Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a communication method and a communication apparatus. In the method, a gNB of a relay device can send first resource configuration information (i.e., resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device) to at least one candidate donor node by means of a first Xn interface message, such that the candidate donor node can clearly know the resource configuration condition of the gNB of the relay device on the basis of the first resource configuration information, and accordingly the candidate donor node can generate second resource configuration information (i.e., resource configuration information of the candidate donor node) on the basis of the first resource configuration information, thereby facilitating the candidate donor node to achieve reasonable scheduling of an MT of the relay device on the basis of the second resource configuration information, and reducing the probability of resource conflicts. Thus, the solution provided by the present application helps to improve the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between donor nodes and MTs of relay devices, and improve the efficiency of communication between donor nodes and MTs of relay devices.

Description

A communication method and a communication device

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410565806.9, filed on May 8, 2024, entitled "A Communication Method and Communication Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a communication method and a communication device. Background Technology

[0003] Relay equipment is typically deployed in areas with poor signal coverage to extend or improve network coverage. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is discussing a new type of relay equipment: Wireless Access Backhaul (WAB) equipment. WAB equipment includes next-generation node B (gNB) functionality (referred to as WAB-gNB) and mobile terminal (MT) functionality (referred to as WAB-MT). The UE portion of the WAB equipment (i.e., WAB-MT) has an air interface connection (e.g., Un interface connection) with the host node (donor-gNB); the gNB portion of the relay equipment (i.e., WAB-gNB) has a communication interface (e.g., Xn interface and NG interface) with the host node (i.e., donor-gNB). WAB-MT can access the serving cell of the host node and can also hand over to other host node cells on demand.

[0004] Currently, before WAB-MT successfully switches to the target host node, the target host node is unaware of the resource configurations of WAB-MT and WAB-gNB. When WAB-MT switches to the target host node's cell, if the target host node triggers scheduling of WAB-MT, resource conflicts may occur, leading to data transmission failures. This not only affects the utilization efficiency of transmission resources but also the communication efficiency between the host node and WAB-MT. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method and a communication device for improving the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between a host node and a relay device (MT), and improving the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device (MT).

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a communication method that can be executed by a relay device or by a component of the relay device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system). Taking a relay device as an example, the relay device determines at least one candidate host node for its mobile terminal unit (MT); the relay device's gNB sends a first Xn interface message to the at least one candidate host node. The first Xn interface message includes first resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB. The first resource configuration information is used by the first candidate host node to determine second resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the first candidate host node. The first candidate host node is one of the at least one candidate host nodes.

[0007] In this aspect, the gNB of the relay device can establish an Xn connection with at least one candidate host node. The gNB of the relay device can send first resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device) to at least one candidate host node through the first Xn interface message. Therefore, the candidate host node can clearly know the resource configuration of the gNB of the relay device based on the first resource configuration information. Thus, the candidate host node can generate second resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the candidate host node) based on the first resource configuration information. This is conducive to the candidate host node to make reasonable scheduling of the MT of the relay device based on the second resource configuration information, reducing the probability of resource conflicts. Therefore, it is beneficial to improve the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the MT of the relay device and improve the communication efficiency between the host node and the MT of the relay device.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0009] The relay device's gNB's downlink / uplink / flexible (DUF) information, or the relay device's gNB's hard / soft / non-Available (HSNA) information; or the relay device's duplex information.

[0010] The duplex information of the relay device indicates its duplex mode, i.e., whether the relay device's gNB and MT support simultaneous operation. The DUF information of the relay device's gNB indicates that when the relay device's gNB communicates with a UE (e.g., a UE accessing a cell within that gNB), the transmission resources of one or more time slots in that cell are used for downlink transmission, uplink transmission, or flexible scheduling. The HSNA information of the relay device's gNB indicates that when the relay device's gNB communicates with a UE accessing a cell within that gNB, the transmission resources of one or more time slots in that cell are hard resources, soft resources, or unavailable resources.

[0011] In this embodiment, the gNB of the relay device provides at least one candidate host node with the DUF information, HSNA information, or duplex information of the gNB of the relay device. This helps the candidate host node determine whether it can successfully schedule the MT of the relay device in a certain time slot based on the aforementioned information, thereby increasing the probability of the candidate host node successfully scheduling the MT of the relay device.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information further includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy-saving information; wherein, the first transmission resource information is used to indicate the first transmission resources, the first transmission resources including the transmission resources indicated by the system information of the relay equipment's gNB; the first cell energy-saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the cell of the relay equipment's gNB.

[0013] Among them, the first transmission resource can be regarded as a hard resource.

[0014] In this embodiment, the gNB of the relay device provides first transmission resource information to the candidate host node, so that the candidate host node can determine the first transmission resource that can be regarded as a hard resource based on the first transmission resource information. This helps the candidate host node to make a decision on how to schedule the MT of the relay device in combination with the duplex information of the relay device, which helps to increase the probability of the candidate host node successfully scheduling the MT of the relay device.

[0015] Furthermore, the gNB of the relay equipment provides first-cell energy-saving information to the candidate host node. If the MT of the relay equipment subsequently connects to the candidate host node, the candidate host node can more reasonably determine the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the candidate host node's cell (e.g., the serving cell that the relay equipment's MT may connect to) based on the first-cell energy-saving information. For example, when the cell under the relay equipment's gNB is shut down, the candidate host node can also consider shutting down the serving cell that the relay equipment's MT may connect to. This is beneficial for the candidate host node to save energy.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the second resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the first candidate host node, or the second cell energy-saving information, which is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the cell of the first candidate host node.

[0017] In this embodiment, the second resource configuration information determined by the candidate host node includes the DUF information of the first candidate host node. This can be understood as the first candidate host node adjusting the DUF information of its cell based on the first resource configuration information, which helps increase the probability of the first candidate host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT. Furthermore, the second resource configuration information determined by the candidate host node includes second cell energy-saving information. This can be understood as the candidate host node adjusting its cell energy-saving information (i.e., the second cell energy-saving information) based on the relay device's gNB cell energy-saving information (i.e., the first cell energy-saving information). For example, when the relay device's gNB cell is shut down, the first candidate host node can consider also shutting down its own cell (e.g., the cell that the relay device's MT might access) in that time slot, which helps save energy consumption for the first candidate host node.

[0018] In one possible implementation, after the base station unit gNB of the relay device sends a first Xn interface message to at least one candidate host node, the method further includes: the relay device receiving third resource configuration information from the first candidate host node, wherein the third resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device, and the third resource configuration information is different from the first resource configuration information.

[0019] In this embodiment, since the third resource configuration information is determined by the first candidate host node based on the first resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB), it can be understood that the first candidate host node adjusts the current resource configuration of the relay device's gNB. Therefore, this helps to prevent the first candidate host node from failing to schedule the relay device's MT due to unreasonable resource configuration of the relay device's gNB. This increases the probability of the host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT, improves the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and enhances the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0020] In one possible implementation, after the relay device's gNB sends a first Xn interface message to at least one candidate host node, the method further includes: the relay device receiving a handover command; the relay device switching to a target host node, the target host node being one of the at least one candidate host nodes.

[0021] In this embodiment, the gNB of the relay device sends first resource configuration information to at least one candidate host node before switching to the target host node, so that the at least one candidate host node can determine second resource configuration information and / or third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, thereby preparing resources for the MT of the relay device to switch to a candidate host node, which is beneficial to improving the communication efficiency between the MT of the relay device and the host node.

[0022] Secondly, this application provides a communication method that can be executed by a candidate host node (e.g., a first candidate host node) or by a component of the candidate host node (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system). Taking the first candidate host node as an example, the first candidate host node receives a first Xn interface message from the gNB of the relay device. The first Xn interface message includes first resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device. The first candidate host node is a host node among at least one candidate host node of the MT of the relay device.

[0023] In this aspect, the gNB of the relay device can establish an Xn connection with at least one candidate host node. The first candidate host node can receive first resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device) from the gNB of the relay device through the first Xn interface message. Therefore, the first candidate host node can clearly know the resource configuration of the gNB of the relay device based on the first resource configuration information, which is conducive to the candidate host node to make reasonable scheduling of the MT of the relay device based on the first resource configuration information, reducing the probability of resource conflicts. Therefore, it is conducive to improving the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the MT of the relay device and improving the communication efficiency between the host node and the MT of the relay device.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: a first candidate host node determining second resource configuration information based on first resource configuration information, the second resource configuration information being the resource configuration information of the first candidate host node, and the second resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information being used by the first candidate host node to determine the scheduling of the relay device's MT.

[0025] Optionally, if the first candidate host node is a node with a CU-DU separation architecture, the CU of the first candidate host node determines the second resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. This second resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the DU of the first candidate host node. After determining the second resource configuration information, the CU of the first candidate host node sends the second resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information to the DU of the first candidate host node. The second resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information are used by the DU of the first candidate host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device.

[0026] In this embodiment, since the second resource configuration information is determined by the first candidate host node based on the first resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB), it can be understood that the first candidate host node adjusts the resource configuration of its own cell based on the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB. Therefore, the first candidate host node's decision on scheduling the relay device's MT based on the second and / or first resource configuration information helps avoid the failure of the first candidate host node to schedule the relay device's MT due to unreasonable resource configuration of the relay device's gNB. This, in turn, helps improve the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improves the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: a first candidate host node determining third resource configuration information based on first resource configuration information, wherein the third resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device, and the third resource configuration information is different from the first resource configuration information; then, the first candidate host node sends the third resource configuration information to the relay device.

[0028] Optionally, if the first candidate host node is a node with a CU-DU separation architecture, the CU of the first candidate host node determines the third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. After determining the third resource configuration information, the CU of the first candidate host node sends the third resource configuration information to the DU of the first candidate host node. The third resource configuration information is used by the DU of the first candidate host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device. For example, after the MT of the relay device accesses the cell of the DU of the first candidate host node, the DU of the first candidate host node can make a decision on the scheduling of the MT of the relay device based on the third resource configuration information.

