations. Base station 1 sends a signal to the terminal. When the terminal uses envelope detection to receive the signal from base station 1, it also receives the signal from base station 2. That is, the terminal will receive a mixed signal, and base station 2 interferes with the downlink transmission of base station 1. Therefore, how to reduce interference between devices is an unresolved problem. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a communication method and related apparatus, which are conducive to reducing interference between devices.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method in which a first device determines first information indicating a time at which the first device communicates with a second device; the first device then sends the first information to a third device. This allows the third device to obtain the time at which the first device communicates with the second device, thereby reducing or avoiding interference from the third device to the first device.

[0006] In an optional embodiment, the first device and the third device are access network devices, respectively, and the second device is a terminal device. Optionally, the terminal device is a passive device, a semi-passive device, or an active device, or the terminal device is an A-IoT device, such as a tag. The communication between the access network device and the terminal device is the access network device and the terminal device performing a first service, and the first service includes at least one of the following: paging service, positioning service, location reporting service, inventory service, sensing service, command service, read service, write service, kill service, lock service, and perception service.

[0007] In an optional embodiment, the first device is a first read-write device for managing tags, the second device is a tag, and the third device is a second read-write device for managing tags. In this embodiment, the second read-write device can obtain time information of communication between the first read-write device and the tag, which is beneficial for coordinating the time of communication between the second read-write device and the tag to reduce interference with the first read-write device. Optionally, the communication between the first device and the second device is the execution of a first service between the first device and the second device, and the first service includes at least one of the following: paging service, positioning service, location reporting service, inventory service, sensing service, command service, reading service, writing service, deactivation service, and locking service.

[0008] In an optional embodiment, the first device is a first perception signal sending device, the second device is a perception signal receiving device, and the third device is a second perception signal sending device. In this embodiment, the second perception signal sending device can obtain information about the time of communication between the first perception signal sending device and the perception signal receiving device, which facilitates coordination of the communication time between the second perception signal sending device and the perception signal receiving device, thereby reducing interference with the first perception signal sending device. Optionally, the communication between the first device and the second device is the execution of a perception service between the first device and the second device.

[0009] Optionally, the third device is a device that interferes with the first device when the first device communicates with the second device.

[0010] In one optional embodiment, the time information of communication between the first device and the second device includes an indication of the start of communication between the first device and the second device. The method further includes: the first device further transmitting second information to a third device, the second information being used to instruct the first device to end or cancel communication with the second device. Thus, in this embodiment, when the first device starts, ends, or cancels communication with the second device, it can promptly notify the third device, thereby enabling the third device to reduce interference with the first device.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, after the first device sends the second information to the third device, it also receives fifth information from the third device, and the fifth information is used to indicate the time information of the communication between the third device and the second device. Optionally, the time information of the communication between the third device and the second device includes a start indication of the communication between the third device and the second device. Optionally, when the third device ends or cancels the communication with the second device, it also sends to the first device information for indicating that the third device and the second device have ended or canceled the communication. In this embodiment, after the communication between the first device and the second device ends or is canceled, the third device starts communicating with the second device. It can be seen that the way of starting, ending or canceling the interactive communication between the first device and the third device realizes the interference coordination in the time domain between the first device and the third device, and reduces or avoids interference between the devices.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the first device also sends third information to the third device, and the third information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the duration of the communication between the first device and the second device; the time unit of the communication between the first device and the second device; the time offset, after the first moment, the third device is allowed to communicate with the second device, and the first moment is the moment when the third device receives the third information plus the time offset; or the period of communication between the first device and the second device. It can be seen that the first device also sends the above information to the third device, so that the third device is aware of the above information of the communication between the first device and the second device. Optionally, the third device also sends similar information corresponding to the communication between the third device and the second device to the first device, such as the duration, time unit, time offset, period, etc. of the communication between the third device and the second device, which is conducive to time domain interference coordination between the first device and the third device to reduce or avoid interference.

[0013] Optionally, the third information and the start indication indicated by the first information are carried in the same message.

[0014] In another optional embodiment, the time information indicated by the first information includes at least one of the following: the start time and duration of communication between the first and second devices; the time unit of communication between the first and second devices; a time offset, after a first moment, allowing a third device to communicate with the second device, where the first moment is the moment the third device receives the first information plus the time offset; or the communication period between the first and second devices. Thus, in this embodiment, the time information of communication between the first and second devices can be communicated to the third device, thereby facilitating interference coordination for the third device and reducing interference with communication between the first and second devices.

[0015] Optionally, after the first device sends the first information to the third device, it receives fifth information from the third device, where the fifth information is used to indicate the time information of the communication between the third device and the second device. The time information indicated by the fifth information may also include at least one of the following: the start time and duration of the communication between the third device and the second device; the time unit of the communication between the third device and the second device; the time offset, after a first moment, the first device is allowed to communicate with the second device, where the first moment is the moment when the first device receives the fifth information plus the time offset; or the period of communication between the third device and the second device. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the first device can also obtain the time information of the communication between the third device and the second device, which is beneficial for the first device and the third device to coordinate in the time domain and reduce interference.

[0016] Optionally, the time information of the communication between the first device and the second device is different from the time information of the communication between the third device and the second device. In this way, time domain interference coordination between the first device and the third device can be achieved, and interference between the first device and the third device working adjacently can be reduced or avoided. For example, in the case where the first device and the third device are both network devices and the second device is a tag, the network devices can alternately communicate with the tags according to the corresponding time information; for another example, in the scenario where the network devices perform perception services, the network devices can alternately perform perception tasks to achieve time domain interference coordination between the network devices, and reduce or avoid interference.

[0017] In one optional embodiment, before the first device sends the first information to the third device, it also receives fourth information from a fourth device, where the fourth information is used to request or trigger communication between the first device and the second device. Optionally, the fourth information is a message that requests or triggers the first device to perform an IoT-related service or a sensing service.

[0018] In one optional embodiment, the first device itself determines the time information for communicating with the second device. In another optional embodiment, fourth information from a fourth device carries the time information for communicating with the second device, and the first device determines the first information based on the fourth information. Optionally, the fourth information carries at least one of the following: the duration of communication between the first and second devices; the time unit for communication between the first and second devices; a time offset, after a first moment, allowing a third device to communicate with the second device, where the first moment is the moment when the third device receives the third information or the first information plus the time offset; or the period of communication between the first and second devices.

[0019] In a second aspect, this application also provides a communication method, corresponding to the communication method described in the first aspect, and described from the perspective of a third device. In this method, the third device receives first information from a first device, where the first information indicates the time information of communication between the first device and the second device. As can be seen, in this method, the third device can obtain the time information of communication between the first device and the second device, thereby helping to reduce interference with the first device.

[0020] Optionally, the method also includes: the third device performs interference coordination based on the first information, such as not communicating with the second device when the first device communicates with the second device, or reducing the power of the transmitted signal, or only sending a small amount of information, such as system information or control channel information.

[0021] Optionally, the relevant description of the first device, the second device and the third device can be found in the first aspect and will not be described in detail here.

[0022] In one optional embodiment, the time information indicated by the first information includes an indication of the start of communication between the first device and the second device; the method further includes: the third device receiving second information from the first device, the second information being used to instruct the first device to end or cancel communication with the second device. Thus, in this embodiment, when the first device ends communication with the second device, the third device can promptly receive the indication of the end of communication between the first device and the second device, or when the first device cancels communication with the second device, the third device can promptly receive the indication of the cancellation of communication between the first device and the second device.

[0023] Optionally, after receiving the second information, the third device also sends a fifth information to the first device, and the fifth information is used to indicate the time information of the communication between the third device and the second device. Optionally, the time information of the communication between the third device and the second device includes a start indication of the communication between the third device and the second device. Optionally, when the third device ends communication with the second device, it also sends information to the first device to indicate that the third device and the second device have ended communication; or, when the third device cancels communication with the second device, it also sends information to the first device to indicate that the third device and the second device have canceled communication. In this embodiment, after the communication between the first device and the second device ends or is canceled, the third device starts communicating with the second device again. It can be seen that the way of starting, ending or canceling the interactive communication between the first device and the third device realizes the interference coordination in the time domain between the first device and the third device, and reduces or avoids interference between the devices.

[0024] In an optional embodiment, the third device also receives third information from the first device, and the third information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the duration of the communication between the first device and the second device; the time unit of the communication between the first device and the second device; the time offset, after the first moment, the third device is allowed to communicate with the second device, and the first moment is the moment when the third device receives the third information plus the time offset; or the period of communication between the first device and the second device. It can be seen that the third device learns the above information of the communication between the first device and the second device. Optionally, the third device also sends similar information corresponding to the communication between the third device and the second device to the first device, such as the duration, time unit, time offset, period, etc. of the communication between the third device and the second device, which is conducive to the interference coordination in the time domain between the first device and the third device, and reduces or avoids interference.

[0025] Optionally, the third information and the start indication indicated by the first information are carried in the same message.

[0026] In another optional embodiment, the time information indicated by the first information includes at least one of the following: the start time and duration of communication between the first and second devices; the time unit of communication between the first and second devices; a time offset, after a first moment, allowing a third device to communicate with the second device, where the first moment is the moment the third device receives the first information plus the time offset; or the communication period between the first and second devices. This allows the third device to obtain the time information of communication between the first and second devices, thereby facilitating interference coordination and reducing interference with the first device's communication.

[0027] In an optional embodiment, the third device transmits fifth information indicating the time information of the communication between the third device and the second device. Thus, in this embodiment, the first device and the third device can mutually obtain the time information of each other's communication with the second device, thereby facilitating device time-domain interference coordination and reducing or avoiding interference between adjacent devices.

[0028] Optionally, the time information indicated by the fifth information may be implemented in a manner similar to the first information, such as the time information indicated by the first information includes a start indication, and subsequent information sent to indicate the end or cancellation of communication, or the time information indicated by the first information includes at least one of the above information, etc. Therefore, the implementation of the time information indicated by the third information will not be described in detail here.

[0029] Optionally, the time information of the communication between the first device and the second device is different from the time information of the communication between the third device and the second device. In this way, time domain interference coordination between the first device and the third device can be achieved, and interference between the first device and the third device working adjacently can be reduced or avoided. For example, when the first device and the third device are both network devices and the second device is a tag, the network devices can alternately communicate with the tag according to the corresponding time information; for another example, in the scenario where the network device performs a perception service, the network devices can alternately perform the perception task to achieve time domain interference coordination between the network devices, and reduce or avoid interference.

[0030] On the third aspect, the present application also provides a communication method, which corresponds to the method described in the first aspect and is explained from the perspective of a fourth device. In this method, the fourth device sends a fourth message to the first device, and the fourth message is used to request or trigger the first device to communicate with the second device, wherein the fourth message carries at least one of the following: the duration of the communication between the first device and the second device; the time unit of the communication between the first device and the second device; the time offset, after the first moment, the third device is allowed to communicate with the second device, and the first moment is the moment when the third device receives the third message or the first message plus the time offset; or the period of communication between the first device and the second device. It can be seen that the method informs the first device of the at least one piece of information by the fourth device, which is beneficial for the first device to determine the time information of its own communication with the second device.

[0031] Optionally, the relevant description of the first device, the second device, and the third device can be found in the relevant content described in the first aspect and will not be described in detail here. Optionally, the fourth device is a device for triggering or requesting the reader to communicate with the tag, such as a tag management function network element, an access and mobility management function network element, an environmental Internet of Things management function network element, or other network elements.

[0032] In a fourth aspect, the present application further provides a communication method, wherein a fourth device determines first information, the first information being used to indicate time information for communication between the first device and a second device; and the fourth device sends the first information to the first device. Thus, the fourth device assigns the first device the time information for communication with the second device, thereby reducing or avoiding interference with the first device from other devices.

[0033] In an optional implementation, the first device is an access network device, the second device is a terminal device, and the fourth device is a core network network element. Optionally, the terminal device is a passive device, a semi-passive device, or an active device, or the terminal device is an A-IoT device, such as a tag. The core network network element is a tag management function network element, an access and mobility management function network element, an environmental Internet of Things management function network element, or other network elements. The communication between the access network device and the terminal device is the access network device and the terminal device performing a first service, and the first service includes at least one of the following: paging service, positioning service, location reporting service, inventory service, sensing service, command service, reading service, writing service, deactivation service, lock service, and perception service.

[0034] In an optional embodiment, the first device is a first reader / writer for managing tags, the second device is a tag, and the fourth device is a device for triggering or requesting communication between the reader / writer and the tag. In this embodiment, the fourth device allocates time information for communication between the reader / writer and the tag, which facilitates the fourth device coordinating the communication times between multiple reader / writers and tags to reduce or avoid interference between the multiple reader / writers. Optionally, the communication between the first device and the second device is the execution of a first service between the first and second devices. The relevant introduction to the first service is as described above and will not be detailed here.

[0035] In an optional embodiment, the first device is a perception signal transmitter, the second device is a perception signal receiver, and the fourth device is a device for triggering or requesting a perception service, such as a perception function network element, an access and mobility management function network element, or other network elements. The communication between the first device and the second device is to perform a perception service. This embodiment enables the fourth device to allocate time information for communication between each perception signal transmitter and the perception signal receiver, which is beneficial for the fourth device to coordinate the communication time between multiple perception signal transmitters to reduce or avoid interference between multiple perception signal transmitters. In an optional embodiment, in a control unit (CU)-distributed unit (DU) architecture, the first device is a DU and the fourth device is a CU. For the A-IoT architecture, the second device is a tag, and the DU communicates with the tag to perform A-IoT related services, such as inventory, positioning, sensing, command, etc. For the perception scenario, the second device is a perception signal receiver, and the DU communicates with the perception signal receiver to perform the perception service. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the CU can determine the communication time information for each DU respectively, which is beneficial for the CU to coordinate the communication time between the DUs to reduce or avoid interference between the DUs.

[0036] In one optional embodiment, the fourth device is a device that provides a service solution for the first device. The service solution includes: the fourth device receiving sixth information from the first device, the sixth information being used to request time information for communication between the first device and the second device; and then, the fourth device performing the aforementioned step of sending the first information to the first device. Thus, in this embodiment, after receiving the time information request from the first device, the fourth device can allocate time information for communication between the first device and the second device.

[0037] In one optional embodiment, the time information indicated by the first information includes: an indication of the start of communication between the first device and the second device; the method further includes: a fourth device receiving second information from the first device, the second information being used to instruct the first device to end or cancel communication with the second device. Thus, the fourth device can control the first device to start communication with the second device and can also promptly receive notification of the first device ending or canceling communication with the second device, thereby facilitating control over the start of communication between other first devices and second devices, coordinating communications between the first devices and second devices, and thereby reducing interference between the first devices.

[0038] Optionally, the fourth device sends third information to the first device, where the third information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the duration of communication between the first device and the second device; the time unit of communication between the first device and the second device; a time offset, which allows the third device to communicate with the second device after a first moment, where the first moment is the moment when the third device receives the third information plus the time offset; or a period of communication between the first device and the second device. The third device is another first device that can also communicate with the second device and perform the first service as described above, and the third device will not be elaborated on here. It can be seen that in this embodiment, in addition to informing the first device and the second device to start communication through a start indication, the fourth device also informs the first device of the at least one time information mentioned above, so that the first device communicates with the second device based on the at least one time information. Optionally, the third information and the first information are carried in the same message, or are sent through different messages.

[0039] In another optional embodiment, the time information indicated by the first information includes at least one of the following: the start time and duration of the communication between the first device and the second device; the time unit of the communication between the first device and the second device; the time offset, after the first moment, the third device is allowed to communicate with the second device, the first moment is the moment when the third device receives the first information plus the time offset; or, the period of communication between the first device and the second device. Among them, the third device is another first device, which can also communicate with the second device and perform the first service as described above. The third device will not be elaborated here. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the fourth device can inform the first device of the communication time with the second device through the at least one time information, so as to coordinate the communication time of each first device and the second device and reduce interference between each first device.

[0040] Optionally, the time information for communicating with the second device is different. In this way, time domain interference coordination can be achieved between the first devices, reducing or avoiding interference between adjacent first devices. For example, when the first device and the third device (or each first device) are both access network devices, and the second device is an A-IoT device, the access network devices can communicate with the A-IoT device alternately according to the corresponding time information; for another example, for the scenario of perception services, the perception signal sending ends can alternately perform perception tasks to achieve time domain interference coordination between the perception signal sending ends, reducing or avoiding interference.

[0041] Optionally, the fourth device sends fourth information to the first device, where the fourth information is used to request or trigger communication between the first device and the second device. Optionally, the first information, the third information, and the fourth information may be included in the same message or sent separately.