[0029] In this embodiment, since the third resource configuration information is determined by the first candidate host node based on the first resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB), it can be understood that the first candidate host node adjusts the current resource configuration of the relay device's gNB. This helps to prevent the first candidate host node from failing to schedule the relay device's MT due to unreasonable resource configuration of the relay device's gNB. For example, the host node modifies the hard resource information of the relay device's gNB using the third resource configuration information, so that when the host node schedules the relay device's MT, the relay device's gNB can avoid the relay device's MT. This increases the probability of the host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT, improves the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and enhances the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: a first candidate host node determining second resource configuration information and third resource configuration information based on first resource configuration information, wherein the second resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the first candidate host node, and the third resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device, and the third resource configuration information is different from the first resource configuration information; then, the first candidate host node sends the third resource configuration information to the relay device.

[0031] Optionally, if the first candidate host node is a node with a CU-DU separation architecture, the CU of the first candidate host node determines the second and third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. After determining the second and third resource configuration information, the CU of the first candidate host node sends the second and third resource configuration information to the DU of the first candidate host node. The second and third resource configuration information are used by the DU of the first candidate host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device. For example, after the MT of the relay device accesses the cell of the DU of the first candidate host node, the DU of the first candidate host node can make a decision on the scheduling of the MT of the relay device based on the second and third resource configuration information.

[0032] In this embodiment, since the third resource configuration information and the second resource configuration information are determined by the first candidate host node based on the first resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB), it can be understood that the first candidate host node adjusts the current resource configuration of its cell based on the current resource configuration of the relay device's gNB, and also adjusts the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB. This helps avoid the first candidate host node's failure to schedule the relay device's MT due to unreasonable resource configuration of the relay device's gNB, increases the probability of the host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT, improves the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improves the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0034] The DUF information of the gNB of the relay device, or the HSNA information of the gNB of the relay device; or the duplex information of the relay device.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information further includes at least one of the following: the first resource configuration information includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy-saving information; wherein, the first transmission resource information is used to indicate the first transmission resource, the first transmission resource includes the transmission resource indicated by the system information of the gNB of the relay equipment; the first cell energy-saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the cell of the gNB of the relay equipment.

[0036] In one possible implementation, the second resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the first candidate host node and / or, second cell energy-saving information, which is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the cell of the first candidate host node.

[0037] It should be noted that the specific implementation methods and beneficial effects of this aspect are similar to some of the implementation methods in the first aspect above. For details, please refer to the specific implementation methods and beneficial effects of the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0038] Thirdly, this application provides a communication method that can be executed by a relay device or by a component of the relay device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system). Taking a relay device as an example, the relay device sends a first message to a host node. The first message includes first resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB. The first resource configuration information is used by the host node to determine fourth resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the host node. The first resource configuration information includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy-saving information. The first transmission resource information is used to indicate the first transmission resource, which includes the transmission resource indicated by the system information of the relay device's gNB. The first cell energy-saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the relay device's gNB cell. The fourth resource configuration information includes third cell energy-saving information, which is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the host node's cell.

[0039] In this aspect, the relay device can send first resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB) to the host node of the relay device. Therefore, the host node can clearly know the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB based on the first resource configuration information. Thus, the host node can generate fourth resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the host node) based on the first resource configuration information. This is beneficial for the host node to perform reasonable scheduling of the relay device's MT based on the fourth resource configuration information, reducing the probability of resource conflicts. Therefore, it is beneficial to improve the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improve the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0040] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information further includes at least one of the following:

[0041] The relay device's gNB downlink / uplink / flexible DUF information, or the relay device's gNB hard / soft / unavailable HSNA information; or the relay device's duplex information.

[0042] In one possible implementation, the fourth resource configuration information also includes the DUF information of the host node.

[0043] In one possible implementation, after the relay device sends the first message to the host node, the method further includes: the relay device receiving fifth resource configuration information from the host node, the fifth resource configuration information being the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB, and the fifth resource configuration information being different from the first resource configuration information.

[0044] In one possible implementation, the first message is an RRC message or an XnAP message.

[0045] It should be noted that the specific implementation methods and beneficial effects of this aspect are similar to some of the implementation methods in the first aspect above. For details, please refer to the specific implementation methods and beneficial effects of the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0046] Fourthly, this application provides a communication method that can be executed by a host node (e.g., a host node currently providing services to the MT of a relay device) or by a component of the host node (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system). Taking the host node as an example, the host node receives a first message from the gNB of the relay device. The first message includes first resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device. The first resource configuration information includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy-saving information. The first transmission resource information indicates the first transmission resources, which include transmission resources indicated by the system information of the gNB of the relay device. The first cell energy-saving information indicates the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the cell of the gNB of the relay device.

[0047] In this aspect, the first resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB) sent by the relay device to the host node includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy-saving information. Specifically, the relay device provides the first transmission resource information to the host node, enabling the host node to determine the first transmission resource that can be considered a hard resource. This, in turn, helps the host node, in conjunction with the relay device's duplex information, decide how to schedule the relay device's MT, increasing the probability of the host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT. The relay device also provides the first cell energy-saving information to the host node, allowing the host node to more rationally determine the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the host node's cell (e.g., the serving cell accessed by the relay device's MT), thus helping candidate host nodes save energy.

[0048] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the host node determining fourth resource configuration information based on first resource configuration information, the fourth resource configuration information being the host node's resource configuration information, the fourth resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information being used by the host node to determine the scheduling of MT for the relay equipment; wherein, the fourth resource configuration information includes third cell energy-saving information, the third cell energy-saving information being used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the host node's cell.

[0049] In one possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0050] The CU of the host node sends the fourth resource configuration information and the first resource configuration information to the DU of the host node. The fourth resource configuration information and the first resource configuration information are used by the DU of the host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device.

[0051] In one possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0052] The host node determines the fifth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. The fifth resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device. The fifth resource configuration information is different from the first resource configuration information.

[0053] The host node sends the fifth resource configuration information to the relay device.

[0054] In one possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0055] The CU of the host node sends the fifth resource configuration information to the DU of the host node. The fifth resource configuration information is used by the DU of the host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device.

[0056] In one possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0057] The host node determines the fourth and fifth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. The fourth resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the host node, and the fifth resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device. The fifth resource configuration information is different from the first resource configuration information. Among them, the fourth resource configuration information includes the third cell energy saving information, which is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the host node's cell.

[0058] The host node sends the fifth resource configuration information to the relay device.

[0059] In one possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0060] The CU of the host node sends the fourth and fifth resource configuration information to the DU of the host node. The fourth and fifth resource configuration information are used by the DU of the host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device.

[0061] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information further includes at least one of the following:

[0062] The DUF information of the gNB of the relay device, or...

[0063] The HSNA information of the gNB of the relay device; or,

[0064] Duplex information for relay equipment.

[0065] In one possible implementation, the fourth resource configuration information also includes the DUF information of the host node.

[0066] In one possible implementation, the first message is an RRC message or an XnAP message.

[0067] It should be noted that the specific implementation methods and beneficial effects of this aspect are similar to some of the implementation methods in the second aspect above. For details, please refer to the specific implementation methods and beneficial effects of the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0068] Fifthly, this application provides a communication method that can be executed by a relay device or by a component of the relay device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system). Taking a relay device as an example, the MT of the relay device sends a Media Access Control Element (MAC CE) to the host node. The MAC CE includes first resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device. The first resource configuration information is used by the host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device.

[0069] In this aspect, the MT of the relay device can send the first resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device) to the host node of the relay device through the MAC CE. Therefore, the host node can clearly know the resource configuration of the gNB of the relay device based on the first resource configuration information, which is conducive to the candidate host node to make reasonable scheduling of the MT of the relay device based on the first resource configuration information, reducing the probability of resource conflicts. Therefore, it is beneficial to improve the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the MT of the relay device and improve the communication efficiency between the host node and the MT of the relay device.

[0070] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information is further used by the host node to determine the fourth resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the host node. The fourth resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information are used by the host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device.

[0071] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0072] The DUF information of the gNB of the relay device, or...

[0073] The HSNA information of the gNB of the relay device; or,

[0074] Duplex information for relay equipment.

[0075] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information further includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy saving information;

[0076] The first transmission resource information is used to indicate the first transmission resource, which includes the transmission resource indicated by the system information of the gNB of the relay equipment; the first cell energy saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the cell of the gNB of the relay equipment.

[0077] In one possible implementation, the fourth resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the host node, and / or, third cell energy-saving information, which is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the host node's cell.

[0078] It should be noted that the specific implementation methods and beneficial effects of this aspect are similar to some of the implementation methods in the first aspect above. For details, please refer to the specific implementation methods and beneficial effects of the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0079] Sixthly, this application provides a communication method that can be executed by a host node (e.g., a host node currently providing services to the MT of a relay device) or by a component of the host node (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system). Taking the host node as an example, the host node receives a MAC CE from the gNB of the relay device. The MAC CE includes first resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device. The host node determines the scheduling of the MT of the relay device based on the first resource configuration information.

[0080] In one possible implementation, the host node determines the scheduling of the relay device's MT based on the first resource configuration information, including:

[0081] The host node determines the fourth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, and the fourth resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the host node;

[0082] The host node determines the scheduling of the relay device's MT based on the first resource configuration information and the fourth resource configuration information.

[0083] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0084] The DUF information of the gNB of the relay device, or the HSNA information of the gNB of the relay device; or the duplex information of the relay device.

[0085] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information further includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy saving information;

[0086] The first transmission resource information is used to indicate the first transmission resource, which includes the transmission resource indicated by the system information of the gNB of the relay equipment; the first cell energy saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the cell of the gNB of the relay equipment.

[0087] In one possible implementation, the fourth resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the host node, and / or, third cell energy-saving information, which is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the host node's cell.

[0088] It should be noted that the specific implementation methods and beneficial effects of this aspect are similar to some of the implementation methods in the second aspect above. For details, please refer to the specific implementation methods and beneficial effects of the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0089] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a communication method that can be executed by a host node (e.g., a host node currently providing services to the MT of a relay device) or by a component of the host node (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system). Taking the host node as an example, the host node sends a second message to the relay device. The second message includes sixth resource configuration information, which is used to instruct the relay device's MT to access the resource configuration of the host node's serving cell. The sixth resource configuration information is also used by the relay device to determine seventh resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB.