[0042] Optionally, when the fourth device requests or triggers communication between the first device and the second device, such as triggering or requesting the first device and the second device to perform a first service, it allocates different times to each first device (or, for example, the first device and the third device, or, for example, first devices operating adjacently). The different times allocated by the fourth device to each first device may be coordinated with a specific service trigger, or non-service-related (i.e., not coordinated with a specific service trigger, but coordinated in advance, so that when an event is triggered, the different times allocated to each first device will operate according to the previously coordinated time).

[0043] Optionally, before the fourth device determines the first information, it also receives fifth information from the first device, where the fifth information is used to indicate the interference information generated by the third device on the first device; the fourth device determines the first information, including: the fourth device determines the first information based on the fifth information. The third device is another first device that can communicate with the second device to perform the first service described above, and the third device will not be elaborated here. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the fourth device can determine the first information of the first device based on the interference information generated by the third device on the first device, thereby being able to coordinate the time domain interference between the first device and the third device and reduce the interference between the first device and the third device.

[0044] In the fifth aspect, the present application also provides a communication method, which corresponds to the method described in the fourth aspect and is explained from the perspective of the first device. In this method, the first device receives first information from the fourth device, and the first information is used to indicate the time information of the communication between the first device and the second device; the first device communicates with the second device based on the first information. It can be seen that in this method, the time information of the communication between the first device and the second device is allocated by the fourth device, thereby avoiding the first device arbitrarily determining the time information for communicating with the second device, resulting in other first devices and second devices also communicating at the same time, causing interference to the first device. In other words, this method enables the first device to communicate with the second device at the time information it is informed of, which is conducive to reducing interference from other devices to the first device.

[0045] Optionally, for the relevant description of the first device, the second device, and the fourth device, please refer to the relevant content described in the fourth aspect and will not be described in detail here.

[0046] In one optional embodiment, the time information indicated by the first information includes an indication of the start of communication between the first device and the second device. Accordingly, the first device also sends second information to the fourth device, the second information being used to instruct the first device to end or cancel communication with the second device. Thus, the first device is controlled by the fourth device to start communication with the second device, and can also promptly notify the fourth device via the second information when communication with the second device is terminated or canceled. This facilitates the fourth device controlling other first devices to start communication with the second device, coordinates communication between each first device and the second device, and thereby reduces interference between the first devices.

[0047] Optionally, the first device also receives third information from the fourth device, and the third information also indicates other time information, such as the relevant explanation of the third information in the fourth aspect, which will not be detailed here.

[0048] In another optional embodiment, the time information indicated by the first information includes at least one of the following: the start time and duration of the communication between the first device and the second device; the time unit of the communication between the first device and the second device; the time offset, after the first moment, the third device is allowed to communicate with the second device, the first moment is the moment when the third device receives the first information plus the time offset; or, the period of communication between the first device and the second device. Among them, the third device is another first device, which can also communicate with the second device and perform the A-IoT related services or perception services as described above, etc., and the third device will not be elaborated here. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the first device can obtain the time of communication between the first device and the second device through the first information, that is, each first device can communicate with the second device at the time allocated to it by the fourth device, to achieve time domain interference coordination between the first devices and reduce interference between the first devices.

[0049] In an optional embodiment, before the first device receives the first information, it also sends fifth information to the fourth device. The fifth information is used to indicate the interference information of the third device (i.e., other first devices) on the first device, thereby facilitating the fourth device to allocate time information for the first device to communicate with the second device based on the interference information, thereby reducing or avoiding interference between the first device and the third device.

[0050] In an optional embodiment, the first device sends sixth information to the fourth device, and the sixth information is used to request time information for communication between the first device and the second device.

[0051] In a sixth aspect, the present application further provides a communication method, wherein a first device determines first information indicating resource information for communication between the first device and a second device; the first device then sends the first information to a third device. In this way, the third device can obtain the resource information for communication between the first device and the second device, thereby reducing or avoiding interference from the third device to the first device.

[0052] Optionally, the resource information communicated between the first device and the second device includes at least one item of information among frequency domain resources, spatial domain resources or code domain resources.

[0053] Optionally, for the description of the first device, the second device and the third device, please refer to the relevant content described in the first aspect and will not be described in detail here.

[0054] In one optional embodiment, before the first device sends the first information to the third device, it also receives fourth information from a fourth device, where the fourth information is used to request or trigger communication between the first device and the second device. Optionally, the fourth information is a message used to request or trigger the first device to perform the first service. The fourth device and the first service are described above and are not further elaborated here.

[0055] In an optional embodiment, the first device further receives fifth information from the third device, where the fifth information indicates resource information used by the third device for communication with the second device. Thus, in this embodiment, the first and third devices can mutually obtain resource information used by each other for communication with the second device, thereby facilitating device time-domain interference coordination and reducing or avoiding interference between adjacent devices.

[0056] Optionally, the resource information used by the first device for communication with the second device is different from the resource information used by the third device for communication with the second device. This can achieve interference coordination between the first device and the third device, and reduce or avoid interference between the adjacent first and third devices.

[0057] In a seventh aspect, the present application further provides a communication method, corresponding to the sixth aspect and described from the perspective of a third device. In this method, the third device receives first information from a first device, where the first information indicates resource information used for communication between the first device and the second device. This method enables the third device to obtain resource information used for communication between the first device and the second device, thereby reducing interference with the first device.

[0058] Optionally, the resource information communicated between the first device and the second device includes at least one item of information among frequency domain resources, spatial domain resources or code domain resources.

[0059] Optionally, for the description of the first device, the second device and the third device, please refer to the relevant content described in the first aspect and will not be described in detail here.

[0060] Optionally, the method also includes: the third device performs interference coordination based on the first information, such as not communicating with the second device on the resources on which the first device communicates with the second device, or reducing the power of the transmitted signal, or only sending a small amount of information, such as system information or control channel information.

[0061] In an optional embodiment, the third device sends fifth information to the first device, where the fifth information indicates resource information used by the third device for communication with the second device. This embodiment allows the first and third devices to mutually obtain resource information used by each other for communication with the second device, thereby facilitating device time-domain interference coordination and reducing or avoiding interference between adjacent devices.

[0062] Optionally, the resource information used by the first device for communication with the second device is different from the resource information used by the third device for communication with the second device. This can achieve interference coordination between the first device and the third device, and reduce or avoid interference between the adjacent first and third devices.

[0063] In an eighth aspect, the present application further provides a communication method, wherein a fourth device determines first information, the first information being used to indicate resource information for communication between the first device and a second device; and the fourth device sends the first information to the first device. In this manner, the fourth device allocates resource information for communication between the first device and the second device, thereby reducing or avoiding interference with the first device by other devices.

[0064] Optionally, for the description of the first device, the second device, and the fourth device, please refer to the relevant content of the fourth aspect, which will not be described in detail here. Optionally, the resource information communicated between the first device and the second device includes at least one of frequency domain resources, spatial domain resources, or code domain resources.

[0065] In one optional embodiment, the fourth device is a device that provides a service-based solution to the first device. The service-based solution includes: the fourth device receiving sixth information from the first device, the sixth information being used to request resource information for communication between the first device and the second device; and then, the fourth device executing the aforementioned step of sending the first information to the first device. Thus, in this embodiment, after receiving the resource information request from the first device, the fourth device can allocate resource information for communication between the first device and the second device.

[0066] Optionally, the fourth device can allocate resource information for each first device to communicate with the second device, wherein the resource information for each first device to communicate with the second device is different. In this way, interference coordination can be achieved between the first devices, reducing or avoiding interference between adjacent first devices.

[0067] Optionally, the fourth device sends fourth information to the first device, where the fourth information is used to request or trigger communication between the first device and the second device. Optionally, the first information and the fourth information may be carried in the same message or sent via different messages.

[0068] Optionally, before the fourth device determines the first information, it also receives fifth information from the first device, where the fifth information is used to indicate the interference information generated by the third device on the first device; the fourth device determines the first information, including: the fourth device determines the first information based on the fifth information. The third device is another first device that can communicate with the second device to perform the first service described above, and the third device will not be elaborated here. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the fourth device can determine the first information of the first device based on the interference information generated by the third device on the first device, thereby being able to coordinate interference between the first device and the third device and reduce interference between the first device and the third device.

[0069] In the ninth aspect, the present application also provides a communication method, which corresponds to the method described in the eighth aspect and is explained from the perspective of the first device. In this method, the first device receives first information from the fourth device, and the first information is used to indicate resource information for communication between the first device and the second device; the first device communicates with the second device based on the first information. It can be seen that in this method, the resource information for communication between the first device and the second device is allocated by the fourth device, thereby avoiding the first device arbitrarily determining the resource information for communication with the second device, resulting in other first devices communicating with the second device and causing interference to the first device. In other words, this method enables the first device to communicate with the second device based on the resource information it is informed of, which is conducive to reducing interference from other devices to the first device.

[0070] Optionally, the relevant description of the first device, the second device, and the fourth device can be found in the relevant content of the fourth aspect, which will not be described in detail here. Optionally, the resource information for communication between the first device and the second device includes at least one of frequency domain resources, spatial domain resources, or code domain resources.

[0071] In an optional embodiment, before the first device receives the first information, it also sends fifth information to the fourth device. The fifth information is used to indicate the interference information of the third device (i.e., other first devices) on the first device, thereby facilitating the fourth device to allocate resource information for communicating with the second device to the first device based on the interference information, thereby reducing or avoiding interference between the first device and the third device.

[0072] In an optional embodiment, the first device sends sixth information to the fourth device, and the sixth information is used to request resource information for communication between the first device and the second device. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the first device can apply to the fourth device and obtain resource information for communication with the second device.

[0073] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device. The communication device is the first device, or a device capable of being used in conjunction with the first device. In one possible implementation, the communication device includes a functional module, which is implemented as a hardware circuit, or software, or a combination of a hardware circuit and software.

[0074] In one possible implementation, the communication device includes one or more functional units, such as a processing unit and a communication unit, wherein the processing unit is used to determine first information, the first information is used to indicate time information for communication between the first device and the second device; and the communication unit is used to send the first information to a third device.

[0075] Optionally, the optional implementation methods that can be performed by the communication device can refer to the above-mentioned first aspect and one or more possible implementation methods, which will not be described in detail here.

[0076] In another possible embodiment, the communication device includes one or more functional units, such as a communication unit and a processing unit, wherein the communication unit is used to receive first information from a fourth device, the first information being used to indicate time information for communication between the first device and the second device; and the processing unit is used to communicate with the second device based on the first information.

[0077] Optionally, the optional implementation methods that can be performed by the communication device can refer to the above-mentioned fifth aspect and one or more possible implementation methods therein, which will not be described in detail here.

[0078] In another possible embodiment, the communication device includes one or more functional units, such as a processing unit and a communication unit, wherein the processing unit is used to determine first information, the first information is used to indicate resource information for communication between the first device and the second device; and the communication unit is used to send the first information to a third device.

[0079] Optionally, the optional implementation methods that can be performed by the communication device can refer to the above-mentioned sixth aspect and one or more possible implementation methods therein, which will not be described in detail here.

[0080] In another possible embodiment, the communication device includes one or more functional units, such as a communication unit and a processing unit, wherein the communication unit is used to receive first information from a fourth device, the first information being used to indicate resource information for communication between the first device and the second device; and the processing unit is used to communicate with the second device based on the first information.

[0081] Optionally, the optional implementation methods that can be performed by the communication device can refer to the above-mentioned ninth aspect and one or more possible implementation methods therein, which will not be described in detail here.

[0082] In an eleventh aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device. The communication device is a third device, or a device capable of being used in conjunction with a third device. In one possible implementation, the communication device includes a functional module, which is implemented as a hardware circuit, software, or a combination of a hardware circuit and software.

[0083] In one possible implementation, the communication device includes one or more functional units, such as a communication unit, wherein the communication unit is configured to receive first information from a first device, the first information being configured to indicate a time at which the first device communicates with a second device. Optionally, the communication device may further include a processing unit configured to perform interference coordination based on the first information.

[0084] Optionally, the optional implementation methods that can be performed by the communication device can refer to the above-mentioned second aspect and one or more possible implementation methods, which will not be described in detail here.

[0085] In a twelfth aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device. The communication device is a fourth device, or a device capable of being used in conjunction with the fourth device. In one possible implementation, the communication device includes a functional module, which is implemented as a hardware circuit, or software, or a combination of a hardware circuit and software.

[0086] In one possible embodiment, the communication device includes one or more functional units, such as a communication unit, wherein the communication unit is used to send fourth information to the first device, and the fourth information is used to request or trigger the first device to communicate with the second device, wherein the fourth information carries at least one of the following: the duration of the communication between the first device and the second device; the time unit of the communication between the first device and the second device; the time offset, after the first moment, the third device is allowed to communicate with the second device, and the first moment is the moment when the third device receives the third information or the first information plus the time offset; or, the communication period between the first device and the second device.

[0087] Optionally, the communication device may also perform optional implementations, which can be found in the third aspect and one or more possible implementations thereof, and will not be described in detail here.

[0088] In another possible embodiment, the communication device includes one or more functional units, such as a processing unit and a communication unit, wherein the processing unit is used to determine first information, the first information is used to indicate time information for communication between the first device and the second device; and the communication unit is used to send the first information to the first device.

[0089] Optionally, the optional implementation methods that can be performed by the communication device can refer to the above-mentioned fourth aspect and one or more possible implementation methods, which will not be described in detail here.

[0090] In another possible embodiment, the communication device includes one or more functional units, such as a processing unit and a communication unit, wherein the processing unit is used to determine first information, the first information is used to indicate resource information for communication between the first device and the second device; and the communication unit is used to send the first information to the first device.

[0091] Optionally, the optional implementation methods that can be performed by the communication device can refer to the above-mentioned eighth aspect and one or more possible implementation methods therein, which will not be described in detail here.

[0092] For aspects 10 to 12, as an example, the processing unit can also be embodied as a processor processing circuit or a logic circuit; the communication unit can be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin or related circuit on the chip or chip system.

[0093] During implementation, the processor can be used to perform, for example, but not limited to, baseband-related processing, and the transceiver or communication interface can be used to perform, for example, but not limited to, radio frequency transceiver. The above-mentioned devices can be provided on separate chips, or at least partially or entirely on the same chip. For example, the processor can be further divided into an analog baseband processor and a digital baseband processor. The analog baseband processor can be integrated with the transceiver (or communication interface) on the same chip, while the digital baseband processor can be provided on a separate chip. With the continuous development of integrated circuit technology, more and more devices can be integrated on the same chip. For example, a digital baseband processor can be integrated with multiple application processors (such as, but not limited to, a graphics processor, a multimedia processor, etc.) on the same chip. Such a chip can be called a system on a chip (SoC). Whether each device is provided independently on different chips or integrated on one or more chips often depends on the needs of the product design. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation form of the above-mentioned devices.

[0094] In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a processor for executing the method described in any one of the first to ninth aspects or any one of the possible implementation methods of any one of the aspects. In the process of executing these methods, the process of sending the above-mentioned signal and receiving the above-mentioned signal in the above-mentioned method can be understood as the process of outputting the above-mentioned signal by the processor, and the process of the above-mentioned signal input by the processor. When outputting the above-mentioned signal, the processor outputs the above-mentioned signal to the transceiver so that it is transmitted by the transceiver (or communication interface). After being output by the processor, the above-mentioned signal may also need to be processed otherwise before arriving at the transceiver (or communication interface). Similarly, when the processor receives the above-mentioned signal input, the transceiver (or communication interface) receives the above-mentioned signal and inputs it into the processor. Furthermore, after the transceiver (or communication interface) receives the above-mentioned signal, the above-mentioned signal may need to be processed otherwise before being input into the processor.

[0095] For the sending and receiving operations involved in the processor, unless otherwise specified, or unless they conflict with their actual functions or internal logic in the relevant descriptions, they can be more generally understood as processor output, reception, input and other operations, rather than sending and receiving operations directly performed by the RF circuit and antenna.

[0096] During implementation, the processor may be a processor specifically configured to execute these methods, or may be a processor that executes computer instructions in a memory to execute these methods, such as a general-purpose processor. The memory may be a non-transitory memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM), which may be integrated with the processor on the same chip or disposed on separate chips. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the type of memory or the configuration of the memory and the processor.

[0097] In a fourteenth aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device, comprising: a processor and a memory, the processor being coupled to the memory, the processor configured to invoke a computer program stored in the memory to cause the communication device to implement the method described in any one of aspects 1 to 9 or any possible implementation of any one of aspects 1 to 9. Optionally, the communication device may be a chip or a chip system.

[0098] In a fifteenth aspect, the present application further provides a chip, comprising a processor configured to determine first information, the first information being used to indicate time information for communication between a first device and a second device. Optionally, the chip further comprises a transceiver interface coupled to the processor, the transceiver interface being used to send the first information to the first device or a third device. Optionally, the chip further comprises, through the processor, or through the processor and the transceiver interface, a method as described in any one of the first, fourth, sixth, or eighth aspects, or any possible implementation of any one of the aspects, which will not be described in detail herein.

[0099] In a sixteenth aspect, the present application further provides a chip, comprising a transceiver interface and a processor, wherein the transceiver interface is configured to receive first information, and the processor is configured to perform interference coordination based on the first information, or to communicate with a second device based on the first information. Optionally, the chip is further configured, via the processor, or via the processor and the transceiver interface, to implement the method described in any one of the second, fifth, seventh, or ninth aspects, or any possible implementation of any one of the aspects, which will not be described in detail herein.

[0100] In the seventeenth aspect, the present application also provides a communication system, which includes at least one first device for executing the method described in the first aspect or any optional embodiment of the first aspect, at least one third device for executing the method described in the second aspect or any possible embodiment of the second aspect, and a second device; or, the system also includes a fourth device for executing the method described in the third aspect. Alternatively, the system includes at least one fourth device for executing the method described in the fourth aspect or any optional embodiment of the fourth aspect and at least one first device for executing the method described in the fifth aspect or any possible embodiment of the fifth aspect, and a second device; or, the system includes at least one first device for executing the method described in the sixth aspect or any optional embodiment of the sixth aspect, at least one third device for executing the method described in the seventh aspect or any possible embodiment of the seventh aspect, and a second device; or, the system also includes a fourth device for sending fourth information; or, the system includes at least one fourth device for executing the method described in the eighth aspect or any optional embodiment of the eighth aspect and at least one first device for executing the method described in the ninth aspect or any possible embodiment of the ninth aspect, and a second device.

[0101] In the eighteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program. When the computer program is run, the method described in any one of the above-mentioned aspects from the first to the ninth aspect or any possible implementation method of any one of the aspects is executed.

[0102] In the nineteenth aspect, the present application also provides a computer program product comprising instructions, the computer program product comprising: computer program code, which, when the computer program code is run, enables the method described in any one of the above-mentioned aspects from the first to the ninth aspect or any possible implementation method of any one of the aspects to be executed.

[0103] In the twentieth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and an interface, wherein the interface is used to obtain a program or instruction, and the processor is used to call the program or instruction to implement the method described in any one of the first to ninth aspects or any possible implementation method of any one of the aspects. In one possible design, the chip system also includes a memory, which is used to store program instructions and data necessary for the terminal. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0104] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a 5G communication system architecture;

[0105] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a framework of an open access network;

[0106] FIG3 is a diagram showing the functional division and protocol layer structure of an ORAN device;

[0107] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of A-IoT technology;

[0108] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture of A-IoT technology;

[0109] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture of A-IoT technology;

[0110] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture of A-IoT technology;

[0111] FIG8 is a flow chart of a communication method 110 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0112] FIG9 is a flow chart of another communication method 120 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0113] FIG10 is a flow chart of a communication method 210 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0114] FIG11 is a flow chart of another communication method 220 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0115] FIG12 is a flow chart of another communication method 230 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0116] FIG13 is a flow chart of another communication method 240 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0117] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of an interference measurement method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0118] FIG15 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0119] FIG16 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0120] The present application provides a communication method and related apparatus that can reduce interference between devices. The following describes the relevant contents of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0121] 1. Communication system.

[0122] Various communication systems to which this application can be applied include, but are not limited to, long term evolution (LTE) systems, fifth generation (5G) systems, such as new radio access technology (NR), networks that integrate multiple systems, Internet of Things systems, Internet of Vehicles systems, open radio access networks (O-RAN) systems, and future communication systems, such as sixth generation (6G) systems.

[0123] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of a 5G communication system architecture to which the present application can be applied, wherein the 5G communication system architecture is a 5G network infrastructure, and the network functions are based on modular disassembly, and the decoupled network functions (NFs) can be independently expanded, independently evolved, and deployed on demand. A service-oriented interface is used between all NFs in the control plane, and the same service can be called by multiple NFs, reducing the coupling degree of the interface definition between NFs, and ultimately achieving on-demand customization of the entire network function, and flexibly supporting different business scenarios and requirements. In the architecture shown in Figure 1, the network elements in the dotted box are service-oriented NF network elements, the interfaces between NF network elements are service-oriented interfaces, and the interactive messages are service-oriented messages. The architecture may include an access network and a core network, and optionally, may also include user equipment (UE).

[0124] A UE is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities that can be deployed on land, indoors or outdoors, as a handheld, wearable, or vehicle-mounted device; on water (such as ships); or in the air (for example, on airplanes, balloons, and satellites). A UE can be a mobile phone, tablet, computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, virtual reality (VR) terminal device, augmented reality (AR) terminal device, wireless terminal for industrial control, vehicle-mounted terminal device, wireless terminal for self-driving, wireless terminal for remote medical care, wireless terminal for smart grids, wireless terminal for transportation safety, wireless terminal for smart cities, wireless terminal for smart homes, wearable terminal device, and so on. A UE is sometimes also referred to as a terminal, terminal device, access terminal device, vehicle-mounted terminal, industrial control terminal, UE unit, UE station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal device, mobile device, UE agent, or UE device. The UE may also be fixed or mobile. Optionally, the device for implementing the functions of the terminal may be a terminal; or it may be a device capable of supporting the terminal to implement the function, such as a chip system, a communication module, or a modem, which may be installed in the terminal. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices. In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the functions of the terminal is a terminal, and the terminal is a UE as an example to describe the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal device. In one possible implementation, the UE may be used to act as a base station. For example, the UE may act as a scheduling entity, which provides sidelink signals between UEs in V2X, D2D or P2P, etc., without relaying communication signals through a base station. In one possible implementation, the UE may also be used to act as a relay node. For example, the UE may act as a relay device (relay) or an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node to provide wireless backhaul services for terminal devices.

[0125] The access network is used to implement access-related functions, and can provide network access functions for authorized users in a specific area, and can determine transmission tunnels of different qualities to transmit user data based on the user level, business requirements, etc. The access network forwards control signals and user data between the terminal device and the core network. The access network may include access network equipment. For example, in this application, the information exchanged between the label and the network element of the core network can be forwarded through the access network equipment. The access network equipment is a device that provides access for the terminal device, and may include a radio access network (RAN) device and an access network (AN) device. RAN equipment is mainly responsible for wireless resource management, quality of service (QoS) management, data compression and encryption and other functions on the air interface side. RAN equipment may include various forms of base stations (BS), such as macro base stations, micro base stations (also called small stations), relay stations, access points, balloon stations, etc.

[0126] In systems using different wireless access technologies, the names of devices with base station functions may be different. For example, the base stations involved in the embodiments of the present application may be base stations in 5G, base stations in 6G mobile communication systems, access network devices or modules of access network devices in open radio access networks (O-RAN) systems, base stations in future mobile communication systems or access nodes in WiFi systems, or evolved base stations (evolved node B, eNB) in LTE, etc. Among them, the base stations in 5G can also be called transmission reception points (TRP) or 5G base stations (next-generation node B, gNB). Base station can also be replaced with the following names, such as: wireless access point, node B (nodeB), transmitting point (TP), master station MeNB, secondary station SeNB, multi-standard radio (MSR) node, home base station, network controller, access node, wireless node, access point (AP), transmission node, transceiver node, baseband unit (BBU), remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), remote radio head (RRH), centralized unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), positioning node, IAB donor, etc. The base station can be fixed or mobile. For example, a helicopter or drone can be configured to act as a mobile base station, and one or more cells can move according to the location of the mobile base station. In other examples, a helicopter or drone can be configured to be used as a device for communicating with another base station.

[0127] Optionally, the RAN device may include a CU, a DU, or both a CU and a DU, or a control plane CU node (central unit-control plane (CU-CP)), a user plane CU node (central unit-user plane (CU-UP)), and a DU node. For example, the RAN device may include a gNB-CU-CP, a gNB-CU-UP, and a gNB-DU.

[0128] In some deployments, multiple RAN devices collaborate to assist terminals in achieving wireless access, with different RAN devices implementing portions of the base station's functionality. For example, a RAN node can be a CU, DU, CU-CP, CU-UP, or a Radio Unit (RU). The CU and DU can be separate or included in the same network element, such as the BBU. The RU can be included in a radio device or radio unit, such as an RRU, AAU, or RRH.

[0129] The RAN device may support one or more types of fronthaul interfaces, with different fronthaul interfaces corresponding to DUs and RUs with different functions. If the fronthaul interface between the DU and the RU is a common public radio interface (CPRI), the DU is configured to implement one or more baseband functions, and the RU is configured to implement one or more radio frequency functions. If the fronthaul interface between the DU and the RU is another type of interface, relative to the CPRI, some of the downlink and / or uplink baseband functions, such as precoding, digital beamforming (BF), or one or more of inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) / cyclic prefix (CP) for downlink, are moved from the DU to the RU for implementation; and for uplink, one or more of digital beamforming (BF), or fast Fourier transform (FFT) / cyclic prefix (CP) removal, are moved from the DU to the RU for implementation. In one possible implementation, the interface may be an enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI). In the eCPRI architecture, the division between the DU and RU is different, corresponding to different types (category, Cat) of eCPRI, such as eCPRI Cat A, B, C, D, E, and F.

[0130] Taking eCPRI Cat A as an example, for downlink transmission, based on layer mapping, the DU is configured to implement layer mapping and one or more functions preceding it (i.e., one or more of coding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, and layer mapping). Other functions after layer mapping (e.g., resource element (RE) mapping, digital beamforming (BF), or one or more of inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) / cyclic prefix (CP) addition) are moved to the RU for implementation. For uplink transmission, based on RE demapping, the DU is configured to implement demapping and one or more functions preceding it (i.e., one or more of decoding, rate matching, descrambling, demodulation, inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT), channel equalization, and RE demapping). Other functions after demapping (e.g., one or more of digital BF or fast Fourier transform (FFT) / CP removal) are moved to the RU for implementation. It is understandable that for the functional description of DU and RU corresponding to various types of eCPRI, reference can be made to the eCPRI protocol, which will not be described in detail here.

[0131] In one possible design, the processing unit for implementing baseband functions in the BBU is called a baseband high layer (BBH) unit, and the processing unit for implementing baseband functions in the RRU / AAU / RRH is called a baseband low layer (BBL) unit.

[0132] 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 an open 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. 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.

[0133] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the functions of the network device can be a network device; it can also be a device that can support the network device to implement the functions, such as a chip system, a hardware circuit, a software module, or a hardware circuit and a software module. The device can be installed in the network device or used in conjunction with the network device. In the embodiments of the present application, only the device for implementing the functions of the network device is used as an example to illustrate, and does not constitute a limitation on the solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

[0134] The core network is responsible for maintaining mobile network subscription data and providing UE with session management, mobility management, policy management, and security authentication functions. The core network may include the following network elements: user plane function (UPF) network element, authentication service function (AUSF) network element, access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, session management function (SMF) network element, network slice selection function (NSSF) network element, network exposure function (NEF) network element, network function repository function (NRF) network element, policy control function (PCF) network element, unified data management (UDM) network element, unified data repository (UDR) network element, location management function (LMF) network element, home gateway mobile location center (HGMLC), visited gateway mobile location center network element (VGMLC) and application function (AF) network element.

[0135] The AMF network element is primarily responsible for mobility management in mobile networks, such as user location updates, user network registration, and user handover. The SMF network element is primarily responsible for session management in mobile networks, such as session establishment, modification, and release. Specific functions include allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to users and selecting the UPF that provides message forwarding capabilities. The UPF network element is primarily responsible for forwarding and receiving user data. It can receive user data from the data network and transmit it to the UE via the access network device. It can also receive user data from the UE via the access network device and forward it to the data network. The PCF network element primarily supports providing a unified policy framework to control network behavior, provides policy rules to the control layer network functions, and is responsible for obtaining user subscription information related to policy decisions. The PCF network element can provide policies to the AMF and SMF network elements, such as Quality of Service (QoS) policies and slice selection policies. The AUSF network element is used to perform UE security authentication. The NSSF network element is used to select network slices for the UE. The NEF network element is primarily used to support the openness of capabilities and events. UDM / UDR network elements are used to store user data, such as subscription data, authentication / authorization data, etc. AF network elements mainly support interaction with the 3GPP core network to provide services, such as influencing data routing decisions, policy control functions, or providing some third-party services to the network side.

[0136] The NRF network element mainly provides service registration, discovery and authorization, and maintains available network function (NF) instance information, which can realize on-demand configuration of network functions and services and interconnection between NFs. Among them, service registration means that the NF network element needs to register with the NRF network element before it can provide services. Service discovery means that when the NF network element needs other NF network elements to provide services for it, it must first perform service discovery through the NRF network element to discover the NF network element that is expected to provide services for it. For example, when NF network element 1 needs NF network element 2 to provide services for it, it must first perform service discovery through the NRF network element to discover NF network element 2.

[0137] The data network (DN) is used to provide business services to users. It can be a private network, such as a local area network (LAN); an external network not controlled by the operator, such as the Internet; or a proprietary network jointly deployed by operators, such as the network that provides the IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). UEs can access the DN through established protocol data unit (PDU) sessions.

[0138] In the 5G communication system architecture shown in Figure 1, the UE and AMF can interact via the N1 interface. Similar interactions can be achieved between other network function elements. For example, the AN and AMF can interact via the N2 interface, and the N3 interface supports selective activation / deactivation of user plane connections. The SMF and UPF elements interact via the N4 interface, and the UPF and DN elements interact via the N6 interface. All control plane NFs can interact using service-based interfaces. For example, the LMF element can interact with other network function elements via the N1mf service-based interface, while the LMF element and AMF element use the NL1 interface. The NSSF element can interact with other network function elements via the Nnssf service-based interface. The NEF element can interact with other network function elements via the Nnef service-based interface. The NRF element can interact with other network function elements via the Nnrf service-based interface. The PCF element can interact with other network function elements via the Npcf service-based interface. The UDM element can interact with other network function elements via the Nudm service-based interface. The AF network element can interact with other network function network elements through the service-based interface Naf. The AUSF network element can interact with other network function network elements through the service-based interface Nausf. The AMF network element can interact with other network function network elements through the service-based interface Namf. The SMF network element can interact with other network function network elements through the service-based interface Nsmf.

[0139] Optionally, the 5G communication system architecture may also adopt the non-3GPP system architecture in 5G, allowing terminal devices and the 3GPP core network to interconnect and interoperate using non-3GPP technologies. Non-3GPP technologies may include, but are not limited to, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks.

[0140] The present application is also applicable to the open access network (open RAN, ORAN) architecture. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the framework of an open access network. The ORAN system may include access network equipment, terminal equipment and core network equipment. The ORAN system may include other components in addition to the components shown in the figure. As shown in Figure 2, the access network equipment (for example, it may be an eNB or gNB or a next-generation access network equipment) communicates with the core network (CN) equipment through a backhaul link and communicates with the user equipment through an air interface. For example, the BBU in the access network equipment may communicate with the core network through a backhaul link, and the RU in the access network equipment may communicate with at least one UE through an air interface. The BBU communicates with at least one RU through a fronthaul link, and the BBU and RU may be co-located or not. The BBU includes at least one of at least one CU and at least one DU, which may communicate through at least one midhaul link (Midhaul). In the ORAN system, the CU may also be an O-CU, and the DU may also be an O-DU.

[0141] Figure 3 shows the functional division and protocol layer structure of an ORAN device. In some examples, the CU is a logical node that carries the radio resource control (RRC) layer, service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and other control functions of the access network device. The CU connects to network nodes such as the core network through interfaces, such as the E2 interface. Optionally, the CU may have some of the core network's functions. The CU (e.g., the PDCP layer and higher layers) connects to the DU (e.g., the RLC layer and lower layers) through interfaces, such as the F1 interface. In some examples, these interfaces (e.g., the F1 interface) may provide control plane (C-Plane) and user plane (U-Plane) functions (e.g., interface management, system information management, UE context management, RRC message transmission, etc.). The F1AP is the application protocol of the F1 interface and, in some examples, defines the F1 signaling process. The F1 interface supports the control plane F1-C and the user plane F1-U.

[0142] In some examples, the CU can be split into the CU-CP and CU-UP. The CU-CP is a logical node that carries the RRC layer and the PDCP-C (control plane part of PDCP) layer and is responsible for implementing the control plane functions of the CU. The CU-CP can interact with network elements in the core network that implement control plane functions. The network elements in the core network that implement control plane functions can be access and mobility function network elements, such as the AMF in a 5G system. The main functions of the AMF network element are described above and will not be detailed here. The CU-UP is a logical node that carries the SDAP layer and the PDCP-U (user plane part of PDCP) layer and is responsible for implementing the user plane functions of the CU. The CU-UP can interact with network elements in the core network that implement user plane functions. Network elements in the core network that implement user plane functions, such as the UPF in a 5G system, are responsible for forwarding and receiving data in terminal devices. The above CU and DU configurations are merely examples; the functions of the CU and DU can also be configured as needed. For example, the CU or DU can be configured to have the functions of more protocol layers, or the CU or DU can be configured to have only partial processing functions of a protocol layer. For example, some functions of the RLC layer and the functions of the protocol layers above the RLC layer are placed in the CU, while the remaining functions of the RLC layer and the functions of the protocol layers below the RLC layer are placed in the DU. For another example, the functions of the CU or DU can be divided according to service type or other system requirements. For example, according to latency, functions that need to meet a smaller latency requirement are placed in the DU, while functions that do not need to meet this latency requirement are placed in the CU.