[0090] In this application, the serving cell of the host node refers to the cell generated by the host node that provides services to the MT of the relay device.

[0091] In this aspect, the host node can provide the relay device with sixth resource configuration information, enabling the relay device to determine how to modify the resource configuration information currently used by the relay device's gNB based on the resource configuration information currently used by the host node's serving cell (i.e., the sixth resource configuration information). This helps reduce the probability of resource conflicts when the host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the resource configuration information of the host node's current serving cell. Furthermore, this increases the probability of the host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT, improves the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and enhances the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0092] In one possible implementation, the sixth resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the serving cell and / or the energy-saving information of the serving cell, wherein the energy-saving information of the serving cell is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the serving cell.

[0093] In one possible implementation, the second message is a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, an XnAP message, or a MAC CE message.

[0094] Eighthly, this application provides a communication method that can be executed by a relay device or by a component of the relay device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system). Taking a relay device as an example, the relay device receives a second message from a host node. The second message includes sixth resource configuration information, which is used to indicate the resource configuration of the serving cell of the host node for the relay device's MT (Metal Transport Unit) access. The relay device determines seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB (Gateway NodeB).

[0095] In this aspect, the relay device can obtain the sixth resource configuration information from the host node, and then determine the seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information. That is, the relay device can determine how to modify the resource configuration information currently used by the relay device's gNB based on the resource configuration information currently used by the host node's serving cell (i.e., the sixth resource configuration information). This reduces the probability of resource conflicts when the host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the resource configuration information of the host node's current serving cell. This, in turn, improves the probability of the host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT, increases the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improves the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0096] In one possible implementation, the sixth resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the serving cell of the host node and / or the energy-saving information of the serving cell of the host node, wherein the energy-saving information of the serving cell is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the serving cell.

[0097] In one possible implementation, the relay device determines the seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information, including:

[0098] The relay equipment determines the seventh resource configuration information based on the DUF information of the serving cell and the duplex information of the relay equipment.

[0099] Optionally, the seventh resource configuration information includes the DFU information of the relay device's gNB.

[0100] In this embodiment, the seventh resource configuration information determined by the relay device includes the DUF information of the relay device's gNB. This can be understood as the relay device adjusting the DUF information of the relay device's gNB cell based on the DUF information of the host node's serving cell, which helps to increase the probability of the host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT.

[0101] In one possible implementation, the transmission resources of the relay device's gNB indicated in the seventh resource configuration information are soft resources. Since the gNB of a relay device generally has a lower priority for resource usage than the host node's scheduling of the relay device's MT (Mean Transmission Module), if all the relay device's gNBs are hard resources, and the serving cell's resource configuration is not adjusted accordingly, frequent host node MT scheduling failures may occur, resulting in wasted serving cell resources. Configuring all transmission resources indicated in the seventh resource configuration information as soft resources helps the relay device's gNB avoid the relay device's MT, preventing excessive impact on the serving cell due to the introduction of relay devices.

[0102] In one possible implementation, the seventh resource configuration information also includes energy-saving information of the relay device's gNB cell. The relay device determines the seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information, including: the relay device determining the energy-saving information of the relay device's gNB cell based on the energy-saving information of the host node's serving cell.

[0103] In this embodiment, the relay device determines the energy-saving information of its gNB cell based on the energy-saving information of the serving cell of the host node. This can be understood as the relay device adjusting the energy-saving information of its gNB cell based on the energy-saving information of the serving cell of the host node. For example, when the serving cell of the host node is closed, the relay device connected to that serving cell can consider also closing the gNB cell in that time slot, which helps save energy consumption of the relay device.

[0104] In one possible implementation, the second message is an RRC message, an XnAP message, or a MAC CE.

[0105] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which may be a relay device as described in the foregoing embodiments, or a chip within the relay device. The communication device may include modules, units, or means for performing the methods in any one of the first, third, fifth, or eighth aspects. The communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. When the communication device is a relay device, the processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be a transceiver; the relay device may also include a storage module, which may be a memory; the storage module stores instructions, and the processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module to cause the relay device to perform the methods in any one of the first, third, fifth, or eighth aspects. When the communication device is a chip within the relay device, the processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be an input / output interface, pin, or circuit, etc.; the processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module to cause the relay device to perform the methods in any one of the second, fifth, or eighth aspects. The storage module can be an internal storage module of the chip (e.g., registers, caches, etc.) or an external storage module of the relay device located outside the chip (e.g., read-only memory, random access memory, etc.).

[0106] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which may be a host node as described in the foregoing embodiments, or a chip within the host node. The communication device may include modules, units, or means for executing the methods in any of the second, fourth, sixth, or seventh aspects. The communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. When the communication device is a host node, the processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be a transceiver; the host node may also include a storage module, which may be a memory; the storage module stores instructions, and the processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module to cause the host node to execute the methods in any of the second, fourth, sixth, or seventh aspects. When the communication device is a chip within the host node, the processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be an input / output interface, pin, or circuit, etc.; the processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module to cause the host node to execute the methods in any of the seventh or tenth aspects. The storage module can be an internal storage module of the chip (e.g., registers, caches, etc.) or an external storage module of the host node (e.g., read-only memory, random access memory, etc.).

[0107] Eleventhly, this application provides a communication device, which may be an integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit chip may include modules, units, or means for performing the methods described in any of the embodiments of the foregoing aspects. The integrated circuit chip includes a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory for storing programs or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to perform the methods described in any of the embodiments of the foregoing aspects.

[0108] In a twelfth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods described in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0109] In a thirteenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods described in any of the preceding embodiments.

[0110] In a fourteenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication system, which includes a relay device performing the first aspect and any embodiment of the first aspect, and a candidate host node performing the second aspect and any embodiment of the second aspect.

[0111] In a fifteenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication system including a relay device performing the third aspect and any embodiment thereof, and a host node performing the fourth aspect and any embodiment thereof.

[0112] In a sixteenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication system including a relay device performing the fifth aspect and any embodiment of the fifth aspect, and a host node performing the sixth aspect and any embodiment of the sixth aspect.

[0113] In a seventeenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication system comprising a host node performing the seventh aspect and any embodiment thereof, and a relay device performing the eighth aspect and any embodiment thereof. Attached Figure Description

[0114] Figure 1A is an example diagram of the system architecture of the communication method provided in this application;

[0115] Figure 1B is another example diagram of the system architecture of the communication method provided in this application;

[0116] Figure 1C is another example diagram of the system architecture of the communication method provided in this application;

[0117] Figure 2 is a flowchart of the communication method provided in this application;

[0118] Figure 3 is another flowchart of the communication method provided in this application;

[0119] Figure 4 is another flowchart of the communication method provided in this application;

[0120] Figure 5 is another flowchart of the communication method provided in this application;

[0121] Figure 6 is another flowchart of the communication method provided in this application;

[0122] Figure 7 is another flowchart of the communication method provided in this application;

[0123] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the communication device provided in this application;

[0124] Figure 9 is another schematic diagram of the communication device provided in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0125] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0126] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” etc. (if present) in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a particular order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate so that the embodiments described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms “comprising” and “having,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0127] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this document is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone, where A and B can be single or multiple. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. Furthermore, "at least one of the following" or similar expressions in this document are used to represent any combination of the listed items; for example, at least one of A, B, and / or C can represent the following six situations: A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B simultaneously, B and C simultaneously, A and C simultaneously, and A, B, and C simultaneously, where A, B, and C can be single or multiple.

[0128] To facilitate understanding, the system architecture and application scenarios of the communication method proposed in this application will be introduced below:

[0129] The communication method proposed in this application can be applied to 5G NR (5G New Radio) systems, the 6th generation mobile communication technology (6G) systems, and subsequent evolution standards, and this application is not limited to these.

[0130] As shown in Figure 1A, the communication system includes at least terminal equipment 01, relay equipment 02, host node 03, and core network equipment 04.

[0131] Terminal equipment 01 refers to a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user. For example, terminal equipment 01 includes a handheld device with wireless connectivity or a processing device connected to a wireless modem. Terminal equipment 01 can communicate with the core network (e.g., a 5G core network (5GC)) via a radio access network (RAN) and can exchange voice and / or data with the RAN. Terminal equipment 01 may also be referred to as a terminal, user equipment (UE), wireless terminal equipment, mobile terminal (MT) equipment, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station (MS), mobile station, remote station, access point (AP), remote terminal equipment, access terminal equipment, user terminal equipment, user agent, or user device, etc. Furthermore, the terminal device 01 can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, virtual reality (VR) terminal device, augmented reality (AR) terminal device, wireless terminal in industrial control, wireless terminal in self-driving, wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, wireless terminal in smart grid, wireless terminal in transportation safety, wireless terminal in smart city, wireless terminal in smart home, etc. It should be understood that the terminal device 01 in this application can be any of the above-mentioned devices or chips; in this embodiment and subsequent embodiments, a terminal device is used as an example for description.

[0132] Relay device 02, also known as a relay node (RN), is generally deployed in areas with poor signal coverage to extend or improve network coverage. The relay device 02 in this application mainly includes an MT module 021 and a gNB module 022. The MT module 021 has the functions of a regular terminal device; that is, the MT module 021 has the protocol stack of a regular terminal device, enabling the relay device with the MT module 021 to access the host node, obtain authorization from the core network, and establish PDU sessions like a terminal device, following the protocol stack of the terminal device. The gNB module 022 can implement at least one layer 3 function (e.g., radio resource control (RRC) layer function), and one or more layer 2 functions (e.g., packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer function, radio link control (RLC) layer function, media access control (MAC) layer function, service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer function, etc.). For example, the gNB module 022 is a gNB, or a combination of a centralized unit (CU) (also known as a control unit) and a distributed unit (DU). Furthermore, the relay device 02 also includes an RU module 023. The RU module 023 is used to process intermediate frequency (IF) or radio frequency (RF) signals and is capable of performing amplification and forwarding operations on received RF signals. The RU module 023 can be configured to be independent of the antenna equipment (e.g., an antenna line device (ALD) (also known as an antenna linear device)) or integrated with the antenna equipment. For example, in a 5G NR system, the aforementioned RU module 023 can be an active antenna unit (AAU), that is, a processing unit that integrates a remote radio unit (RRU) (or a remote radio head (RRH)) and the antenna equipment. It should be understood that the various functional modules in the relay device 02 (e.g., the MT module 021, gNB module 022, and RU module 023 shown in FIG. 1A) can be modules implemented in hardware or logic modules implemented in software, and this application is not limited thereto. In this application, the relay device 02 capable of implementing at least one layer three function is referred to as a layer three relay device. For example, a layer three relay device can be a wireless access backhaul (WAB) device.The communication method provided in this application can be applied to WABs and other relay devices that include gNB and UE functions. Subsequent embodiments will primarily use WABs as an example for description.