[0143] In some examples, a DU is a logical node that carries the radio link control (RLC) layer, the medium access control (MAC) layer, the higher physical (higher PHY) layer, and other functions. In some examples, a DU can control at least one RU. The DU is connected to the RU through some interfaces, which can be fronthaul interfaces.

[0144] In some examples, a CU may not have a PDCP layer, i.e., include only an RRC layer. A CU-CP may not have a PDCP-C. A CU-UP may not have a PDCP-U, or may not have a CU-UP at all. In some examples, a DU may not have an RLC layer, but only a MAC and higher PHY layers. Furthermore, in some examples, there may be no CU and only a DU.

[0145] In some examples, the higher physical layer (Higher PHY) layer includes parts of the PHY layer processing, such as forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation and demodulation, and other processing functions. In some examples, the RU is a logical node that carries the lower physical layer (Lower PHY) and radio frequency (RF) chain processing. In some examples, the RU can be a 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) transmission reception point (TRP) or a remote radio head (RRH) or other similar functional entity. In some examples, the Low-PHY includes parts of the PHY processing, such as fast Fourier transform (FFT), inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT), digital beamforming and filtering, and other processing functions. The RU communicates with one or more UEs via a wireless link.

[0146] The DU and RU may or may not be co-located. The DU and RU exchange control plane information and user plane information via the lower-layer split control user synchronous-plane (LLS-CUS) interface over the fronthaul link. The LLS-CUS may include an LLS-C interface and an LLS-U interface that provide the control plane (C-Plane) and user plane (U-Plane) respectively. In some examples, the control plane (c-plane) refers to real-time control between the DU and RU. The DU and RU exchange management information via the LLS-M interface of the fronthaul link, and the management plane (M-Plane) refers to non-real-time management operations between the DU and RU. The DU and RU can cooperate to jointly implement the functions of the PHY layer. A DU can be connected to one or more RUs. The functions of the DU and RU can be configured in a variety of ways according to the design. For example, the DU is configured to implement baseband functions, and the RU is configured to implement mid-radio functions. For another example, the DU is configured to implement high-layer functions in the PHY layer, and the RU is configured to implement low-layer functions in the PHY layer or to implement the low-layer functions and radio frequency functions. The high-layer functions in the physical layer may include a portion of the functions of the physical layer, which is closer to the MAC layer, and the low-layer functions in the physical layer may include another portion of the functions of the physical layer, which is closer to the mid-radio side.

[0147] 2. The communication method described in this application is applied to A-IoT technology.

[0148] The present application is applied to the implementation of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology based on the infrastructure in the communication system, that is, the scenario of A-IoT technology. RFID systems usually include a reader and a tag (Tag, also known as RFID tag, electronic tag or tag device. In this application, the tag can also be regarded as a terminal device). The reader and the tag exchange information in order to manage the tag. Non-contact data communication is carried out between the reader and the tag. The function of the tag is simple and it needs to rely on the stimulation of the reader to send information, that is, the tag converts the wireless signal sent by the reader into energy and uses the energy to drive itself to work. The tag is a miniature wireless transceiver, which mainly includes a built-in tag device antenna, a coupling element and a chip. The chip of the tag has a storage space that can support the reader to read or write tag data. After the tag receives the radio frequency signal sent by the reader through the antenna, it can couple the radio frequency signal through the coupling element, and then provide energy to the tag chip in the coupling channel and feed back the data stored in the chip to the reader through the antenna. For example, a reader can send a carrier signal to a tag, which receives it via its antenna. The tag then reflects the carrier signal and transmits a reflected signal. The tag can then adjust the information it needs to transmit based on the reflected signal. This approach allows the tag to receive downlink signals using a low-precision, low-power, medium- to low-frequency ring oscillator, or even a completely local oscillator-free approach. This can further reduce the tag's downlink power consumption.

[0149] Tags support microwatt or 100-microwatt power consumption and cannot accommodate complex designs. RFID's primary application scenario is identity recognition, but it can also be used for data reading and writing. Tags have the following characteristics: Simple tag design, integrating the application layer and air interface signaling. They support microwatt or 100-microwatt power consumption and cannot accommodate complex designs or complex measurements. Multi-tag communication uses time division multiplexing, and multiple tags are read serially. They do not support differentiation between the frequency and code domains, resulting in poor parallel performance. Tags also feature low power consumption. For example, the power consumption of different tag types is described below: Passive tags (also known as passive tags): Power consumption is around 1μW. Passive tags have no inherent energy storage capability, and the energy for receiving and transmitting signals comes entirely from the reader's RF energy. Uplink transmission relies on reflection communication, requiring the reader to send a carrier signal to trigger the passive tag to transmit a reflected signal, which then uses RF energy to transmit the uplink signal to the reader. Semi-passive tags: Power consumption is around 100μW. Compared to passive tags, semi-passive tags can store some energy (for example, using capacitors), resulting in higher transmission power consumption than passive tags. They also rely on reflection communication, but their communication capabilities (such as transmission rate) are stronger than passive tags. Active tags: Power consumption is around 50mW. Active tags have their own battery and can actively transmit signals, not relying on reflection signals for communication, resulting in stronger communication capabilities. Among them, passive tags and semi-passive tags can use a communication method based on backscatter, and active tags use a communication method that actively generates a carrier.

[0150] Another classification method divides tags into the following three types: Device A: lacks energy storage, cannot independently generate signals, and uses backscatter for signal transmission; Device B: has energy storage but cannot independently generate signals, uses backscatter for signal transmission, and its stored energy can amplify reflected signals; Device C: has energy storage, can independently generate signals, and has active RF components for transmission. Tags use low-precision, low-power, medium- to low-frequency ring oscillators or no local oscillator at all to receive downlink signals. When operating, the energy and carrier for communication are supplied by the reader, and communication is based on the reflected carrier. A-IoT technology applies RFID to mobile communication systems, such as 5G systems, in which both the reader and the tag are devices within the mobile communication system. This communication network, consisting of readers and tags based on cellular network infrastructure, can be referred to as a passive Internet of Things (IoT) network, or an Ambient Internet of Things (AIoT or A-IoT). For example, the reader's functions can be implemented by access network equipment such as a base station. The tag can be implemented by a terminal device in a cellular network, such as an extremely low-power, extremely low-complexity Internet of Things terminal, that is, a first-class terminal. Contactless data communication can be carried out between the access network device and the terminal device, so as to read information from the terminal device and / or write information to be stored into the terminal device. It can be understood that in this application, the access network device can have the function of a reader / writer; the terminal device has the function of a tag, or the terminal device can be a terminal device in an AIoT or IoT system. Among them, the reader / writer can be a handheld or fixed device for reading or writing tag information, and can also be understood as a device that communicates with the tag. The reader / writer can be a terminal device, an access network device, or a device with reading and writing functions. The reader / writer can also be an IAB node or a relay node. Optionally, the relevant forms of the access network device and the terminal device can be found in the previous text and will not be described in detail here.

[0151] A-IoT technology enables A-IoT services, such as one or more of the following: paging, positioning, location reporting, inventory management, sensing, command, read, write, deactivate, lock, and sensing. In terms of application scope, A-IoT technology can be applied to scenarios such as logistics, warehousing, industrial manufacturing, identity recognition, and environmental monitoring. Another extremely low-power, low-complexity IoT technology can be considered an extension of RFID, sharing some of the same principles as RFID, such as inventory management processes. The following describes one or more of the following A-IoT services:

[0152] Inventory service: Inventory service, also known as an inventory operation, obtains tag identification information. For example, a reader can use commands such as query and acknowledgement (ACK) to obtain tag identification information. To facilitate tag inventory, tags include four session identifiers, S0-S3. Each session identifier corresponds to two inventory states: A and B. The inventory state is indicated by the sessInventoried flag. When a reader selects a tag, it sends a select command containing the session identifier, which the tag stores. When the reader performs an inventory on the tag, it sends a query command containing the session identifier. The tag can then flip the inventory state corresponding to the session identifier from A to B. If the reader sends a query command to perform the inventory again, the tag will not respond because its inventory state is B, thus preventing the same tag from being inventoried multiple times during a single inventory cycle.

[0153] Read service: The read service can read the electronic product code (EPC) in the tag's storage area, the tag identifier (TID), the content stored in the tag's reserved area, or the content stored in the user storage area.

[0154] Write service: The write service can perform write operations on the storage area of ​​the tag.

[0155] Kill service: Kill service can make the tag unable to work permanently.

[0156] Lock Service: Locking a tag's information prevents reading or writing to the tag. Alternatively, it can lock a storage area, preventing or allowing reading or writing to the storage area.

[0157] The network architecture of A-IoT technology may include but is not limited to the architectures shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7.

[0158] The architecture shown in Figure 4 includes an access network device (such as a base station) and a tag. The tag can be a standalone device or integrated with the terminal device, meaning that the tag is part of the terminal device. The access network device has the reader / writer function of the RFID system and can communicate with the tag as a reader / writer. The communication interface between the access network device and the tag is the uu interface (or A-IoT-uu interface). As shown in Figure 4, the tag directly communicates bidirectionally with the access network device, exchanging data and / or signaling for A-IoT services.

[0159] Figure 5 shows another architectural diagram of A-IoT technology. As shown in Figure 5, the communication system includes an access network device, an IAB node, and a tag. The communication system may also include other devices, such as a terminal device. In this communication system, the access network device may have the function of a reader / writer in an RFID system, and the IAB node may serve as a relay node between the access network device and the tag. The tag transmits information to the IAB node, and the IAB node forwards the information to the access network device via the uu interface. The tag may be connected to the IAB node via the uu interface, and the IAB node may be connected to the base station via the uu interface. As shown in Figure 5, the terminal device may also be a relay node between the access network device and the tag. The tag transmits information to the terminal device, and the terminal device forwards the information to the access network device via the uu interface.

[0160] In the present application, the communication system including the access network device, the terminal device and the tag can also be a system with a separated architecture. In this communication system, as shown in Figure 6, the access network device and the terminal device can communicate directly. The access network device can also have the function of a reader / writer in the RFID system, and there is an uplink connection between the tag and the access network device, and a downlink connection between the tag and the terminal device. The terminal device can transmit information to the tag, and the tag then forwards the information to the access network device. Alternatively, there is a downlink connection between the tag and the access network device, and an uplink connection between the tag and the terminal device. The access network device can transmit information to the tag, and the tag then forwards the information to the terminal network device. The energy required for the tag to send information can be provided by an energy signal, and the energy signal can come from the access network device, or from the terminal device or other devices. The energy signal can also be called an excitation signal or a carrier signal.

[0161] In a system with a separated architecture, in one implementation, a terminal device can send data to a tag. The terminal device or access network device provides a carrier signal, and the tag generates or sends an uplink signal based on the carrier signal, and sends the uplink signal to the access network device. The uplink signal may include data sent by the tag to the access network device. The data may be the tag's own data or data received from the terminal device. In another implementation, the access network device can send data to the tag. The terminal device or access network device provides a carrier signal, and the tag generates a downlink signal based on the carrier signal, and sends the downlink signal to the terminal device. The downlink signal may include data sent by the tag to the terminal device. The data may be the tag's own data or data received from the access network device.

[0162] There is also a direct connection architecture, in which the tag and the access network device can directly transmit data. When the tag sends an uplink signal to the access network device, the carrier signal used to generate the uplink signal is provided by the terminal device.

[0163] FIG7 shows a schematic diagram of another communication system applicable to embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG7 , the communication system includes a terminal device and a tag. The tag can be a standalone device or integrated with the terminal device. In this communication system, the terminal device can function as a reader / writer in an RFID system, i.e., the terminal device can communicate with the tag as a reader / writer, and the terminal device and the tag can communicate via a sidelink.

[0164] 3. Under the A-IoT architecture, the communication method and related embodiments provided by this application.

[0165] In the A-IoT architecture, adjacent network devices may not know the time and frequency resource locations for transmitting signals, which can cause interference between network devices and affect data transmission reliability. Furthermore, when adjacent network devices operate at the same time but different frequencies, the tags will receive mixed signals due to envelope detection, resulting in significant interference. Therefore, reducing interference between network devices remains an unresolved issue.

[0166] 3.1 Communication Method 100 and Related Embodiments

[0167] This application provides a communication method 100 in which a first device determines first information indicating a time at which the first device communicates with a second device. The first device then sends the first information to a third device, which in turn receives the first information. This allows the third device to obtain the time at which the first device communicates with the second device, thereby reducing or avoiding interference from the third device to the first device.

[0168] In the A-IoT scenario, the first device is a first reader / writer for managing tags, the second device is a tag, and the third device is a second reader / writer for managing tags. In this embodiment, the second reader / writer can obtain the time information of the communication between the first reader / writer and the tag, which is conducive to coordinating the time of communication between the second reader / writer and the tag to reduce interference with the first reader / writer. Optionally, the communication between the first device and the second device is a business process between the first device and the second device to perform tag management-related services, such as inventory, positioning, sensing, or command services.

[0169] FIG8 is a flow chart of a communication method 110 provided in an embodiment of the present application. In the communication method described in FIG8 , the first device and the third device are exemplified by any of the above-described forms of access network devices, denoted as base station 1 and base station 2, and the second device is a tag. In this method, the time information exchanged between base station 1 and base station 2 includes a start indication, an end indication, or a cancellation indication, and the start, end, or cancellation of communication with the tag is used as an example for explanation. As shown in FIG8 , the communication method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0170] S111. Base station 1 sends first information to base station 2. The first information is used to indicate the time information of communication between base station 1 and the tag. The time information includes a start indication of communication between base station 1 and the tag. Accordingly, base station 2 receives the first information.

[0171] Optionally, the method further includes: base station 1 determining the first information. Optionally, after receiving the first information, base station 2 returns a response message to base station 1, where the response message includes an identifier of base station 2, a task identifier, and an acknowledgment (ACK), indicating that base station 2 successfully received the first information. Alternatively, the response message includes an identifier of base station 2, a task identifier, and a failure cause, indicating that base station 2 failed to receive the first information.

[0172] S112. Base station 1 communicates with the tag.

[0173] Optionally, base station 2 may execute step S113.

[0174] S113. Base station 2 performs interference coordination according to the first information.

[0175] Optionally, base station 2 receives and performs interference coordination, including but not limited to: after base station 1 starts communicating with the tag, base station 2 does not communicate with the tag, or base station 2 only interacts with the tag with necessary information, such as system messages or control channel information, etc., or base station 2 reduces the power of the transmitted signal to reduce interference to base station 1.

[0176] When the base station 1 ends or cancels the communication with the tag, step S114 is executed.

[0177] S114. Base station 1 sends second information to base station 2, where the second information is used to instruct base station 1 to end or cancel communication with the tag; accordingly, base station 2 receives the second information.

[0178] Optionally, after receiving uplink data from the tag, such as the tag identifier and tag identifier list, base station 1 terminates communication with the tag. Alternatively, after receiving uplink data from the tag, base station 1 may also send other downlink data. After receiving the other downlink data, the tag then feeds back corresponding uplink data. Base station 1 receives the uplink data and terminates communication with the tag.

[0179] Optionally, the second information includes the identifier of base station 1, the task identifier, and the end (end). Optionally, base station 1 also sends the second information to the core network element, or base station 2 forwards the second information to the core network element. For example, when the core network element is an AMF, the second information is carried in an N2 message (including the identifier of base station 1, the task identifier, and end) and sent to the AMF. Optionally, the AMF also returns an N2 message (including the task identifier and ACK) to base station 1.

[0180] Optionally, base station 2 may execute step S115.

[0181] S115. Base station 2 ends interference coordination according to the second information.

[0182] Optionally, before step S112, base station 1 further sends third information to base station 2. The third information indicates at least one of the following: the duration of communication between base station 1 and the tag; the time unit for communication between base station 1 and the tag; a time offset, after a first moment, allowing base station 2 to communicate with the tag, where the first moment is the moment when base station 2 receives the third information plus the time offset; or a period for communication between base station 1 and the tag. Optionally, the at least one item of information indicated by the third information may be carried in a first message sent by a core network element to base station 1. This at least one item of information may be sent by the core network element to base station 1 or determined by base station 1 itself. Optionally, the third information and the first information may be carried in the same message.

[0183] If the third information indicates the aforementioned duration or period, then the time when base station 1 begins communication with the tag is the time when base station 2 receives the start indication from the first information or the time when base station 1 sends the first information. For example, if the third information indicates the duration of communication between base station 1 and the tag, base station 1 begins communication with the tag when base station 2 receives the start indication from the first information and terminates communication with the tag after the duration indicated by the third information. For another example, if the third information indicates the period of communication between base station 1 and the tag, base station 1 begins communication with the tag when base station 2 receives the start indication from the first information and periodically communicates with the tag at this period. The duration of communication between base station 1 and the tag can be the duration required to execute a service or task, referred to as the service duration. The time unit used for communication between base station 1 and the tag is the granularity of the service duration, which can be frames, subframes, slots, symbols, mini-slots, or other time units. Alternatively, the granularity of the service duration can be absolute time units, such as minutes, seconds, or milliseconds.

[0184] If the third information indicates a time unit, then the time when base station 1 and the tag begin communication is the time when base station 2 receives the start indication of the first information or the time when base station 1 sends the first information, but the duration of communication between base station 1 and the tag is determined based on the time unit indicated by the third information. The time unit for communication between base station 1 and the tag can be indicated using a time window, a pattern, or a bitmap. For example, the third information includes a time window, and the time interval included in the time window is the time range for communication between base station 1 and the tag. For another example, the third information includes a pattern identifier, and the pattern identified by the pattern identifier is used to indicate the position of the time unit for communication between base station 1 and the tag within the time period. For another example, the third information includes a bitmap, and each bit of the bitmap corresponds to a time unit. When a bit in the bitmap is set to a first value, it indicates that the time unit corresponding to the bit is the duration of communication or service between base station 1 and the tag. For example, if the bitmap in the third information is 1100, then the time unit corresponding to the bit with a value of 1 is the duration of communication between base station 1 and the tag. The granularity of the time unit may be other time units such as the frame, subframe, time slot, symbol, mini-time slot, etc. mentioned above, or may be absolute time such as minute, second, millisecond, etc.

[0185] If the third information indicates a time offset, then the time when base station 1 starts communicating with the tag is the time when base station 2 receives the start indication of the first information or the time when base station 1 sends the first information, but the duration of the communication between base station 1 and the tag is determined based on the time offset. Specifically, after the time offset is added to the time when base station 2 receives the third information (or the time when base station 2 receives the start indication), it can communicate with the tag. For example, at time T0, base station 1 sends the third information, and base station 2 receives the third information. The time offset in the third information is △T0. Then, after base station 1 sends the start indication, it starts communicating with the tag and continues for △T0. At T0+△T0, the communication between base station 1 and the tag ends, allowing base station 2 to communicate with the tag.

[0186] Optionally, before base station 1 sends the first message to base station 2, it also receives fourth information from a fourth device, where the fourth information is used to request or trigger communication between the first device and the second device. As shown in Figure 8, for the A-IoT scenario, the fourth information is carried in the first message to trigger communication between base station 1 and the tag. The fourth device is a device used to request or trigger communication between base station 1 and the tag, such as a server, network element, or device in the core network, such as a tag management function (TMF) network element or AMF network element. In one case, the fourth device is a TMF network element. The application server (such as an IoT server, user / factory server, etc.) can send the service request directly to the TMF network element, which then sends the first message to base station 1. In another case, the fourth device is an AMF network element. The application server can forward the service request to the TMF network element via the UPF network element, which then forwards it to the AMF network element, which then sends the first message to base station 1.

[0187] Optionally, the first message may include at least one of the following parameters: task identifier (Task ID), AF ID, inventory (inventory) / read (Read) / write (Write) / disable (Disable) / sensing / positioning, positioning (location) (for example, it can be paging area location information), identification range (ID Range), device identification list (Device ID list), command (Command) parameter (for example, data to be read / written), UEreader GPSI list, cell identifier (cell ID). Optionally, the first information may also include the at least one parameter. For example, the first information includes the identifier and task identifier of base station 1 to inform base station 2 which base station starts to perform what task. For the optional tasks or services of base station 1 communicating with the tag, please refer to the A-IoT related services mentioned above and will not be described in detail here.

[0188] Optionally, the first information and the fourth information may be carried in the same message, such as the first message mentioned above.

[0189] Optionally, before base station 2 communicates with the tag, it may also perform operations similar to those of base station 1, as shown in the following steps:

[0190] S116. Base station 2 sends fifth information to base station 1, where the fifth information is used to indicate time information of communication between base station 2 and the tag, wherein the time information includes a start indication of communication between base station 2 and the tag.

[0191] Optionally, after receiving the second information, base station 2 further returns a response message to base station 1, where the response message carries the fifth information. Optionally, after receiving the fifth information, base station 1 may return a response message to base station 2, where the response message indicates whether base station 1 successfully received the fifth information or failed to receive it. This will not be described in detail here.

[0192] Optionally, base station 2 also sends at least one of the following information to base station 1, or the fifth information or the response message also includes at least one of the following information: the duration of the communication between base station 2 and the tag; the time unit of the communication between base station 2 and the tag; the time offset, after the first moment, base station 1 is allowed to communicate with the tag, the first moment is the moment when base station 1 receives the fifth information plus the time offset; or the cycle of the communication between base station 2 and the tag. The starting time of the duration corresponding to the at least one piece of information is the time when the first device receives the start indication. Taking the time offset △T1 as an example, at time T1, base station 2 sends the fifth information to base station 1, and base station 1 receives the fifth information. The time offset in the fifth information is △T1. Then, after base station 2 sends the start indication, it starts to communicate with the tag and continues for △T1. At T1+△T1, the communication between base station 2 and the tag ends, and base station 1 is allowed to communicate with the tag.

[0193] S117. Base station 2 communicates with the tag.

[0194] When the base station 2 ends or cancels the communication with the tag, it executes step S116.

[0195] The base station 2 and the tag may perform A-IoT related services, which will not be described in detail here. When the communication between the base station 2 and the tag is terminated or canceled, step S116 is further executed.

[0196] S118. Base station 2 sends sixth information to base station 1, where the sixth information is used to instruct base station 2 to end or cancel communication with the tag; correspondingly, base station 1 receives the sixth information.

[0197] It can be seen that in the communication method 110, base station 1 and base station 2 can exchange instructions on the start, end, or cancellation of communication with the tag, that is, the start, end, or cancellation of A-IoT related services. In this way, the time information of one base station communicating with the tag can be known by the other base station, and the base stations can coordinate time domain interference to reduce or avoid interference between base stations. Optionally, the communication method 110 can also be applied between three or more base stations, and the time information of one base station communicating with the tag can be known by other base stations. In this way, each base station can also coordinate time domain interference to reduce interference between base stations.

[0198] FIG9 is a flow chart of a communication method 120 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The difference between the communication method 120 described in FIG9 and the communication method 110 is that, in the method 120, the time information exchanged between base station 1 and base station 2 includes at least one of the following: the start time and duration of the communication between the base station and the tag; the time unit of the communication between the base station and the tag; the time offset, after the first moment, another base station is allowed to communicate with the tag, and the first moment is the moment when the other base station receives the time information plus the time offset; or the period of communication between the base station and the tag. As shown in FIG9 , the communication method 120 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0199] S121. Base station 1 sends first information to base station 2, where the first information indicates the time information of communication between base station 1 and the tag; in response, base station 2 receives the first information. The time information indicated by the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0200] The start time and duration of the communication between base station 1 and the tag; the time unit of the communication between base station 1 and the tag; the time offset, after the first moment, base station 2 is allowed to communicate with the tag, the first moment is the moment when base station 2 receives the first information plus the time offset; or, the period of communication between base station 1 and the tag.

[0201] S122. Base station 1 communicates with the tag.

[0202] Base station 1 communicates with the tag based on at least one of the above items included in the time information indicated by the first information, as described below. If the time information indicated by the first information includes the start time and duration of communication between base station 1 and the tag, then base station 1 begins communicating with the tag at the start time and continues for the duration.

[0203] If the time information indicated by the first information includes a time unit for communication between base station 1 and the tag, then base station 1 communicates with the tag during the included time unit. As previously described, the time unit for communication between base station 1 and the tag can be indicated using a time window, a pattern, or a bitmap. For example, the first information may include a time window, where the time interval encompassed by the time window is the time range for communication between base station 1 and the tag. For another example, the first information may include a pattern identifier, where the pattern identified by the pattern identifier indicates the position of the time unit for communication between base station 1 and the tag within the time period. For another example, the first information may include a bitmap, where each bit in the bitmap corresponds to a time unit. When a bit in the bitmap is set to a first value, it indicates that the time unit corresponding to the bit is the duration of communication or service between base station 1 and the tag. For example, if the bitmap in the first information is 1100, then the time unit corresponding to the bit with a value of 1 is the duration of communication between base station 1 and the tag. The granularity of the time unit can be other time units such as the frames, subframes, slots, symbols, mini-slots, etc. described above, or it can be an absolute time unit such as minutes, seconds, or milliseconds.

[0204] If the time information indicated by the first message includes a time offset, in one case, base station 1 begins communicating with the tag at a preset time domain location in a protocol-defined manner, and continues for the duration corresponding to the time offset. In another case, base station 1 begins communicating with the tag and continues for the duration corresponding to the time offset when base station 2 receives the first message. Furthermore, base station 2 does not need to inform base station 1 of the time information of its own communication with the tag via the fifth message. Instead, base station 2 communicates with the tag at the first moment, or base station 2 allows communication with the tag at the first moment. The first moment is the moment when base station 2 receives the time offset, plus the time offset.

[0205] Optionally, base station 2 performs interference coordination according to the first information. For details, please refer to the relevant description in FIG8 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0206] Optionally, when base station 1 ends or cancels communication with the tag, base station 1 may further send information indicating that base station 1 has ended or canceled communication with the tag to base station 2. Optionally, base station 2 ends interference coordination according to the indication information.

[0207] Optionally, before base station 2 communicates with the tag, it may also perform operations similar to those of base station 1, as shown in the following steps:

[0208] S123. Base station 2 sends fifth information to base station 1. Correspondingly, base station 1 receives the fifth information. The fifth information is used to indicate the time information of the communication between base station 2 and the tag.

[0209] Optionally, the time information indicated by the fifth information may also include at least one item of information similar to that indicated by the first information, such as the time unit for communication between base station 2 and the tag; a time offset, after a first moment, base station 1 is allowed to communicate with the tag, and the first moment is the moment when base station 1 receives the fifth information plus the time offset; or, the period for communication between base station 2 and the tag.

[0210] S124. Base station 2 communicates with the tag.

[0211] Among them, base station 2 communicates with the tag according to the time information indicated by the fifth information including at least one of the above information. The specific explanation is similar to the communication between base station 1 and the tag according to the first information. Please refer to the above and will not be described in detail here.

[0212] Optionally, the order in which base station 1 sends the first information to base station 2 and base station 2 sends the fifth information to base station 1 is not limited in this application.

[0213] Optionally, after base station 1 sends the first information to base station 2, base station 2 may return a response message to base station 1 to inform base station 1 whether base station 2 has successfully received the first information. Optionally, when base station 1 cancels or ends communication with the tag, it may also send indication information to base station 2 indicating the end or cancellation of communication. Optionally, if base station 1 sends indication information to base station 2 indicating the end or cancellation of communication, base station 2 may also return a response message to base station 2, and the response message may carry the fifth information described above. Optionally, when base station 2 cancels or ends communication with the tag, it may also send indication information to base station 1 indicating the end or cancellation of communication.

[0214] Optionally, as described in the method shown in FIG9 , before base station 1 sends the first information to base station 2, base station 1 may also receive a first message from a core network element. Similarly, before base station 2 sends the fifth information to base station 1, base station 2 may also receive a first message from a core network element. The contents of the first messages received by base station 1 and base station 2 are different. For a specific description of the first message, please refer to the relevant description in FIG8 and will not be described in detail here.

[0215] It can be seen that in the communication method 120, base station 1 and base station 2 can exchange the start time and duration of communication with the tag, or the time unit of communication with the tag, or the time offset or period of communication with the tag, etc. In this way, the time information of one base station communicating with the tag can be known by the other base station, and the base stations can perform time domain interference coordination to reduce or avoid interference between base stations. Optionally, the communication method 120 can also be applied between three or more base stations, and the time information of one base station communicating with the tag can be known by other base stations. In this way, each base station can also perform time domain interference coordination to reduce or avoid interference between base stations.

[0216] 3.2 Communication method 200 and related embodiments.

[0217] The present application also provides a communication method 200, in which a fourth device determines first information and sends the first information to the first device, where the first information is used to indicate time information for communication between the first device and the second device; accordingly, the first device receives the first information and communicates with the second device based on the first information. In addition, the fourth device may also send time information to the third device to indicate time information for communication between the third device and the second device. As can be seen, in this method, the fourth device allocates time information for communication with the second device to the first device and the third device, respectively, which is conducive to time domain coordination between the first device and the third device to reduce or avoid interference between the first device and the third device.

[0218] In the A-IoT scenario, the first device and the third device are respectively the first reader / writer device for managing the tag, the second device is the tag, and the fourth device is the device for triggering or requesting the reader / writer device to communicate with the tag. In this embodiment, the fourth device allocates time information for the reader / writer device to communicate with the tag, which helps the fourth device coordinate the communication time between multiple reader / writer devices and tags to reduce interference between multiple reader / writer devices. Similarly, the communication between the first device and the second device is the business process between the reader / writer device and the tag to perform A-IoT related services, such as inventory, positioning, sensing or command services.

[0219] Figure 10 is a flow chart of a communication method 210 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication method described in Figure 10 takes the first device and the third device as an access network device in any form described above, such as base station 1 and base station 2 as an example, the second device is a tag, and the fourth device can be the TMF network element or AMF network element mentioned above, and is explained by taking the core network network element as an example. In this method, the core network network element can exchange start indications, end or cancellation indications with base station 1 and base station 2 respectively to indicate the start, end or cancellation of communication with the tag. As shown in Figure 10, the communication method 210 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0220] S211. The core network element determines first information, where the first information is used to indicate time information of communication between the base station 1 and the tag. The time information indicated by the first information includes a start indication of communication between the base station 1 and the tag.

[0221] S212. The core network element sends the first information to base station 1, and correspondingly, base station 1 receives the first information.

[0222] S213. Base station 1 communicates with the tag according to the first information.

[0223] When the communication between the base station 1 and the tag is completed or canceled, step S214 is also executed.

[0224] S214. Base station 1 sends second information to the core network element, where the second information is used to instruct base station 1 to end or cancel communication with the tag.

[0225] Optionally, base station 1 may send the second information to the core network element, including uplink data of the tag, such as a tag identifier and a tag identifier list, to indicate that base station 1 has terminated communication with the tag. Alternatively, after receiving the uplink data sent by the tag, base station 1 may also send other downlink data. After receiving the other downlink data, the tag will then feed back the corresponding uplink data. Base station 1 will send the uplink data to the core network element to indicate that base station 1 has terminated communication with the tag.

[0226] In an optional embodiment, before step S213, the core network element further transmits third information to base station 1. The third information indicates at least one of the following: the duration of base station 1's communication with the tag; the time unit for base station 1's communication with the tag; a time offset, which allows base station 2 to communicate with the tag after a first moment, where the first moment is the moment base station 1 receives the start indication plus the time offset; or a period for base station 1's communication with the tag. Thus, in this embodiment, in addition to notifying base station 1 of the start of communication with the tag via the start indication, the core network element also notifies base station 1 of the at least one item of time information, allowing base station 1 to communicate with the tag based on the at least one item of time information. Optionally, the third information and the first information are included in the same message, or sent via separate messages. The detailed description of base station 1's communication with the tag based on the first information and the at least one item of information in this embodiment can be found in the relevant content described in FIG8 and will not be further elaborated here.

[0227] Optionally, as shown in Figure 10, the core network element further sends fourth information to base station 1, where the fourth information is used to request or trigger communication between base station 1 and the tag. Optionally, the first information, the third information, and the fourth information may be carried in the same message (such as the first message described above) or sent separately via different messages.

[0228] Optionally, as shown in Figure 10, before determining the first information, the core network element further receives fifth information from base station 1, where the fifth information is used to indicate interference information generated by base station 2 on base station 1. In step S211, the core network element determines the first information, including: the core network element determines the first information based on the fifth information. Thus, in this embodiment, the core network element determines the first information of base station 1 based on the interference information generated by base station 2 on base station 1, thereby enabling time-domain interference coordination between base stations 1 and 2, thereby reducing interference between base stations 1 and 2.

[0229] In an optional embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, the core network element receives sixth information from base station 1, where the sixth information is used to request time information for base station 1 to communicate with the tag. Thus, in this embodiment, after receiving the time information request from base station 1, the core network element sends first information to base station 1 to allocate time information for base station 1 to communicate with the tag.