[0133] The host node 03 is connected to the relay device 02 and to the core network (e.g., 5GC) elements serving the relay device 02, providing radio backhaul functionality for the relay device 02. The host node 03 can be any device with radio transceiver capabilities, responsible for air interface-related functions such as radio link maintenance, radio resource management, and some mobility management functions. Furthermore, the host node 03 is configured with a baseband unit (BBU) and possesses baseband signal processing capabilities. The host node 03 can be an access network device. Common examples of access network devices include: Node B (NB), evolved Node B (eNB), next-generation Node B (gNB) in 5G new radio (NR) systems, and nodes (e.g., xNodeB) in 6G systems. Additionally, the host node can also be a device comprising a centralized unit (CU) (also known as a control unit) and / or a distributed unit (DU). In this system, the CU (Cubic Control Unit) of the host node is called the donor-CU, and the DU (Devices Unit) of the host node is called the donor-DU. The RAN equipment, including the CU and DU, separates the protocol layers of the gNB in ​​the NR system. Some protocol layer functions are centrally controlled by the CU, while the remaining partial or complete protocol layer functions are distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU. Multiple DUs can share a single CU. The separation of CU and DU can be based on the protocol stack. For example, as shown in Figure 1A, one possible approach is to deploy the Radio Resource Control (RRC), Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), and Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layers in the CU, and the remaining Radio Link Control (RLC), Media Access Control (MAC), and Physical (PHY) layers in the DU. The CU and DU are connected via the F1 interface. CU represents a gNB connected to the core network via the NG interface, a gNB connected to other gNBs via the Xn interface, and a gNB connected to other host nodes (e.g., other gNBs or eNBs) via the X2 port to perform dual-connection operations. It should be understood that the host node 03 in this application can be any of the aforementioned devices or chips; in this embodiment and subsequent embodiments, the host node is used as an example.

[0134] Core network equipment 04 refers to the equipment in the core network (CN) that provides service support for trunk equipment 02. Currently, some common examples of core network equipment 04 include: access and mobility management function (AMF) entities, session management function (SMF) entities, user plane function (UPF) entities, etc., which will not be listed here. Among them, the AMF entity can be responsible for access management and mobility management of trunk equipment 02; the SMF entity can be responsible for session management, such as user session establishment; the UPF entity can be a user plane functional entity, mainly responsible for connecting to external networks. It should be noted that in this application, entities can also be referred to as network elements or functional entities. For example, an AMF entity can also be called an AMF network element or an AMF functional entity; similarly, a UPF entity can also be called a UPF network element or a UPF functional entity, etc. It should be noted that the core network equipment in this application includes at least an AMF entity.

[0135] It should be understood that the communication method provided in this application can also be applied to the Open RAN (O-RAN) architecture shown in Figure 1B. As shown in Figure 1B, the O-RAN architecture mainly includes a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), gNB-CUs supporting O-RAN functions, and gNB-DUs supporting O-RAN functions. The RIC is used to collect network information and perform necessary optimization tasks. The RIC communicates with the gNB-CU via an E2 interface, and the RIC communicates with the gNB-DU via an E2 interface. The RIC can directly control the gNB-DU, or it can control the gNB-DU through the gNB-CU. The gNB-CUs supporting O-RAN functions include a donor-CU and a WAB-CU, and the gNB-DUs supporting O-RAN functions include a donor-DU and a WAB-DU. The donor-CU and donor-DU constitute the host node, and the WAB-MT, WAB-CU, and WAB-DU constitute the relay device.

[0136] As shown in Figure 1C, taking the Layer 3 relay device as a WAB device as an example, the UE part (i.e., WAB-MT) of the WAB device has an air interface connection (e.g., Un interface connection) with the host node (donor-gNB); the gNB part (i.e., WAB-gNB) of the relay device has an air interface connection (e.g., Un interface connection) with the terminal device (i.e., UE); the gNB part (i.e., WAB-gNB) of the relay device has communication interfaces (e.g., Xn interface and NG interface) with other host nodes (i.e., other-gNB). WAB-MT communicates with the core network equipment of MT (e.g., MT's UPF, MT's AMF, etc.) through the donor-gNB. The donor-gNB is connected to the MT's UPF through the N3 interface, and the donor-gNB is connected to the MT's AMF through the N2 interface. The UE communicates with its core network equipment (e.g., the UE's UPF, the UE / WAB's AMF, etc.) through the WAB-gNB. The WAB-gNB is connected to the UE's UPF through the N3 interface, and the WAB-gNB is connected to the UE / WAB's AMF through the N2 interface.

[0137] As shown in the example corresponding to Figure 1C, the WAB-gNB not only has an Xn interface with the host node (e.g., donor-gNB or donor-CU), but may also have an Xn interface with other base stations (e.g., other-gNB or other-CU). Therefore, this application can utilize the Xn interface between the relay device's gNB and the host node (or candidate host node) to achieve matching between the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB and the resource configuration of the host node (or candidate host node or target candidate host node) cell. This reduces the probability of resource conflicts when the host node (or target candidate host node) schedules the relay device's MT, thereby improving the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improving the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0138] The communication method provided in this application will be described below with reference to Figure 2:

[0139] Figure 2 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in this application. This communication method can be applied to signaling interaction between a relay device and a candidate host node. It should be understood that the actions of the relay device involved in this communication method can also be performed by a device or module within the relay device; similarly, the actions of the candidate host node involved in this communication method can also be performed by a device or module within the candidate host node, and this embodiment does not specifically limit this. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the communication method includes the following steps:

[0140] Step 201: The relay device determines at least one candidate host node of the relay device's MT.

[0141] In this context, a candidate host node is a node that has the potential to provide services to the MT (Mean Transmission Unit) of a relay device in the future. Alternatively, it can be understood as the host node to which the MT of a relay device might switch. For example, the MT of a relay device might switch to the cell of a candidate host node. After the MT switches to the cell of that candidate host node, that candidate host node becomes the host node that provides services to the MT after the handover.

[0142] Specifically, the relay device can determine the candidate host node through any of the following implementation methods:

[0143] In one possible implementation, the relay device determines at least one candidate host node based on neighbor cell relationships. For example, the relay device obtains at least one neighbor cell of the cell under the relay device's gNB, or obtains at least one neighbor cell of the serving cell of the relay device's MT, and the relay device determines the node corresponding to the at least one neighbor cell as a candidate host node.

[0144] In another possible implementation, the relay device determines the node corresponding to the cell with better signal quality as a candidate host node. For example, the source host node of the relay device sends the frequency point to be measured to the relay device, the MT of the relay device performs cell measurement on that frequency point, and then determines the node corresponding to the cell whose measured signal reaches a certain threshold as a candidate host node.

[0145] It should be understood that this application does not limit the method by which the relay device determines candidate host nodes; the relay device may determine one or more candidate host nodes based on any of the aforementioned methods. Furthermore, this application does not limit the specific number of candidate host nodes ultimately determined by the relay device.

[0146] It should be noted that the relay device described in this application can be a Layer 3 relay device (e.g., a WAB). Unlike Layer 2 relay devices such as integrated access and backhaul (IAB), which can only connect to one host node, WAB-gNB can connect to multiple host nodes simultaneously. For example, the relay device described in this application can establish Xn interface connections with multiple host nodes and perform signaling interaction with one or more host nodes through Xn interface messages.

[0147] Step 202: The gNB of the relay device sends a first Xn interface message to at least one candidate host node; correspondingly, at least one candidate host node receives the first Xn interface message from the gNB of the relay device.

[0148] Optionally, if the candidate host node is a node with a CU-DU separation architecture, the gNB of the relay device sends a first Xn interface message to the CU of at least one candidate host node; correspondingly, the CU of at least one candidate host node receives the first Xn interface message from the gNB of the relay device. It should be understood that among the at least one candidate host node, some candidate host nodes may adopt a CU-DU separation architecture, while some candidate host nodes may adopt a traditional base station architecture; this application does not impose any restrictions.

[0149] Optionally, the first Xn interface message in this step can be a newly defined Xn interface message. This newly defined Xn interface message is only applicable to the interaction between the relay device's gNB (e.g., WAB-gNB) and the host node of the relay device's gNB, and is not applicable to the interaction between the relay device's gNB and other non-host nodes, nor is it applicable to the interaction between two ordinary gNBs.

[0150] The first Xn interface message includes first resource configuration information. This first resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB. It can also be understood as indicating the resource configuration of the cell of the relay device's gNB. For example, this first resource configuration information can indicate the configuration of transmission resources used for communication between the relay device's gNB and a terminal device (e.g., a UE) accessing the cell of the relay device's gNB. This first resource configuration information can be pre-configured. For example, it can be pre-configured in the relay device using OAM.

[0151] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0152] The relay device's gNB's downlink / uplink / flexible (DUF) information, or the relay device's gNB's hard / soft / non-Available (HSNA) information; or the relay device's multiplexing information.

[0153] The duplex information of the relay device is used to indicate the duplex mode of the relay device, that is, whether the gNB and MT of the relay device support simultaneous operation. For example, the duplex information of the relay device indicates whether it supports simultaneous reception by the gNB and reception by the MT; or, whether it supports simultaneous transmission by the gNB and transmission by the MT; or, whether it supports simultaneous transmission by the gNB and reception by the MT.