[0230] It can be seen that the core network element can control base station 1 to start communicating with the tag, and can also promptly learn that base station 1 ends or cancels communication with the tag, thereby facilitating the control of other base stations to start communicating with the tag, coordinating the communication between each base station and the tag, and thus reducing interference between the base stations. Optionally, the method may further include the following steps:

[0231] S215. The core network element determines seventh information, where the seventh information is used to indicate time information of communication between the base station 2 and the tag. The time information includes a start indication of communication between the base station 2 and the tag.

[0232] Optionally, the core network element may determine the time information for each base station to communicate with the tag based on the interference information between the base stations or the interference information of the neighboring stations that interfere with the base station.

[0233] S216. The core network element sends the seventh information to base station 2. Correspondingly, base station 2 receives the seventh information.

[0234] S217. Base station 2 communicates with the tag according to the seventh information.

[0235] When the communication between the base station 2 and the tag is completed or canceled, step S218 is also executed.

[0236] S218. Base station 2 sends eighth information to the core network element, where the eighth information is used to instruct base station 2 to end or cancel communication with the tag.

[0237] Similarly, the core network element also sends information to base station 2 indicating at least one of the following: the duration of communication between base station 2 and the tag; the time unit of communication between base station 2 and the tag; the time offset, after a first moment, base station 1 is allowed to communicate with the tag, the first moment being the moment when base station 2 receives the start indication plus the time offset; or the period of communication between base station 2 and the tag. It can be seen that in this embodiment, in addition to informing base station 2 to start communication with the tag through the start indication, the core network element also informs base station 2 of the above-mentioned at least one time information, so that base station 2 communicates with the tag according to the at least one time information. Optionally, the above-mentioned at least one information is carried in the same message as the first information, or is sent separately through different messages. The relevant explanation of this embodiment can also be found in the relevant content described in Figure 8, which will not be described in detail here.

[0238] Optionally, the core network element further sends information to base station 2 for requesting or triggering communication between base station 2 and the tag. Optionally, as shown in FIG10 , before determining the seventh information, the core network element further receives from base station 2 information indicating interference generated by base station 1 to base station 2. Similarly, the core network element determines the seventh information based on the interference information.

[0239] Optionally, the core network element receives information from base station 2 for requesting time information for communication between base station 2 and the tag. It can be seen that after receiving the time information request from base station 2, the core network element sends seventh information to base station 2 to allocate time information for communication between base station 2 and the tag.

[0240] It can be seen that the core network element can control the base station to start communicating with the tag, and can also promptly learn that the base station ends or cancels communication with the tag. In this way, the base stations communicate with the tag alternately, thereby reducing or avoiding interference between the base stations.

[0241] Figure 11 is a flow chart of a communication method 220 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The difference between the communication method 220 described in Figure 11 and the communication method 210 described in Figure 10 is that the time information of the interaction between the core network element and the base station includes at least one of the following: the start time and duration of the communication between the base station and the tag; the time unit of the communication between the base station and the tag; the time offset, after the first moment, another base station is allowed to communicate with the tag, and the first moment is the moment when the base station receives the time information plus the time offset; or the period of communication between the base station and the tag. As shown in Figure 11, the communication method 220 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0242] S221. The core network element determines first information, where the first information is used to indicate time information of communication between base station 1 and the tag, where the time information includes at least one of the following:

[0243] The start time and duration of the communication between base station 1 and the tag; the time unit of the communication between base station 1 and the tag; the time offset, after the first moment, base station 2 is allowed to communicate with the tag, the first moment is the moment when base station 1 receives the first information plus the time offset; or, the period of communication between base station 1 and the tag.

[0244] Optionally, when requesting or triggering communication between base station 1 and the tag, such as triggering or requesting base station 1 to perform a first service with the tag, the core network element allocates different times for communication with the tag to each base station (e.g., base station 1 and base station 2). The different times allocated by the core network element to each base station may be coordinated with a specific service trigger or non-service related (i.e., not coordinated with a specific service trigger, but coordinated in advance. When an event is triggered, the different times allocated to each base station will operate according to the previously coordinated time).

[0245] S222. The core network element sends first information to base station 1, and correspondingly, base station 1 receives the first information.

[0246] S223. Base station 1 communicates with the tag according to the first information.

[0247] If the time information indicated by the first message includes a time offset, upon receiving the first message, base station 1 begins communicating with the tag for a duration corresponding to the time offset. Furthermore, base station 1 learns that base station 2 is able to communicate with the tag at the first moment. The first moment is the moment base station 1 receives the first message plus the time offset. If the time information includes other information, the detailed description of base station 1's communication with the tag based on the first message can be found in step S122 of FIG. 9 and will not be further described here.

[0248] Optionally, the core network element requests or triggers communication between base station 1 and the tag via fourth information. The core network element also sends fourth information to base station 1, where the fourth information is used to request or trigger communication between base station 1 and the tag. Optionally, the first information and the fourth information may be included in the same message (such as the first message described above) or sent via separate messages.

[0249] Optionally, as shown in Figure 11, before determining the first information, the core network element further receives fifth information from base station 1, where the fifth information indicates interference information generated by base station 2 on base station 1. In step S211, the core network element determines the first information, including: the core network element determines the first information based on the fifth information. The core network element determines the first information of base station 1 based on the interference information generated by base station 2 on base station 1, thereby enabling time-domain interference coordination between base stations 1 and 2, thereby reducing interference between base stations 1 and 2.

[0250] Optionally, as shown in Figure 11, the core network element receives sixth information from base station 1, where the sixth information is used to request time information for communication between base station 1 and the tag. Thus, in this embodiment, after receiving the time information request from base station 1, the core network element sends first information to base station 1 to allocate time information for communication between base station 1 and the tag.

[0251] Optionally, as shown in FIG11 , when base station 1 ends or cancels communication with the tag, information indicating that base station 1 ends or cancels communication with the tag may be sent to the core network element.

[0252] Optionally, the core network element may also execute the communication method of steps S221 and S222 for base station 2. As shown in FIG11 , the method further includes:

[0253] S224. The core network element determines seventh information, where the seventh information is used to indicate time information for communication between base station 2 and the tag.

[0254] S225. The core network element sends the seventh information to base station 2. Correspondingly, base station 2 receives the seventh information.

[0255] S226. Base station 2 communicates with the tag according to the seventh information.

[0256] Similar to the first information, the time information indicated by the seventh information includes at least one of the above items, the time information of the communication between the base station 2 and the tag, which will not be elaborated here.

[0257] Optionally, before step S224, the core network element may also receive interference information from base station 2, where the interference information indicates interference generated by base station 1 on base station 2. In step S224, the core network element may determine seventh information based on the interference information. Optionally, the core network element may determine first information for base station 1 and seventh information for base station 2 based on the interference information from base station 1 and base station 2, respectively, to perform time-domain interference coordination for base station 1 and base station 2, thereby reducing or avoiding interference between base station 1 and base station 2.

[0258] Similarly, before determining the seventh information, the core network element may also send information to base station 2 for triggering or requesting base station 2 to communicate with the tag, or receive information from base station 2 for requesting time information for communication with the tag, which will not be elaborated here.

[0259] Optionally, as shown in FIG11 , when base station 2 ends or cancels communication with the tag, it may also send information to the core network element to instruct base station 2 to end or cancel communication with the tag.

[0260] It can be seen that in the communication method 220, the core network element can allocate time information for communicating with tags to multiple base stations, thereby being able to perform time domain interference coordination on the multiple base stations to reduce or avoid interference between the multiple base stations.

[0261] Optionally, in Figures 10 and 11, the operations performed by the core network element can also be performed by another device, which can be a device that provides a service solution for the base station. Before the base station communicates with the tag, it can apply to and obtain service time information from the device to achieve time domain interference coordination among multiple base stations, so as to reduce or avoid interference between multiple base stations.

[0262] FIG12 is a flow chart of a communication method 230 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication method described in FIG12 takes the example that the first device and the third device may be the DUs described above, the second device is a tag, and the fourth device may be the CU described above. In this method, the CU may exchange start indications, end indications, or cancellation indications with DU1 and DU2, respectively, to indicate the start, end, or cancellation of communication with the tag. As shown in FIG12 , the communication method 230 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0263] S231. CU sends the first information to DU1. Correspondingly, base station 1 receives the first information. The first information is used to indicate time information of communication between DU1 and the tag. The time information includes a start indication of communication between DU1 and the tag.

[0264] Optionally, before sending the first information to DU1, the CU further determines the first information.

[0265] S232.DU1 communicates with the tag.

[0266] When the communication between DU1 and the tag is completed or canceled, step S233 is also executed.

[0267] S233. DU1 sends a second message to CU, where the second message is used to instruct DU1 to end or cancel communication with the tag.

[0268] Optionally, the CU also sends a third information to DU1, and the third information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the duration of the communication between DU1 and the tag; the time unit of the communication between DU1 and the tag; the time offset, after the first moment, DU2 is allowed to communicate with the tag, and the first moment is the moment when DU1 receives the start indication plus the time offset; or the period of communication between DU1 and the tag. It can be seen that in this embodiment, in addition to informing DU1 to start communicating with the tag through the start indication, the CU also informs DU1 of the above-mentioned at least one time information, so that DU1 communicates with the tag according to the at least one time information. Optionally, the third information and the first information are carried in the same message, or are sent through different messages. Among them, the specific explanation of DU1 communicating with the tag according to the first information and the above-mentioned at least one information in this embodiment can be found in the relevant content of the base station 1 communicating with the tag according to the first information and the above-mentioned at least one information in Figure 8, which will not be described in detail here.

[0269] Optionally, the CU further sends a fourth message to DU1, the fourth message being used to request or trigger communication between DU1 and the tag. Optionally, the first message, the third message, and the fourth message may be carried in the same message (such as the first message described above), or sent separately via different messages.

[0270] Optionally, before the CU determines the first information, it also receives the fifth information from DU1, and the fifth information is used to indicate the interference information generated by DU2 to DU1. Optionally, the CU determines the first information, including: the CU determines the first information based on the fifth information. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the CU determines the first information of DU1 based on the interference information generated by DU2 to DU1, so that time domain interference coordination can be performed on DU1 and DU2 to reduce the interference between DU1 and DU2. Optionally, the CU can obtain information such as the location of DU1 and DU2 from operations, administration, and maintenance (OAM), and then determine the interference information between DU2 and DU1, and determine the first information based on the interference information.

[0271] Optionally, the CU receives sixth information from DU1, which is used to request time information for DU1 to communicate with the tag. Thus, in this embodiment, after receiving the time information request from DU1, the CU sends the first information to DU1 to allocate time information for DU1 to communicate with the tag.

[0272] The CU can control DU1 to start communicating with the tag and can also promptly learn when DU1 ends or cancels communication with the tag, thereby facilitating control of other DUs to start communicating with the tag and coordinating the communication between each DU and the tag, thereby reducing interference between the DUs.

[0273] Optionally, the method may further include the following steps:

[0274] S234. CU sends seventh information to DU2. Correspondingly, DU2 receives the seventh information. The seventh information is used to indicate time information of communication between DU2 and the tag. The time information includes a start indication of communication between DU2 and the tag.

[0275] S235.DU2 communicates with the tag.

[0276] When the communication between DU2 and the tag is completed or canceled, step S217 is also executed.

[0277] S236. DU2 sends the eighth information to CU. Correspondingly, CU receives the eighth information. The eighth information is used to instruct DU2 to end or cancel communication with the tag.

[0278] Similarly, the CU also sends information to DU2 indicating at least one of the following: the duration of the communication between DU2 and the tag; the time unit of the communication between DU2 and the tag; the time offset, after the first moment, DU1 is allowed to communicate with the tag, the first moment is the moment when DU2 receives the start indication plus the time offset; or the period of communication between DU2 and the tag. It can be seen that in this embodiment, in addition to informing DU2 to start communicating with the tag through the start indication, the CU also informs DU2 of the above-mentioned at least one time information, so that DU2 communicates with the tag according to the at least one time information. Optionally, the above-mentioned at least one information is carried in the same message as the first information, or is sent separately through different messages. Among them, the relevant explanations in this embodiment can also be found in the relevant content described in Figure 8, which will not be described in detail here.

[0279] Optionally, as shown in Figure 12, the CU also sends information to DU2 requesting or triggering communication between DU2 and the tag. Optionally, as shown in Figure 10, before determining the seventh information, the CU also receives information from DU2 indicating interference caused by DU1 to DU2. Similarly, the CU determines the seventh information based on this interference information.

[0280] Optionally, as shown in Figure 12, the CU receives information from DU2 requesting time information for communication between DU2 and the tag. It can be seen that in this embodiment, after receiving the time information request from DU2, the CU sends the seventh information to DU2 to allocate time information for communication between DU2 and the tag.

[0281] It can be seen that the CU can control DU2 to start communicating with the tag and can also promptly learn when DU2 ends or cancels communication with the tag. In this way, DU1 and DU2 communicate with the tag alternately, thereby reducing or avoiding interference between DUs.

[0282] FIG13 is a flow chart of a communication method 240 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The difference between the communication method 240 described in FIG13 and the communication method 230 described in FIG10 is that the time information of the interaction between the CU and the DU includes at least one of the following: the start time and duration of the communication between the DU and the tag; the time unit of the communication between the DU and the tag; the time offset, after the first moment, another DU is allowed to communicate with the tag, and the first moment is the moment when the DU receives the time information plus the time offset; or the period of communication between the DU and the tag. As shown in FIG13, the communication method 240 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0283] S241. The CU determines first information, which is used to indicate the time information of the communication between DU1 and the tag. The time information indicated by the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0284] The start time and duration of communication between DU1 and the tag; the time unit of communication between DU1 and the tag; the time offset, after the first moment, DU2 is allowed to communicate with the tag, where the first moment is the moment when DU1 receives the first message plus the time offset; or the period of communication between DU1 and the tag.

[0285] S242. CU sends first information to DU1; correspondingly, DU1 receives the first information.

[0286] S243. DU1 communicates with the tag according to the first information.

[0287] If the time information indicated by the first message includes a time offset, upon receiving the first message, DU1 begins communicating with the tag for the duration corresponding to the time offset. DU1 also learns that DU2 is able to communicate with the tag at the first moment. The first moment is the moment DU1 receives the first message plus the time offset. If the time information includes other information, the detailed description of DU1's communication with the tag based on the first message can be found in step S122 of Figure 9 and will not be detailed here.

[0288] Optionally, before determining the first information, the CU further receives fifth information from DU1, where the fifth information is used to indicate interference information generated by DU2 on DU1.

[0289] Optionally, the CU receives sixth information from DU1, which is used to request time information for DU1 to communicate with the tag. Thus, in this embodiment, after receiving the time information request from DU1, the CU sends the first information to DU1 to allocate time information for DU1 to communicate with the tag.

[0290] Optionally, when DU1 ends or cancels the communication with the tag, information indicating that DU1 ends or cancels the communication with the tag may be sent to CU.

[0291] Optionally, the CU may also execute the communication method of steps S241 and S242 for DU2. As shown in FIG13 , the method further includes:

[0292] S244. The CU determines seventh information, which is used to indicate the time information of the communication between DU2 and the tag. The time information indicated by the seventh information includes at least one of the following:

[0293] The start time and duration of DU2's communication with the tag; the time unit for DU2's communication with the tag; the time offset, after the first moment, DU1 is allowed to communicate with the tag, where the first moment is the moment DU2 receives the seventh information plus the time offset; or the period of DU2's communication with the tag.

[0294] S245. CU sends the seventh information to DU2, and correspondingly, DU2 receives the seventh information.

[0295] S246. DU2 communicates with the tag according to the seventh information.

[0296] Optionally, the CU may also receive interference information from DU2, which indicates the interference generated by DU1 on DU2. The CU may determine the seventh information based on the interference information. Optionally, the CU may determine the first information for DU1 and the seventh information for DU2 based on the interference information from DU1 and DU2, respectively, to perform time domain interference coordination for DU1 and DU2, thereby reducing or avoiding interference between DU1 and DU2.

[0297] Optionally, when the CU requests or triggers communication between the DU and the tag, such as when triggering or requesting the DU and the tag to execute a first service, it allocates different times to each DU (e.g., DU1 and DU2). The different times allocated by the CU to each DU may be coordinated with a specific service trigger or non-service-related (i.e., not coordinated with a specific service trigger, but coordinated in advance. When an event is triggered, the different times allocated to each DU will operate according to the previously coordinated time).

[0298] Optionally, the CU receives information from the core network element for triggering or requesting communication between the DU and the tag, and / or the CU receives information from the DU for requesting time information for communication between the DU and the tag, and then sends the first information and the seventh information respectively.

[0299] Optionally, when DU2 ends or cancels communication with the tag, DU2 may also send information indicating that DU2 ends or cancels communication with the tag to CU.

[0300] It can be seen that in the communication method 220, the CU can allocate time information for communicating with tags to multiple DUs, thereby being able to perform time domain interference coordination on the multiple DUs to reduce or avoid interference between the multiple DUs.

[0301] 4. Under the integrated communication and perception architecture, the communication method and related embodiments provided in this application.

[0302] Integrated communication and perception technology, which leverages software and hardware resources or information sharing within a communication system to achieve collaborative perception and communication functions, is a key technology in next-generation wireless communication systems. It aims to integrate wireless communication and perception into a single system, leveraging the various propagation characteristics of wireless signals to enable perception functions such as target positioning, detection, imaging, and identification. This allows network devices to acquire information about the surrounding physical environment, improve communication performance, and enhance user experience. In this integrated communication and perception technology, network devices transmit perception signals and receive echo signals to perform perception, acquiring information such as the position and velocity of targets in the environment. This allows for positioning, ranging, velocity measurement, imaging, detection, identification, and environmental reconstruction, enabling perceptual exploration of the physical world. The echo signal is generated by the perception signal reflecting off an object in the environment. The time delay of the echo signal relative to the transmitted perception signal reflects the target's distance, while the Doppler shift of the echo signal relative to the transmitted perception signal reflects the target's velocity. In this integrated communication and perception architecture, both the perception signal transmitter and receiver are implemented by devices in the communication system, such as network devices and / or terminals in the communication system, respectively.

[0303] In an integrated communication and perception architecture, adjacent sensing signal transmitters may not know the time-frequency resource locations of their transmitted signals, potentially causing interference between them and impacting data transmission reliability. Furthermore, when adjacent sensing signal transmitters operate at the same time but different frequencies, envelope detection causes mixed signals to be received by the sensing signal receiver, leading to significant interference. Therefore, reducing interference between sensing signal transmitters remains an unresolved issue.

[0304] The present application provides a communication method 100 for an integrated communication and perception architecture, wherein the first device is a first perception signal transmitting device, the second device is a perception signal receiving device, and the third device is a second perception signal transmitting device. The second perception signal transmitting device can obtain information about the time of communication between the first perception signal transmitting device and the perception signal receiving device, which facilitates coordination of the communication time between the second perception signal transmitting device and the perception signal receiving device, thereby reducing interference with the first perception signal transmitting device. Optionally, the communication between the first and second devices involves the execution of perception-related services between the first and second devices, such as positioning, ranging, speed measurement, imaging, detection, identification, and environmental reconstruction.

[0305] In one embodiment, the sensing signal sending device takes base station 1 and base station 2 as examples, and the sensing signal receiving device can be any of the terminals described above. The time information exchanged between base station 1 and base station 2 includes a start indication, an end or cancellation indication to indicate the start, end or cancellation of communication with the terminal. This embodiment is similar to the communication method 110 described in Figure 8, except that the communication between the base station and the tag can be modified to the communication between the base station and the terminal, that is, the base station performing A-IoT related services is modified to the base station performing sensing services, etc. In addition, in this embodiment, the fourth information received by base station 1 from the core network element is used to trigger or request communication between base station 1 and the terminal; the core network element is a sensing function (SF) or AMF. After the application server sends the service request to the SF or AMF, the SF or AMF can send the service request to the access network device or relay device through a first message, that is, the SF or AMF sends the first message to the access network device or relay device. Optionally, the first message is an N2 message, and N2 is the interface between the AMF and the access network device. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the form of the core network network element, so the first message can also be other messages, which is not limited here. Correspondingly, the service type included in the first message is the service type of the perception-related service. Optionally, after receiving the perception result, the base station 1 ends the communication with the terminal; or, after receiving the uplink data sent by the terminal, the base station 1 can also send other downlink data, and the terminal will feed back the corresponding uplink data after receiving the other downlink data. The base station 1 receives the uplink data and ends the communication with the terminal. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the base station 1 and the base station 2 can exchange the start, end or cancellation instructions of the communication with the terminal, so that the base stations can perform time domain interference coordination and reduce or avoid interference between base stations.

[0306] In another embodiment, the perception signal sending device still takes the base station as an example, and the perception signal receiving device can be any of the terminals described above. The time information exchanged between base stations includes the start time and duration of the communication between the base station and the terminal; the time unit of the communication between the base station and the terminal; the time offset, after the first moment, another base station is allowed to communicate with the terminal, and the first moment is the moment when the other base station receives the time information plus the time offset; or the period of communication between the base station and the terminal. This embodiment is similar to the communication method 120 described in Figure 9, except that the communication between the base station and the tag can be modified to the communication between the base station and the terminal, that is, the execution of A-IoT related services by the base station is modified to the execution of perception services by the base station, etc. In addition, in this embodiment, what the base station receives from the core network network element for triggering or requesting is the communication between the base station and the terminal. For the introduction of the core network network element and the first message, please refer to the previous text and will not be described in detail here. Optionally, after receiving the sensing result, the base station may send the sensing result to the core network element to inform the core network element that the base station and the terminal have terminated communication. Alternatively, after receiving the uplink data sent by the terminal, the base station may also send other downlink data. After receiving the other downlink data, the terminal then feeds back the corresponding uplink data. The base station receives the uplink data and forwards it to the core network element to inform the core network element that the base station and the terminal have terminated communication. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the base stations can exchange the at least one item of time information for communicating with the terminal, so that the base stations can perform time domain interference coordination and reduce or avoid interference between base stations.

[0307] This application provides a communication method 200 for an integrated communication and perception architecture, wherein a first device is a perception signal transmitter, a second device is a perception signal receiver, and a fourth device is a device for triggering or requesting a perception service, such as the SF or AMF described above. In this embodiment, the fourth device can allocate communication time information between each perception signal transmitter and the perception signal receiver, facilitating coordination of communication time between multiple perception signal transmitters by the fourth device to reduce or avoid interference between the multiple perception signal transmitters.

[0308] In one embodiment, the perception signal transmitting device is exemplified by a base station, and the perception signal receiving device can be any of the aforementioned terminal types. The fourth device is exemplified by a core network element. The time information exchanged between the core network element and the base station includes a start indication, an end indication, or a cancellation indication, indicating the start, end, or cancellation of communication between the base station and the terminal. This embodiment is similar to the communication method 210 described in FIG10 , except that the communication between the base station and the tag can be modified to communication between the base station and the terminal, i.e., the base station performing A-IoT-related services can be modified to the base station performing perception services. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fourth information received by the base station from the core network element is used to trigger or request communication between the base station and the terminal. After the application server sends the service request to the SF or AMF, the SM or AMF can send the service request to the access network device or relay device via a first message, i.e., the SM or AMF sends the first message to the access network device or relay device. Optionally, the first message is an N2 message. N2 is the interface between the AMF and the access network device, so the first message can also be other messages, which is not limited here. Accordingly, the service type included in the first message is the service type of the perception-related service. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the core network element can allocate time for each base station to communicate with the terminal, so as to facilitate time domain interference coordination for each base station and reduce or avoid interference between base stations.

[0309] In another embodiment, the sensing signal transmitting device still uses a base station as an example, and the sensing signal receiving device can be any of the aforementioned terminal types. The time information indicated by the core network element to the base station includes the start time and duration of communication between the base station and the terminal; the time unit of communication between the base station and the terminal; a time offset, after a first moment, allowing another base station to communicate with the terminal, where the first moment is the moment the base station receives the time information plus the time offset; or the period of communication between the base station and the terminal. This embodiment is similar to the communication method 220 described in Figure 11, except that the communication between the base station and the tag can be modified to communication between the base station and the terminal, i.e., the base station performing A-IoT-related services can be modified to the base station performing sensing services. In addition, in this embodiment, the trigger or request received by the base station from the core network element is the communication between the base station and the terminal. As can be seen, in this embodiment, the core network element can allocate at least one of the above-mentioned time information for communication with the terminal to each base station, facilitating time-domain interference coordination among the base stations and reducing or avoiding interference between base stations.

[0310] Optionally, when requesting or triggering communication between a base station and a terminal, such as triggering or requesting the base station and the terminal to perform a sensing service, the core network element allocates different times to each base station (or base station 1 and base station 2). The different times allocated by the core network element to each base station may be coordinated with a specific service trigger or non-service related (i.e., not coordinated with a specific service trigger, but coordinated in advance. When an event is triggered, the different times allocated to each base station will operate according to the previously coordinated time).

[0311] In another embodiment, the perception signal sending device takes DU as an example, and the perception signal receiving device can be any of the terminals described above. The fourth device takes CU as an example. The time information determined by CU for DU includes a start indication, an end or cancellation indication to indicate the start, end or cancellation of communication between DU and terminal. This embodiment is similar to the communication method 230 described in Figure 12, except that the communication between DU and tag can be modified to communication between DU and terminal, that is, the execution of A-IoT related services by DU is modified to the execution of perception services by DU, etc. In addition, in this embodiment, the fourth information received by DU from CU is used to trigger or request communication between DU and terminal; after the application server sends the service request to SF and AMF, SM or AMF can send the service request to CU through a first message, and CU then sends a first message to DU, and the first message carries the fourth information. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the core network element can allocate time for each base station to communicate with the terminal, which facilitates time domain interference coordination of each base station and reduces or avoids interference between base stations.

[0312] Optionally, when requesting or triggering communication between a DU and a terminal, such as triggering or requesting the DU and the terminal to perform a sensing service, the CU allocates different times to each DU (e.g., DU1 and DU2). The different times allocated by the CU to each DU may be coordinated with a specific service trigger or non-service-related (i.e., not coordinated with a specific service trigger, but coordinated in advance. When an event is triggered, the different times allocated to each DU will operate according to the previously coordinated time).

[0313] In another embodiment, the perception signal sending device takes DU as an example, and the perception signal receiving device can be any of the terminals described above. The fourth device takes CU as an example. The time information determined by CU for DU includes the start time and duration of communication between DU and terminal; the time unit of communication between DU and terminal; time offset, after the first moment, another DU is allowed to communicate with the terminal, and the first moment is the moment when DU receives the time information plus the time offset; or, the period of communication between DU and terminal. This embodiment is similar to the communication method 240 described in Figure 13, except that the communication between DU and tag can be modified to communication between DU and terminal, that is, the execution of A-IoT related services by DU is modified to the execution of perception services by base station, etc. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the core network element can allocate time for each base station to communicate with the terminal, so as to facilitate time domain interference coordination of each base station and reduce or avoid interference between base stations.

[0314] This application also provides a communication method 300, in which a first device determines first information indicating resource information for communication between the first device and a second device; the first device then sends the first information to a third device. This allows the third device to obtain the resource information for communication between the first device and the second device, thereby reducing or avoiding interference from the third device to the first device. Optionally, the resource information for communication between the first device and the second device includes at least one of frequency domain resources, spatial domain resources, or code domain resources.

[0315] Optionally, for the description of the first device, the second device and the third device, please refer to the relevant content described above and will not be described in detail here.

[0316] Take the example that the first device and the third device are base station 1 and base station 2 with reader / writer functions, the second device is a tag, and the fourth device is a core network element. In an optional implementation, before base station 1 sends the first information to base station 2, it also receives fourth information from the core network element, and the fourth information is used to request or trigger communication between base station 1 and the tag. Optionally, the fourth information is carried in a message used to request or trigger the first device to perform the first service, such as the first message described above. Optionally, the description of the first service can be found in the above description and will not be described in detail here. In an optional implementation, base station 1 also receives fifth information from base station 2, and the fifth information is used to indicate resource information for communication between base station 2 and the tag. It can be seen that in this implementation, base station 1 and base station 2 can obtain resource information for communication between each other and the tag, which is conducive to achieving time domain interference coordination between base stations and reducing or avoiding interference between adjacent base stations.

[0317] Optionally, the resource information used by base station 1 for communicating with the tag is different from the resource information used by base station 2 for communicating with the tag. In this way, interference coordination between base station 1 and base station 2 can be achieved, and interference between base station 1 and base station 2 operating adjacently can be reduced or avoided.

[0318] Optionally, after receiving the first information, base station 2 can also perform interference coordination based on the first information, such as not communicating with the tag on the resources where base station 1 communicates with the tag, or reducing the power of the transmitted signal, or only sending a small amount of information, such as system information or control channel information.

[0319] This application also provides a communication method 400, in which a fourth device determines first information, the first information being used to indicate resource information for communication between the first device and a second device; and the fourth device sends the first information to the first device. In this way, the fourth device allocates resource information for communication between the first device and the second device, thereby reducing or avoiding interference with the first device by other devices.

[0320] Optionally, for the description of the first device, the second device, and the fourth device, please refer to the relevant content described above and will not be described in detail here. Optionally, the resource information communicated between the first device and the second device includes at least one of frequency domain resources, spatial domain resources, or code domain resources.

[0321] For example, the first and third devices are base stations with reader / writer functions, the second device is a tag, and the fourth device is a core network element. Optionally, the core network element can allocate resource information for communicating with the tag to each base station, where each base station uses different resource information for communicating with the tag. This enables interference coordination between base stations, reducing or avoiding interference between adjacent base stations.

[0322] Optionally, the core network element sends fourth information to the base station, where the fourth information is used to request or trigger communication between the base station and the tag. Optionally, the first information and the fourth information may be carried in the same message or sent via different messages.

[0323] Optionally, before determining the first information, the core network element further receives fifth information from the base station, where the fifth information is used to indicate interference information generated by other base stations on the base station. The core network element determining the first information includes: the core network element determining the first information based on the fifth information. Thus, in this embodiment, the core network element can determine the first information of the base station based on the interference information generated by other base stations on the base station, thereby enabling interference coordination between the other base stations and the base station, and reducing or avoiding interference between the other base stations and the base station.

[0324] The present application also provides a communication method 500, in which the fourth device is a device that provides a service solution for the first device, and the service solution includes: the fourth device receives the sixth information from the first device, and the sixth information is used to request the time information for the first device to communicate with the second device; the fourth device sends the first information to the first device. The description of the first information can refer to the relevant description of the above-mentioned communication method 200, which will not be described in detail here. It can be seen that in this embodiment, after the fourth device receives the time information request from the first device, it can allocate the time information for the first device to communicate with the second device. Optionally, other possible implementation methods of the communication method 500 can refer to one or more optional implementation methods of the communication method 200 for the A-IoT scenario or the communication perception integration scenario, which will not be described in detail here.

[0325] The present application also provides a communication method 600, in which the fourth device is a device that provides a service solution for the first device, and the service solution includes: the fourth device receives the sixth information from the first device, and the sixth information is used to request resource information for communication between the first device and the second device; the fourth device sends the first information to the first device. The description of the first information can refer to the relevant description of the above-mentioned communication method 400, which will not be described in detail here. It can be seen that in this embodiment, after the fourth device receives the resource information request from the first device, it can allocate resource information for communication with the second device to the first device. Optionally, other possible implementation methods of the communication method 600 can refer to one or more optional implementation methods of the communication method 400 for the A-IoT scenario or the communication perception integration scenario, which will not be described in detail here.

[0326] In addition, all of the above embodiments are primarily described using two base stations, two DUs, etc. as examples. These embodiments can also be applied to devices with three or more base stations or DUs, etc. These base stations can be adjacent and / or interfere with each other, and interference can be obtained using the interference measurement method provided in this application. For example, Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of an interference measurement method provided in an embodiment of this application. The interference measurement method shown in Figure 14 uses a reader / writer device 1 and a reader / writer device 2 as examples. As shown in Figure 14, in this interference measurement method, reader / writer device 1 sends configuration information to reader / writer device 2. This configuration information is used to configure the time information required for interference measurement. This time information includes at least one of the following: a start time and duration for measurement, a period, a time unit, etc. The indication of a time unit can refer to the pattern, bitmap, or time window described above and will not be described in detail here. Optionally, this configuration information can also be preset by the reader / writer device or specified by the protocol. Read / writer device 1 sends a signal to reader / writer device 2 based on the configuration information. Read / writer device 2 measures the signal based on the configuration information and obtains a measurement result. Read / writer device 2 sends the measurement result to reader / writer device 1. In this way, the read-write device 1 can determine the interference information mentioned above based on the measurement result to determine the first information, or send the interference information to the core network element so that the core network element determines the time information allocated to the read-write device 1 for communicating with the tag based on the interference information.

[0327] Optionally, the signal sent by the read-write device 1 according to the configuration information may be an empty paging message and / or system information. Optionally, the measurement result fed back by the read-write device 2 to the read-write device 1 includes the interference level, such as low, high, and three interference levels. Optionally, the interference level can be represented by a bit value. For example, if the value of the bit carried by the measurement result is 0, it indicates that the interference level of the read-write device 2 to the read-write device 1 is low; if the value of the bit carried by the measurement result is 1, it indicates that the interference level of the read-write device 2 to the read-write device 1 is high. Optionally, the measurement result may include the interference level, such as low, medium, and high. In this way, the measurement result may carry two bits to represent the corresponding interference level, which will not be described in detail here.