[0154] In this embodiment, DUF and HSNA information are configured at the time-domain unit level, and the DUF and / or HSNA information may differ for different time-domain units. Optionally, the time-domain unit can be a time slot; for example, DUF information is configured at the time slot level, and HSNA information is also configured at the time-domain unit level. With the development of communication technology, the DUF and HSNA information provided in this application may also be configured at the time-domain unit level (e.g., symbols), which is not limited here. In this embodiment and subsequent embodiments, only the time slot level is described.

[0155] DUF information (also known as D / U / F information) indicates that the transmission resources of one or more time slots are used for downlink (D) transmission, uplink (U) transmission, or flexible (Uplink (U) scheduling. Here, D indicates that the time slot is used for downlink transmission; U indicates that the time slot is used for uplink transmission; and F indicates that the use of the time slot for downlink transmission or uplink transmission can be determined by the communication device based on scheduling requirements. The DUF information of a relay device's gNB indicates that when the relay device's gNB communicates with a UE (e.g., a UE accessing a cell within that gNB), the transmission resources of one or more time slots in that cell are used for downlink transmission, uplink transmission, or flexible scheduling. For example, if the DUF information of the relay device's gNB indicates that time slot 1 is D, time slot 2 is U, and time slot 3 is F, then time slot 1 is used for downlink transmission between the relay device's gNB and the UE accessing the cell of that gNB, i.e., the relay device's gNB sends data to the UE; time slot 2 is used for uplink transmission between the relay device's gNB and the UE accessing the cell of that gNB, i.e., the UE sends data to the relay device's gNB; whether time slot 3 is used for downlink or uplink transmission can be determined by the relay device's gNB itself, i.e., the relay device's gNB determines whether time slot 3 is used to send data to the UE or receive data from the UE based on the current scheduling requirements. Optionally, the DUF information of the relay device's gNB includes the relay device's gNB DUF transmission periodicity and the relay device's gNB DUF slot configuration list.

[0156] HSNA information (also known as H / S / NA information) indicates whether the transmission resources of one or more time slots are hard (H), soft (S), or non-Available (NA) resources. The HSNA information of a relay device's gNB indicates whether the transmission resources of one or more time slots in a cell are hard, soft, or non-Available resources when the gNB communicates with a UE in that cell. Hard resources mean that the gNB in ​​that time slot will strictly follow the DUF information. For example, if the DUF information for time slot 1 is D and the HSNA information for time slot 1 is hard resource, then the gNB in ​​the relay device will send downlink data to the UE (e.g., a UE in a cell accessed by the gNB in ​​that cell) in time slot 1, but cannot receive uplink data from the UE. If the relay device's duplex mode does not support simultaneous transmission by the relay device's gNB and transmission by the relay device's MT, then the relay device's gNB will not avoid the relay device's MT in time slot 1. In other words, the relay device's gNB will not refrain from transmitting downlink data in time slot 1 simply because the relay device's MT has a transmission or reception requirement in time slot 1. A soft resource indicates that whether the relay device's gNB operates according to the DFU information configuration in this time slot depends on the operating mode of the relay device's MT and the relay device's duplex mode. For example, if the DFU information for time slot 2 is U and the HSNA information for time slot 2 is a soft resource, and the relay device's duplex mode does not support simultaneous transmission by the relay device's gNB and transmission by the relay device's MT, then when the host node schedules the relay device's MT, the relay device's gNB will avoid the relay device's MT in time slot 2. That is, the relay device's gNB will not receive uplink data in time slot 2 because the relay device's MT has a transmission or reception requirement in time slot 2. Optionally, the HSNA information of the relay device's gNB includes the HSNA Transmission Periodicity and the HSNA Slot Configuration List of the relay device's gNB.

[0157] Optionally, in addition to the aforementioned content, the first resource configuration information may also include first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy-saving information.

[0158] The first transmission resource information is used to indicate the first transmission resource. This first transmission resource includes the transmission resources indicated in the system information of the relay device's gNB. For example, the first transmission resource can be a random access channel (RACH) resource, or a resource used to transmit reference signals (e.g., resources for transmitting SSBs, resources for transmitting channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS), etc.). It can be understood that the first transmission resource is a resource used for cell discovery or initial UE access. It should be noted that since resources such as RACH resources, SSB transmission resources, and CSI-RS transmission resources cannot be used by the host node to schedule the relay device's MT, the first transmission resource can be considered a hard resource. It can be understood that when the relay device's gNB uses the first transmission resource, the gNB may not avoid the relay device's MT. Providing the first transmission resource information to the candidate host node is beneficial because the candidate host node uses the first transmission resource as one of the reference factors when scheduling the relay device's MT, thereby reducing the probability of the candidate host node failing to schedule the MT.

[0159] Furthermore, the first cell energy-saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission (DTX) and / or discontinuous reception (DRX) status of the relay equipment's gNB cells, i.e., the DTX / DRX information of the relay equipment's gNB cells. It can also be understood as indicating the cell shutdown status of the relay equipment's gNB, i.e., when each cell of the relay equipment's gNB is active, inactive, or deactivated. For example, when some cells under the relay equipment's gNB have only a few UEs or no UE access, the relay equipment's gNB can activate those cells in certain time slots to save energy. It should be understood that after the relay equipment's gNB provides the first cell energy-saving information to the candidate host node, if the relay equipment's MT subsequently accesses the candidate host node, the candidate host node can more reasonably determine the DTX / DRX information of the candidate host node's cells (e.g., cells that the relay equipment's MT might access) based on the first cell energy-saving information. For example, when a cell under the gNB of a relay device is shut down (i.e. deactivated), the candidate host node can also consider shutting down (i.e. deactivating) the cells that the relay device's MT may access, which is beneficial for the candidate host node to save energy; or, when a cell under the gNB of a relay device is turned on (i.e. activated), the candidate host node should not shut down (i.e. keep activated) the cells that the relay device's MT may access, which is beneficial for the relay node's gNB service transmission to be uninterrupted.

[0160] Optionally, the first cell energy-saving information includes at least one DTX / DRX pattern of the relay equipment's gNB. The DTX / DRX pattern of the relay equipment's gNB is associated with the cell of the relay equipment's gNB. Different cells of the relay equipment's gNB can use the same DTX / DRX pattern, or they can use different DTX / DRX patterns respectively; this application is not limited to this. For example, the first cell energy-saving information includes only one DTX / DRX pattern, and all cells of the relay equipment's gNB use the same DTX / DRX pattern; or, the first cell energy-saving information includes multiple DTX / DRX patterns, with different DTX / DRX patterns corresponding to different cells of the relay equipment's gNB. The DTX / DRX pattern of the relay equipment's gNB is used to indicate the time slots for activating and / or deactivating the corresponding cell, that is, to indicate in which time slots one or more cells of the relay equipment's gNB are activated and / or deactivated. Optionally, the first cell energy-saving information also includes first indication information, which is used to indicate whether the relay equipment's gNB has enabled the cell energy-saving function. If the first indication information instructs the gNB of the relay equipment to enable cell energy saving, then the gNB of the relay equipment will activate and / or deactivate the cell in a specific time slot based on the DTX / DRX pattern; if the first indication information instructs the gNB of the relay equipment not to enable cell energy saving, then the cell of the gNB of the relay equipment will always be in an active state. Optionally, the first cell energy saving information also includes second indication information, which is used to indicate which pattern(s) of at least one DTX / DRX pattern is enabled.

[0161] Furthermore, after the relay device's gNB sends a first Xn interface message to at least one candidate host node, the aforementioned at least one candidate host node can obtain first resource configuration information from the received first Xn interface message. Then, one or more of the at least one candidate host node can use the first resource configuration information to decide on subsequent scheduling of the relay device's MT; or, use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify the candidate host node's own resource configuration; or, use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify the relay device's gNB's resource configuration; or, use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify both the relay device's gNB's resource configuration and the candidate host node's own resource configuration. In subsequent embodiments, the behavior of a candidate host node that receives the first resource configuration information will be described using a first candidate host node as an example. The first candidate host node is any one of the aforementioned at least one candidate host node that receives the first resource configuration information.

[0162] Optionally, the first candidate host node may execute any one of steps 203a, 203b, or 203c. If the first candidate host node executes step 203a, then the first candidate host node will not execute step 204. If the first candidate host node executes step 203b or step 203c, then the first candidate host node will also execute step 204.

[0163] Step 203a: The first candidate host node determines the second resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information.

[0164] The second resource configuration information refers to the resource configuration information of the first candidate host node. It can also be understood as the second resource configuration information used to indicate the resource configuration of the cell of the first candidate host node. For example, this second resource configuration information can indicate the configuration of transmission resources used for communication between the first candidate host node and the relay device MT (e.g., the relay device MT that provides the first resource configuration information) that will later access the cell of the first candidate host node.

[0165] In one possible implementation, the second resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the first candidate host node and / or, the energy-saving information of the second cell.

[0166] For an explanation of the DFU information, please refer to step 202 above; it will not be repeated here. The DFU information of the first candidate host node is used to indicate that when the first candidate host node communicates with the MT of the relay device (e.g., an MT that may be connected to the cell of the first candidate host node in the future, or an MT that provides the first resource configuration information), the transmission resources of one or more time slots of that cell are used for downlink transmission, uplink transmission, or flexible scheduling. For example, if the DFU information of the first candidate host node indicates that time slot 1 is D, time slot 2 is U, and time slot 3 is F, it means that time slot 1 is used for downlink transmission between the first candidate host node and the MT connected to the cell of the first candidate host node, that is, the first candidate host node sends downlink data to the MT; time slot 2 is used for uplink transmission between the first candidate host node and the MT connected to the cell of the first candidate host node, that is, the MT sends uplink data to the first candidate host node; whether time slot 3 is used for downlink transmission or uplink transmission can be determined by the first candidate host node itself, that is, the first candidate host node determines whether time slot 3 is used to send data to the MT or receive data from the MT based on the current scheduling requirements. Optionally, the DUF information of the first candidate host node includes the DUF transmission periodicity and the DUF slot configuration list of the first candidate host node.