[0328] The above content elaborates on the method provided by this application. In order to facilitate the implementation of the above scheme of the embodiment of this application, the embodiment of this application also provides corresponding devices or equipment. The following only describes the main steps of the scheme. For specific technical details, please refer to the method embodiment above.

[0329] The present application divides the functional modules of the communication device according to the above-mentioned method embodiment. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above-mentioned integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in this application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. The communication device of the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 15 and 16.

[0330] FIG15 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG15 , the communication device may include a communication unit 151 and a processing unit 152.

[0331] In some embodiments of the present application, the communication device may be the first device shown above or a chip or circuit provided in the first device, that is, the communication device may be used to execute the steps or functions performed by the first device in the above method embodiments.

[0332] In one design, processing unit 152 is configured to determine first information, where the first information indicates time information for communication between the first device and the second device; and communication unit 151 is configured to send the first information to the third device. Optionally, alternative implementations that may be performed by the communication device can be found in the possible implementations performed by base station 1 in communication methods 110 and 120 above, and are not further described here.

[0333] In another design, communication unit 151 is configured to receive first information from a fourth device, the first information being used to indicate time information for communication between the first device and the second device; processing unit 152 is configured to communicate with the second device based on the first information. Optionally, alternative implementations that may be performed by the communication device may refer to the possible implementations performed by base station 1 in the aforementioned communication methods 210 and 220, or to the possible implementations performed by DU1 or DU2 in the aforementioned communication methods 230 and 240, which are not further described here.

[0334] In some embodiments of the present application, the communication device may be the third device shown above or a chip or circuit provided in the third device. That is, the communication device may be used to execute the steps or functions performed by the third device in the above method embodiment. The communication unit 151 is used to receive first information from the first device, where the first information is used to indicate time information of the communication between the first device and the second device. Optionally, the communication device may further include a processing unit 152 for performing interference coordination based on the first information. Optionally, the optional implementation methods that may be executed by the communication device may refer to the possible implementation methods executed by the base station 2 in the above-mentioned communication method 110 and the communication method 120, which will not be described in detail here.

[0335] In some embodiments of the present application, the communication device may be the fourth device shown above or a chip or circuit provided in the fourth device. That is, the communication device may be used to execute the steps or functions performed by the fourth device in the above method embodiments.

[0336] In one design, the communication unit 151 is configured to send fourth information to the first device, the fourth information being configured to request or trigger communication between the first device and the second device, wherein the fourth information carries at least one of the following: a duration of communication between the first device and the second device; a time unit for communication between the first device and the second device; a time offset, after a first moment, allowing a third device to communicate with the second device, where the first moment is the moment when the third device receives the third information plus the time offset; or a period of communication between the first device and the second device. Optionally, the communication device may also perform optional implementations, as described above, for the core network element in the communication methods 110 and 120, which are not described in detail here.

[0337] In another design, processing unit 152 is configured to determine first information, where the first information is used to indicate time information for communication between the first device and the second device; and communication unit 151 is configured to send the first information to the first device. Optionally, alternative implementations that may be performed by the communication device can refer to the possible implementations performed by the core network element in the above-mentioned communication methods 210 and 220, or to the possible implementations performed by the CU in the above-mentioned communication methods 230 and 240, which are not further described here.

[0338] It is understood that the specific descriptions of the communication unit and the processing unit shown in the embodiments of the present application are merely examples. For the specific functions or execution steps of the communication unit and the processing unit, reference can be made to the relevant functions or steps in the method embodiments shown in Figures 8 to 14 above, and no further details will be given here. In addition, the technical effects of the embodiments of the present application refer to the technical effects in the method embodiments shown in Figures 8 to 14 above, and for the sake of brevity, no further details will be given here.

[0339] The above describes the communication device according to the embodiment of the present application. The following describes possible product forms of the communication device. It should be understood that any product having the functions of the communication device described in FIG. 15 falls within the scope of protection of the embodiment of the present application. It should also be understood that the following description is merely illustrative and does not limit the product forms of the communication device according to the embodiment of the present application to these examples.

[0340] In one possible implementation, in the communication device shown in FIG15 , the processing unit 152 may be one or more processing circuits, and the communication unit 151 may be a transceiver circuit. Alternatively, the communication unit 151 may be a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, wherein the transmitting unit may be a transmitting circuit and the receiving unit may be a receiving circuit, and the transmitting unit and the receiving unit are integrated into a single device, such as a transceiver circuit. In the embodiments of the present application, the processing circuit and the transceiver circuit may be coupled, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the connection method between the processing circuit and the transceiver circuit. During the execution of the above-mentioned method, the process of sending information in the above-mentioned method can be understood as the process of the processing circuit outputting the above-mentioned information. When outputting the above-mentioned information, the processing circuit outputs the above-mentioned information to the transceiver circuit for transmission by the transceiver circuit. After being output by the processing circuit, the above-mentioned information may also need to undergo further processing before reaching the transceiver circuit. Similarly, the process of receiving information in the above-mentioned method can be understood as the process of the processing circuit receiving the above-mentioned input information. When the processing circuit receives the input information, the transceiver circuit receives the above-mentioned information and inputs it into the processing circuit. Furthermore, after the transceiver circuit receives the above information, the above information may need to be processed further before being input into the processing circuit.

[0341] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 16, the communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application can be used to implement the method described in the above method embodiment, and reference can be made to the description in the above method embodiment. The communication device can be a first device, or a third device, or a fourth device, or a chip therein. Exemplarily, the communication device includes one or more processing circuits 161 and a transceiver circuit 162. The communication device may further include a storage circuit 163. In one implementation, the communication device also includes an input and output device (such as a touch screen, a display screen, a keyboard, etc., which are mainly used to receive data input by the user and output data to the user, not shown in the figure).

[0342] Processing circuit 161 is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process software program data. Storage circuit 163 is primarily used to store software programs and data. Transceiver circuit 162 may include a control circuit and an antenna. The control circuit is primarily used to convert baseband signals into radio frequency signals and process radio frequency signals. The antenna is primarily used to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves.

[0343] When the communication device is powered on, the processing circuit 161 can read the software program in the storage circuit 163, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processing circuit 161 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and transmits the radio frequency signal to the outside in the form of electromagnetic waves via the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal via the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processing circuit 161. The processing circuit 161 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0344] In another implementation, the RF circuit and antenna may be arranged independently of the processing circuit for baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the RF circuit and antenna may be arranged remotely from the communication device.

[0345] The processing circuit 161 , the transceiver circuit 162 , and the storage circuit 163 may be connected via a communication bus 164 .

[0346] In one example, when the first device adopts the form shown in Figure 16, the processing circuit 161 in Figure 16 can call the computer execution instructions stored in the storage circuit 163 to enable the communication device to execute the method executed by the first device in any embodiment of Figures 8 to 14.

[0347] In one example, when the third device adopts the form shown in Figure 16, the processing circuit 161 in Figure 16 can call the computer execution instructions stored in the storage circuit 193 to enable the communication device to execute the method executed by the second device in any embodiment of Figures 8 to 14.

[0348] In one example, when the fourth device adopts the form shown in Figure 16, the processing circuit 161 in Figure 16 can call the computer execution instructions stored in the storage circuit 193 to enable the communication device to execute the method executed by the second device in any embodiment of Figures 8 to 14.

[0349] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which may include at least one first device, at least one second device, and at least one third device in Figures 8 to 14, for details, see the method embodiments described above. An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, which may include at least one first device, at least one second device, at least one third device, and at least one fourth device in Figures 8 to 14, for details, see the method embodiments described above.

[0350] In any of the above implementations, the transceiver circuit 162 may include a transceiver or interface circuit for implementing receiving and transmitting functions. The transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit for implementing the receiving and transmitting functions may be separate or integrated. The transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be used for reading and writing code / data, or may be used for transmitting or delivering signals.

[0351] In any of the above implementations, the processing circuit 161 may be included in a processor, which may store instructions, which may be computer programs. The computer programs run on the processing circuit 161, causing the communication device to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments. The computer programs may be embedded in the processing circuit 161, in which case the processing circuit 161 may be implemented by hardware.

[0352] The processing circuit and transceiver circuit described in the present application may be included in a chip, such as an integrated circuit (IC), an analog IC, a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), a mixed-signal IC, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a printed circuit board (PCB), an electronic device, etc. The processing circuit and the transceiver circuit may also be manufactured using various IC process technologies, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS), positive channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS), bipolar junction transistor (BJT), bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), silicon germanium (SiGe), gallium arsenide (GaAs), etc.

[0353] It is understood that the communication device shown in the embodiment of the present application may also have more components than those in Figure 16, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this. The methods performed by the processing circuit and transceiver circuit shown above are only examples. For the specific steps performed by the processing circuit and transceiver circuit, please refer to the description of the method embodiment above.

[0354] In another possible implementation, in the communication device shown in FIG15 , the processing unit 152 may be one or more logic circuits or processing circuits, and the communication unit 151 may be an input / output interface, also referred to as a communication interface, an interface circuit, or an interface, etc. Alternatively, the communication unit 151 may be a sending unit and a receiving unit, the sending unit may be an output interface, the receiving unit may be an input interface, and the sending unit and the receiving unit may be integrated into one unit, such as an input / output interface.

[0355] In addition, the present application also provides a computer program for implementing the operations and / or processing performed by the first device and / or the third device in the method provided by the present application. The present application also provides a computer program for implementing the operations and / or processing performed by the fourth device in the method provided by the present application.

[0356] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer code. When the computer code runs on a computer, it enables the computer to execute the operations and / or processing performed by the first device and / or the third device in the method provided by the present application.

[0357] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer code. When the computer code runs on a computer, it enables the computer to execute the operations and / or processing performed by the fourth device in the method provided by the present application.

[0358] The present application also provides a computer program product, which includes computer code or computer program. When the computer code or computer program runs on a computer, the operations and / or processing performed by the first device and / or the third device in the method provided by the present application are executed.

[0359] The present application also provides a computer program product, which includes computer code or computer program. When the computer code or computer program runs on a computer, the operations and / or processing performed by the fourth device in the method provided by the present application are executed.

[0360] It should be understood that, in this application, indication includes direct indication (also known as explicit indication) and implicit indication. Direct indication of information A refers to including information A; implicit indication of information A refers to indicating information A through the correspondence between information A and information B and the direct indication of information B. The correspondence between information A and information B can be predefined, pre-stored, pre-burned, or pre-configured.

[0361] It should be understood that, in this application, information C is used to determine information D, which includes both information D being determined solely based on information C and information D being determined based on information C and other information. Furthermore, information C can also be used to determine information D indirectly, for example, where information D is determined based on information E, and information E is determined based on information C.

[0362] In addition, in each embodiment of the present application, "network element A sends information A to network element B" can be understood as the destination end of the information A or the intermediate network element in the transmission path between the destination end and the network element B, which may include directly or indirectly sending information to network element B. "Network element B receives information A from network element A" can be understood as the source end of the information A or the intermediate network element in the transmission path between the source end and the network element A, which may include directly or indirectly receiving information from network element A. The information may be processed as necessary between the source end and the destination end of the information transmission, such as format changes, but the destination end can understand the valid information from the source end. Similar expressions in this application can be understood similarly and will not be elaborated here.

[0363] It is understood that in each embodiment of the present application, "A corresponds to B", "A corresponds to B", or similar expressions, means that B is associated with A, or that B can be determined according to A. However, it should also be understood that determining B according to (or based on) A does not mean that B is determined only according to (or based on) A, and B can also be determined according to (or based on) A and / or other information.

[0364] In the description of this application, words such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and do not limit the quantity or execution order. Moreover, words such as "first" and "second" do not necessarily mean different. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units that are not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to the process, method, product, or device.

[0365] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, " / " means "or", for example, A / B can mean A or B. "And / or" in this article is merely a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, "at least one (item)", "the following one (item) or more (items)" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items (items). For example, at least one item (item) of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c; a and b; a and c; b and c; or a, b, and c. Among them, a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0366] In the description of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design described in this application as "exemplary," "for example," or "for example" should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary," "for example," or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete way.

[0367] It can be understood that in the description of this application, "when", "if" and "if" all mean that the device will perform corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances, and do not limit the time. It does not require that the device must perform a judgment action when it is implemented, nor does it mean that there are other limitations.

[0368] The term "simultaneously" in this application may be understood as at the same time point, within a period of time, or within the same cycle, and may be understood in conjunction with the context.

[0369] Elements used in the singular herein are intended to mean "one or more" rather than "one and only one" unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0370] Additionally, the terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably herein.

[0371] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, or can be electrical, mechanical or other forms of connection.

[0372] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the technical effects of the solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0373] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a single processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0374] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional 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 readable storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned readable storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, 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.

[0375] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The first device determines first information, where the first information is used to indicate time information of communication between the first device and the second device; The first device sends the first information to a third device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first device is a first reading and writing device for managing a tag, the second device is the tag, and the third device is a second reading and writing device for managing the tag.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The time information includes: an indication of the start of communication between the first device and the second device; The method further comprises: The first device sends second information to the third device, where the second information is used to instruct the first device to end or cancel communication with the second device.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first device sends third information to the third device, where the third information is used to indicate at least one of the following: duration of communication between the first device and the second device; a time unit for communication between the first device and the second device; time offset, allowing the third device to communicate with the second device after a first moment, the first moment being the moment when the third device receives the third information plus the time offset; or A period for the first device to communicate with the second device.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The third information and the first information are carried in the same message.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein The time information includes at least one of the following: a start time and duration of communication between the first device and the second device; a time unit for communication between the first device and the second device; time offset, allowing the third device to communicate with the second device after a first moment, where the first moment is the moment when the third device receives the first information plus the time offset; or A period for the first device to communicate with the second device.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first device receives fourth information from a fourth device, where the fourth information is used to request or trigger communication between the first device and the second device.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The fourth information includes time information of communicating with the second device.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first device receives fifth information from the third device, where the fifth information is used to indicate time information of communication between the third device and the second device.

10. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The fourth device determines first information, where the first information is used to indicate time information of communication between the first device and the second device; The fourth device sends the first information to the first device.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The first device is a first read-write device for managing a tag, the second device is the tag, and the fourth device is a device for triggering or requesting the read-write device to communicate with the tag; or, The first device is a first distributed unit DU, the second device is a tag, and the fourth device is a control unit CU.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that The time information includes: an indication of the start of communication between the first device and the second device; The method further comprises: The fourth device receives second information from the first device, where the second information is used to instruct the first device to end or cancel communication with the second device.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The method further comprises: The fourth device sends third information to the first device, where the third information is used to indicate at least one of the following: duration of communication between the first device and the second device; a time unit for communication between the first device and the second device; time offset, allowing the third device to communicate with the second device after a first moment, the first moment being the moment when the third device receives the third information plus the time offset; or A period for the first device to communicate with the second device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: The third information and the first information are carried in the same message.

15. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that The time information includes at least one of the following: a start time and duration of communication between the first device and the second device; a time unit for communication between the first device and the second device; time offset, allowing the third device to communicate with the second device after a first moment, where the first moment is the moment when the third device receives the first information plus the time offset; or A period for the first device to communicate with the second device.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: The fourth device sends fourth information to the first device, where the fourth information is used to request or trigger communication between the first device and the second device.

17. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that The method further comprises: The fourth device receives fifth information from the first device, where the fifth information is used to indicate interference information generated by the third device to the first device; The fourth device determines the first information, including: The fourth device determines the first information according to the fifth information.

18. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that The method further comprises: The fourth device receives sixth information from the first device, where the sixth information is used to request time information for communication between the first device and the second device.

19. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises one or more functional units, wherein the one or more functional units are used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or to execute the method according to any one of claims 10 to 18.

20. A communication device, characterized in that: The device comprises a processor, wherein the processor calls a computer program stored in a memory to enable the communication device to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or implement the method according to any one of claims 10 to 18.

21. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, and the processor is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 through a logic circuit or by executing code instructions, or to implement the method according to any one of claims 10 to 18.

22. A communication system, characterized in that: The method comprises at least one of the following devices: a first device for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and a third device for receiving information sent by the first device in the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

23. A communication system, characterized in that: The method comprises at least one of the following devices: a fourth device for executing the method according to any one of claims 10 to 18, and a first device for receiving information sent by the fourth device in the method according to any one of claims 10 to 18.

24. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The first device performs the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9; The third device receives the information sent by the first device in the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

25. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The fourth device performs the method according to any one of claims 10 to 18; The first device receives the information sent by the fourth device in the method according to any one of claims 10 to 18.

26. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or the method according to any one of claims 10 to 18 is implemented.

27. A computer program product comprising instructions, characterized in that When the instructions are executed on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or the method according to any one of claims 10 to 18.

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