[0167] Specifically, the first candidate host node determines its DUF information based on the first resource configuration information, which can be implemented using any of the following methods:

[0168] In one implementation, the first candidate host node determines its own DUF information based on the relay device's duplex information, the relay device's gNB's DUF information, and the relay device's HSNA information. For example, if the relay device's duplex information indicates that it does not support simultaneous transmission by the relay device's gNB and reception by the relay device's MT, but supports simultaneous transmission by the relay device's gNB and MT, and the relay device's gNB's DUF and HSNA information indicate that time slot 1 is a hard resource for downlink transmission, then the first candidate host node cannot transmit downlink data to the relay device's MT in time slot 1, but can receive data from the relay device's MT in time slot 1. Therefore, the first candidate host node can determine that the DUF information for time slot 1 is U, i.e., it is used for the first candidate host node to receive uplink data from the relay device's MT. For example, if the duplex information of a relay device indicates that it does not support simultaneous operation of the relay device's gNB and MT, and the HSNA information of the relay device's gNB indicates that time slot 2 is an unavailable resource, then the first candidate host node can send downlink data to the relay device's MT or receive uplink data from the relay device's MT in time slot 2. Therefore, the first candidate host node can determine that the DUF information of time slot 2 is F, i.e., it is used for the first candidate host node to receive uplink data from the relay device's MT or send downlink data to the relay device's MT. Other examples may exist in practical applications, which will not be elaborated here.

[0169] In another implementation, the first candidate host node determines its DUF information based on the relay device's duplex information and first transmission resource information. For example, suppose the relay device's duplex information indicates that the relay device's gNB and MT do not support simultaneous operation, and the first transmission resource information indicates that time slot 3 is a RACH resource (i.e., used for random access by UEs under the relay device's gNB). Since the first candidate host node treats the resource indicated by the first transmission resource information as a hard resource, meaning the relay device's gNB will not avoid the relay device's MT in time slot 3, the first candidate host node cannot schedule the relay device's MT in time slot 3, and can determine that the DUF information for time slot 3 is empty. Optionally, the first candidate host node can schedule other UEs or other relay device MTs in time slot 3. For example, if the duplex information of the relay device indicates that the relay device's gNB supports the relay device's MT receiving when transmitting, and the first transmission resource information indicates that time slot 3 is a RACH resource (i.e., used for the UE under the relay device's gNB to perform random access), then the first candidate host node can schedule the downlink transmission of the relay device's MT in time slot 3, and the first candidate host node can determine that the DUF information of time slot 3 is D.

[0170] Furthermore, the second cell energy-saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission (DTX) and / or discontinuous reception (DRX) status of the cells of the first candidate host node, i.e., the DTX / DRX information of the cells of the first candidate host node. It can also be understood as the second cell energy-saving information indicating the shutdown status of the cells of the first candidate host node, i.e., when each cell of the first candidate host node is active, inactive, or deactivated. For example, when some cells under the first candidate host node have only a few MTs or UEs accessing them, the first candidate host node can activate those cells in certain time slots to save energy; or, if a relay device may access a cell of the first candidate host node, and the cells under the relay device's gNB may be open (i.e., active), the first candidate host node should not close (i.e., keep active) the cells that the relay device's MT may access, which is beneficial for uninterrupted service transmission of the relay node's gNB.

[0171] Optionally, the second cell energy-saving information includes at least one DTX / DRX pattern of the first candidate host node. The DTX / DRX pattern of the first candidate host node is associated with its cells. Different cells of the first candidate host node can use the same DTX / DRX pattern or different DTX / DRX patterns; this application is not limited to this. For example, the second cell energy-saving information includes only one DTX / DRX pattern, and all cells of the first candidate host node use the same DTX / DRX pattern; or, the second cell energy-saving information includes multiple DTX / DRX patterns, with different DTX / DRX patterns corresponding to different cells of the first candidate host node. The DTX / DRX pattern of the first candidate host node is used to indicate the time slots for activating and / or deactivating the corresponding cells, that is, to indicate in which time slots one or more cells of the first candidate host node are activated and / or deactivated. Optionally, the second cell energy-saving information also includes third indication information, which is used to indicate whether the first candidate host node enables cell energy-saving functionality. If the third indication information instructs the first candidate host node to enable cell energy saving, the first candidate host node will activate the cell in a specific time slot and / or deactivate the cell in a specific time slot based on the DTX / DRX pattern; if the third indication information instructs the first candidate host node not to enable cell energy saving, the cell of the first candidate host node will remain active. Optionally, the second cell energy saving information may also include a fourth indication information, which is used to indicate which pattern(s) of at least one DTX / DRX pattern is enabled.

[0172] Specifically, the first candidate host node determines its second cell energy-saving information based on the first resource configuration information. Specifically, the first candidate host node determines the second cell energy-saving information based on the first cell energy-saving information. Optionally, if the first cell energy-saving information includes a first DTX / DRX pattern, the first candidate host node determines a second DTX / DRX pattern as the second cell energy-saving information based on the first DTX / DRX pattern. The second DTX / DRX pattern is similar to or identical to the first DTX / DRX pattern. In other words, when the gNB cell of the relay equipment is shut down, the first candidate host node can consider also shutting down its own cell (e.g., the cell that the MT of the relay equipment might access) in that time slot, which helps save energy consumption for the first candidate host node.

[0173] Optionally, after determining the second resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, the first candidate host node can store both the second and first resource configuration information. If the relay device's MT (Mean Transmission Device) switches to the first candidate host node in the future, the first candidate host node can make scheduling decisions for the relay device's MT based on the second and / or first resource configuration information. Since the second resource configuration information is determined by the first candidate host node based on the first resource configuration information (i.e., the relay device's gNB resource configuration information), it can be understood that the first candidate host node adjusts the resource configuration of its own cell based on the relay device's gNB resource configuration. Therefore, the first candidate host node's decision to schedule the relay device's MT based on the second and / or first resource configuration information helps avoid the first candidate host node's failure to schedule the relay device's MT due to unreasonable resource configuration of the relay device's gNB. For example, if the relay device's gNB has hard resources in several time slots, and the relay device does not support simultaneous operation of its gNB and MT, then when the host node schedules the relay device's MT, the relay device's gNB is highly likely not to yield to the MT, leading to MT scheduling failure and wasted cell resources. However, if the host node modifies the resource configuration of its serving cell based on the relay device's gNB resource configuration information—for example, scheduling the relay device's MT when it is operational—it can improve the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and enhance communication efficiency between them.

[0174] Optionally, if the first candidate host node is a node with a CU-DU separation architecture, the CU of the first candidate host node determines the second resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. This second resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the DU of the first candidate host node. After determining the second resource configuration information, the CU of the first candidate host node sends the second resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information to the DU of the first candidate host node. The second resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information are used by the DU of the first candidate host node to determine the scheduling of the MT (Mean Transmission Modem) for the relay device. For example, after the MT of the relay device accesses the cell of the DU of the first candidate host node, the DU of the first candidate host node can make a decision on scheduling the MT of the relay device based on the second resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information. Optionally, if the first candidate host node is a node with a CU-DU separation architecture, the DUF (Digital Function Function) information of the first candidate host node can be understood as the DUF information of the DU of the first candidate host node, and the second cell energy-saving information can be used to indicate the DTX (Digital Function Function) and / or DRX (Digital Function Function Function) of the cell of the DU of the first candidate host node.

[0175] Step 203b: The first candidate host node determines the third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information.

[0176] The third resource configuration information refers to the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB, which differs from the first resource configuration information. This can be understood as the third resource configuration information being the new resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB determined by the first candidate host node based on the first resource configuration information. Optionally, the first candidate host node determines the third resource configuration information based on its current resource configuration and the first resource configuration information. This can be understood as the first candidate host node modifying the current resource configuration of the relay device's gNB (i.e., the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB indicated by the first resource configuration information) to obtain the resource configuration that the first candidate host node expects the relay device's gNB to use when it connects to the first candidate host node in the future (i.e., the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB indicated by the third resource configuration information).

[0177] In one possible implementation, the third resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the relay device's gNB, and / or the HSNA information of the relay device's gNB. The DUF information included in the third resource configuration information differs from the DUF information included in the first resource configuration information, and / or the HSNA information included in the third resource configuration information differs from the HSNA information included in the first resource configuration information.

[0178] In one possible implementation, the third resource configuration information includes the cell energy-saving information of the relay equipment's gNB. For example, when the serving cell of the relay equipment's MT is inactive, the cell of the relay equipment's gNB is also inactive; or, when the serving cell of the relay equipment is active, the cell of the relay equipment's gNB is also active.

[0179] Optionally, after the first candidate host node determines the third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, the first candidate host node will also send the third resource configuration information to the gNB of the relay device. Please refer to the relevant description in step 204 below for details.

[0180] Optionally, after determining the third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, the first candidate host node may also store the third resource configuration information. Optionally, the first candidate host node may also store the third resource configuration information in correspondence with the first resource configuration information. If the relay device's MT switches to the first candidate host node in the future, the first candidate host node can schedule the relay device's MT based on the third resource configuration information and the resource configuration decision of the first candidate host node currently being used. Since the third resource configuration information is determined by the first candidate host node based on the first resource configuration information (i.e., the relay device's gNB resource configuration information), it can be understood that the first candidate host node adjusts the current resource configuration of the relay device's gNB, which helps avoid the relay device's gNB failing to schedule the relay device's MT due to unreasonable resource configuration. For example, if the relay device's gNB has hard resources in several time slots, and the relay device does not support simultaneous operation of the gNB and MT, then when the host node schedules the relay device's MT, the gNB is highly likely not to yield to the MT, leading to scheduling failure and wasted cell resources. However, if the host node modifies the resource configuration of its serving cell based on the gNB's resource configuration information—for example, by modifying the gNB's hard resource information using third-party resource configuration information—the gNB can yield to the MT, increasing the success rate of scheduling and improving the utilization efficiency of transmission resources and communication efficiency between the host node and the MT.

[0181] Optionally, if the first candidate host node is a node with a CU-DU separation architecture, the CU of the first candidate host node determines the third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. After determining the third resource configuration information, the CU of the first candidate host node sends the third resource configuration information to the DU of the first candidate host node. The third resource configuration information is used by the DU of the first candidate host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device. For example, after the MT of the relay device accesses the cell of the DU of the first candidate host node, the DU of the first candidate host node can make a decision on the scheduling of the MT of the relay device based on the third resource configuration information.

[0182] Step 203c: The first candidate host node determines the second and third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information.

[0183] The second resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the first candidate host node. For an explanation of the second resource configuration information and the specific method by which the first candidate host node determines the second resource configuration information, please refer to the relevant description in step 203a above; it will not be repeated here. The third resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB, and the third resource configuration information differs from the first resource configuration information. For an explanation of the third resource configuration information and the specific method by which the first candidate host node determines the third resource configuration information, please refer to the relevant description in step 203b above; it will not be repeated here.

[0184] Optionally, after determining the second and third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, the first candidate host node may also store the second and third resource configuration information. Optionally, the first candidate host node may also store the third resource configuration information corresponding to the first resource configuration information, and / or store the second resource configuration information corresponding to the first resource configuration information. If the relay device's MT switches to the first candidate host node in the future, the first candidate host node can make a decision on scheduling the relay device's MT based on the third and second resource configuration information. Since the third and second resource configuration information are determined by the first candidate host node based on the first resource configuration information (i.e., the relay device's gNB resource configuration information), it can be understood that the first candidate host node adjusts the current resource configuration of its cell based on the current resource configuration of the relay device's gNB, and also adjusts the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB. This helps to avoid the failure of the first candidate host node to schedule the relay device's MT due to unreasonable resource configuration of the relay device's gNB, increases the probability of the host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT, improves the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improves the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0185] Optionally, if the first candidate host node is a node with a CU-DU separation architecture, the CU of the first candidate host node determines the second and third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. After determining the second and third resource configuration information, the CU of the first candidate host node sends the second and third resource configuration information to the DU of the first candidate host node. The second and third resource configuration information are used by the DU of the first candidate host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device. For example, after the MT of the relay device accesses the cell of the DU of the first candidate host node, the DU of the first candidate host node can make a decision on the scheduling of the MT of the relay device based on the second and third resource configuration information.

[0186] It should be understood that steps 203a, 203b, and 203c described above are based on the first candidate host node as an example. Other candidate host nodes among at least one candidate host node (e.g., the second candidate host node, the third candidate host node, etc.) may also use the first resource configuration information to make decisions on the subsequent scheduling of the relay device's MT; or, use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify the candidate host node's own resource configuration; or, use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify the relay device's gNB resource configuration; or, use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify the relay device's gNB resource configuration and the candidate host node's own resource configuration. In other words, other candidate host nodes among at least one candidate host node (e.g., the second candidate host node, the third candidate host node, etc.) can also adjust their own resource configuration and / or adjust the relay device's gNB resource configuration in the manner described in steps 203a, 203b, or 203c.

[0187] It should be understood that different candidate host nodes among at least one candidate host node may perform different steps. For example, the first candidate host node may use the method described in step 203a, while the second candidate host node may use the method described in step 203b. That is, the first candidate host node determines how to adjust its own resource configuration based on the first resource configuration information, while the second candidate host node determines how to adjust the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB based on the first resource configuration information. As another example, the first candidate host node may use the method described in step 203a, while the third candidate host node may use the method described in step 203c. That is, the first candidate host node determines how to adjust its own resource configuration based on the first resource configuration information, while the third candidate host node determines how to adjust the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB and its own resource configuration based on the first resource configuration information.

[0188] It should also be understood that even if at least two candidate host nodes adjust the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB based on the first resource configuration information, i.e., the two candidate host nodes generate new resource configuration information for the relay device's gNB respectively, the resource configuration of the cells of the two candidate host nodes may not be the same when the first resource configuration information is received. Since the two candidate host nodes consider the resource configuration of their respective cells when determining the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB, the resource configuration information generated by the two candidate host nodes for the same relay device may be different. Furthermore, even if at least two candidate host nodes adjust the resource configuration of their respective cells based on the first resource configuration information, i.e., the two candidate host nodes generate resource configuration information for their respective cells respectively (for example, the first candidate host node generates its own resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, and the second candidate host node generates its own resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information), the resource configuration information for the relay device may still be different. Since the resource configuration of each cell of the two candidate host nodes may not be the same when the first resource configuration information is received, and the two candidate host nodes consider the current resource configuration of their respective cells when determining the resource configuration information of their respective cells, the resource configuration information of each cell generated by the two candidate host nodes based on the same first resource configuration information may be different (for example, the resource configuration information of the first candidate host node in the above example is different from the resource configuration information of the second candidate host node).

[0189] Step 204: The first candidate host node sends third resource configuration information to the relay device; correspondingly, the relay device receives the third resource configuration information from the first candidate host node.

[0190] For example, after the first candidate host node determines the third resource configuration information, the first candidate host node sends the third resource configuration information to the relay device.

[0191] Optionally, if the first candidate host node is a node with a CU-DU separation architecture, the CU of the first candidate host node sends the third resource configuration information to the relay device.

[0192] Specifically, the first candidate host node can send third resource configuration information to the relay device through any of the following implementation methods:

[0193] In one possible implementation, an Xn connection is established between the first candidate host node (e.g., the CU of the first candidate host node) and the gNB of the relay device. The first candidate host node (e.g., the CU of the first candidate host node) sends third resource configuration information to the gNB of the relay device through a second Xn interface message. This implementation can be applied to scenarios where the MT of the relay device has not yet joined the cell of the first candidate host node. In this implementation, after receiving the third resource configuration information, the relay device can store the third resource configuration information without immediately modifying the cell configuration of the gNB of the relay device based on the third resource configuration information. The relay device can modify the cell configuration of the gNB of the relay device based on the third resource configuration information only after determining that the first candidate host node is the target host node, that is, after the relay device determines that it is about to switch to the first candidate host node.

[0194] Optionally, since the relay device's gNB provides first resource configuration information to at least one candidate host node, and multiple candidate host nodes may generate new resource configuration information (including third resource configuration information) for the relay device's gNB based on the first resource configuration information, the relay device can receive new resource configuration information about its gNB from each of the aforementioned candidate host nodes. Optionally, the relay device can store the new resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB determined by each candidate host node. When the relay device's MT determines the target host node to which it is about to switch, the MT of the relay device then configures the cell of the relay device's gNB based on the new resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB determined by the target host node.

[0195] In another possible implementation, a radio resource control (RRC) connection is established between the first candidate host node (e.g., the CU of the first candidate host node) and the relay device's MT. For example, the relay device's MT has already accessed the cell of the first candidate host node (e.g., a cell under the DU of the first candidate host node) and completed the establishment of an RRC connection with the CU of the first candidate host node. In this case, the first candidate host node (e.g., the CU of the first candidate host node) sends third resource configuration information to the relay device's MT via an RRC message. After receiving the third resource configuration information carried in the RRC message, the relay device's MT modifies the cell configuration of the relay device's gNB based on the third resource configuration information.

[0196] In another possible implementation, a MAC layer connection is established between the first candidate host node (e.g., the DU of the first candidate host node) and the MT of the relay device. For example, the MT of the relay device has already accessed the cell of the first candidate host node (e.g., the cell under the DU of the first candidate host node), and the first candidate host node (e.g., the DU of the first candidate host node) sends third resource configuration information to the MT of the relay device through a Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (MAC CE). After receiving the third resource configuration information carried by the MAC CE, the MT of the relay device modifies the cell configuration of the gNB of the relay device based on the third resource configuration information.

[0197] Optionally, the relay device may also execute steps 205 and 206. If the relay device receives the third resource configuration information through the second Xn interface message, then step 204 is executed before step 205; if the relay device receives the third resource configuration information through an RRC message or a MEC CE message, then step 204 is executed after step 206.

[0198] Step 205: The relay device receives the switching command.

[0199] For example, the MT of a relay device receives a handover command from a source host node, which is the host node currently providing services to the MT of the relay device. The source host node determines the target host node from at least one candidate host node, and then indicates to the MT of the relay device which candidate host node is the target host node via the handover command. For example, the target host node is the first candidate host node.

[0200] Step 206: The relay device switches to the target host node.

[0201] Step 207: The target host node schedules the relay device's MT based on at least one of the first resource configuration information, the second resource configuration information, and the third resource configuration information.

[0202] Step 207 is an optional step.

[0203] In one possible implementation, the target host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the first resource configuration information and / or the second resource configuration information.

[0204] In another possible implementation, the target host node schedules the relay device's MT based on third-party resource configuration information and the target host node's cell resource configuration information.

[0205] In another possible implementation, the target host node schedules the relay device's MT based on third resource configuration information and second resource configuration information.

[0206] In this embodiment, the first candidate host node can obtain first resource configuration information from the relay device's gNB, and then determine second and / or third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. That is, the first candidate host node can determine whether to modify the resource configuration information currently used by the relay device's gNB (i.e., the first resource configuration information), and / or whether to modify the resource configuration information currently used by the first candidate host node's cell, based on the modified resource configuration information (the second and / or third resource configuration information). This allows the first candidate host node to achieve reasonable scheduling of the relay device's MT based on the modified resource configuration information (the second and / or third resource configuration information), reducing the probability of resource conflicts. This, in turn, helps improve the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improves the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0207] Figure 3 shows another flowchart of a communication method provided in this application. This communication method can be applied to signaling interaction between a relay device and its current host node. It should be understood that the actions of the relay device involved in this communication method can also be performed by a device or module within the relay device; similarly, the actions of the host node involved in this communication method can also be performed by a device or module within the host node. This embodiment does not specifically limit these actions. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the communication method includes the following steps:

[0208] Step 301: The relay device sends the first resource configuration information to the host node; correspondingly, the host node receives the first resource configuration information from the relay device.

[0209] In this context, the host node is the node currently providing services to the relay device. For example, the MT (Mobile Terminal) of the relay device is connected to a cell of this host node, and the MT accesses the network through this host node.

[0210] The first resource configuration information refers to the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB. It can also be understood as the first resource configuration information indicating the cell resource configuration of the relay device's gNB. For a detailed introduction to the first resource configuration information, please refer to the relevant description in step 202 above; it will not be repeated here.

[0211] Specifically, the relay device can send the first resource configuration information to the host node of the relay device through any of the following implementation methods.

[0212] In one possible implementation, an Xn connection is established between the relay device's gNB and the host node (e.g., the host node's CU). The relay device's gNB sends an Xn Application Protocol (XnAP) message to the host node (e.g., the host node's CU), which includes first resource configuration information.

[0213] In another possible implementation, an RRC connection is established between the relay device's MT and the host node (e.g., the host node's CU). The relay device's MT sends an RRC message to the host node (e.g., the host node's CU), which includes first resource configuration information.

[0214] In another possible implementation, the relay device's MT establishes an MEC layer connection with the host node (e.g., the host node's DU). The relay device's MT sends a MAC CE to the host node (e.g., the host node's DU), which includes first resource configuration information.

[0215] Optionally, after receiving the first resource configuration information, the host node may store the first resource configuration information so that when the host node needs to schedule the MT of the relay device, it can use the first resource configuration information as reference information for scheduling the MT of the relay device.

[0216] Optionally, the host node may also use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify its own resource configuration, as detailed in step 302a below; or, use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB, as detailed in step 302b below; or, use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB and the host node's own resource configuration, as detailed in step 302c below. If the host node executes step 303a, then the host node will not execute step 303. If the host node executes step 303b or step 303c, then the host node will also execute step 303.

[0217] Step 302a: The host node determines the fourth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information.

[0218] The fourth resource configuration information refers to the resource configuration information of the host node. It can also be understood as indicating the resource configuration of the host node's cell. Optionally, the fourth resource configuration information includes the resource configuration information of the serving cell accessed by the relay device's MT.

[0219] In one possible implementation, the fourth resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the host node and / or, the energy-saving information of the third cell.

[0220] For an explanation of DFU information, please refer to step 202 above; it will not be repeated here. The DUF information of the host node indicates whether the transmission resources of one or more time slots in the host node's cell are used for downlink transmission, uplink transmission, or flexible scheduling. For example, the DUF information of the host node indicates that when the relay device's MT accesses the serving cell of the host node, the transmission resources of one or more time slots in that cell are used for downlink transmission, uplink transmission, or flexible scheduling. For instance, if the DUF information of the host node indicates that time slot 1 of the serving cell of the relay device's MT is D, time slot 2 is U, and time slot 3 is F, then time slot 1 is used for downlink transmission between the host node and the relay device's MT, i.e., the host node sends downlink data to the MT; time slot 2 is used for uplink transmission between the host node and the relay device's MT, i.e., the MT sends uplink data to the host node; whether time slot 3 is used for downlink or uplink transmission can be determined by the host node itself, i.e., the host node determines whether time slot 3 is used to send data to the MT or receive data from the MT based on the current scheduling requirements. Optionally, the DUF information of the host node includes the DUF Transmission Periodicity and the DUF Slot Configuration List of the host node.

[0221] Optionally, the specific implementation method of the host node determining the DUF information of the host node based on the first resource configuration information is similar to the specific implementation method of the first candidate host node determining the DUF information of the first candidate host node based on the first resource configuration information in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 2. For details, please refer to the relevant description in step 203a above, which will not be repeated here.

[0222] Furthermore, the third cell energy-saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission (DTX) and / or discontinuous reception (DRX) status of the host node's cells, i.e., the DTX / DRX information of the host node's cells. It can also be understood as indicating the shutdown status of the host node's cells, i.e., when each cell of the host node is active, inactive, or deactivated. This third cell energy-saving information includes the DTX / DRX information of the serving cell of the relay equipment's MT. For example, when some cells under the host node have only a few MTs or UEs accessing them, the host node can activate those cells in certain time slots to save energy; or, when a cell under the relay equipment's gNB is on (i.e., activated), the host node should not shut down (i.e., keep active) the serving cell accessed by the relay equipment's MT, which helps ensure uninterrupted service transmission of the relay node's gNB.

[0223] Optionally, the third cell energy-saving information includes at least one DTX / DRX pattern of the host node. The third cell energy-saving information includes at least the DTX / DRX pattern of the serving cell of the relay equipment's MT. The serving cell's DTX / DRX pattern is used to indicate the time slots for activating and / or deactivating the serving cell, i.e., indicating in which time slots the host node's serving cell is activated and / or deactivated. Optionally, the third cell energy-saving information also includes fifth indication information, which is used to indicate whether the host node enables the cell energy-saving function. If the fifth indication information indicates that the host node enables the cell energy-saving function, the host node activates and / or deactivates the cell in a specific time slot based on the DTX / DRX pattern; if the fifth indication information indicates that the host node does not enable the cell energy-saving function, the host node's cell remains active. Optionally, the third cell energy-saving information also includes sixth indication information, which is used to indicate which pattern(s) of at least one DTX / DRX pattern is enabled.

[0224] Specifically, the host node determines the third cell energy-saving information based on the first resource configuration information. Alternatively, the host node can determine the third cell energy-saving information based on the first cell energy-saving information. Optionally, if the first cell energy-saving information includes a first DTX / DRX pattern, the host node determines a second DTX / DRX pattern as the third cell energy-saving information based on the first DTX / DRX pattern. The second DTX / DRX pattern is similar to or identical to the first DTX / DRX pattern. In other words, when the gNB cell of the relay equipment is shut down, the host node can consider shutting down its own cell (e.g., the serving cell of the MT of the relay equipment) in the same time slot, which helps save the host node's energy consumption.

[0225] Optionally, if the host node is a CU-DU separated architecture node, the host node determines the fourth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. Specifically, the CU of the host node determines the fourth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, or the DU of the host node determines the fourth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. These will be described in detail below:

[0226] In one possible implementation, the CU of the host node receives first resource configuration information from the relay device. For example, the CU of the host node receives an XnAP message from the gNB of the relay device, which includes the first resource configuration information; or, the CU of the host node receives an RRC message from the MT of the relay device, which includes the first resource configuration information. In this case, the CU of the host node determines fourth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. After determining the fourth resource configuration information, the CU of the host node sends the fourth resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information to the DU of the host node. The fourth resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information are used by the DU of the host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device.

[0227] In another possible implementation, the host node's DU receives first resource configuration information from the relay device. For example, the host node's DU receives a MAC CE from the relay device's MT, which includes the first resource configuration information. In this case, the host node's DU determines fourth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. The host node's DU is then able to determine the scheduling of the relay device's MT based on the fourth resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information.

[0228] Optionally, after the host node determines the fourth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, the host node can store both the fourth and first resource configuration information. This information is used by the host node to make scheduling decisions for the relay device's MT based on the fourth and / or first resource configuration information. Since the fourth resource configuration information is determined by the host node based on the first resource configuration information (i.e., the relay device's gNB resource configuration information), it can be understood that the host node adjusts the resource configuration of its own cell based on the relay device's gNB resource configuration. Therefore, the host node's decision to schedule the relay device's MT based on the fourth and / or first resource configuration information helps avoid scheduling failures caused by unreasonable resource configuration of the relay device's gNB. This, in turn, improves the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and enhances the communication efficiency between them.

[0229] Step 302b: The host node determines the fifth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information.

[0230] The fifth resource configuration information refers to the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB, which differs from the first resource configuration information. This can be understood as the fifth resource configuration information being the new resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB determined by the host node based on the first resource configuration information. Optionally, the host node determines the fifth resource configuration information based on the resource configuration currently used by the host node and the first resource configuration information. This can be understood as the host node modifying the resource configuration currently used by the relay device's gNB (i.e., the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB indicated by the first resource configuration information) in conjunction with the host node's current resource configuration to obtain the resource configuration that the host node expects the relay device's gNB to use (i.e., the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB indicated by the fifth resource configuration information).

[0231] In one possible implementation, the fifth resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the relay device's gNB, and / or the HSNA information of the relay device's gNB. The DUF information included in the fifth resource configuration information differs from the DUF information included in the first resource configuration information, and / or the HSNA information included in the fifth resource configuration information differs from the HSNA information included in the first resource configuration information.

[0232] In one possible implementation, the fifth resource configuration information includes the cell energy-saving information of the relay device's gNB. For example, when the serving cell of the relay device's MT is inactive, the cell of the relay device's gNB is also inactive; or, when the serving cell of the relay device is active, the cell of the relay device's gNB is also active.

[0233] Optionally, after the host node determines the fifth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, the host node will also send the fifth resource configuration information to the gNB of the relay device. Please refer to the relevant description in step 303 below for details.

[0234] Optionally, after the host node determines the fifth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, the host node can also store the fifth resource configuration information. This allows the host node to schedule the relay device's MT based on the fifth resource configuration information and the resource configuration decision of the host node currently being used. Since the fifth resource configuration information is determined by the host node based on the first resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB), it can be understood that the host node adjusts the current resource configuration of the relay device's gNB. This helps avoid the host node's failure to schedule the relay device's MT due to unreasonable resource configuration of the relay device's gNB, increases the probability of the host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT, improves the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improves the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0235] Optionally, if the host node is a CU-DU separated architecture node, the CU of the host node determines the fifth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. After determining the fifth resource configuration information, the CU of the host node sends the fifth resource configuration information to the DU of the host node. The fifth resource configuration information is used by the DU of the host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device.

[0236] Step 302c: The host node determines the fourth and fifth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information.

[0237] The fourth resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the host node. For an explanation of the fourth resource configuration information and the specific method by which the host node determines it, please refer to the relevant description in step 302a above; it will not be repeated here. The fifth resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB, and it differs from the first resource configuration information. For an explanation of the fifth resource configuration information and the specific method by which the host node determines it, please refer to the relevant description in step 302b above; it will not be repeated here.

[0238] Optionally, after the host node determines the fourth and fifth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, the host node may also store the fourth and fifth resource configuration information. Optionally, the host node may also store the fifth resource configuration information corresponding to the first resource configuration information, and / or store the fourth resource configuration information corresponding to the first resource configuration information, so that the host node can make decisions on scheduling the MT of the relay device based on the fifth and fourth resource configuration information. Since the fifth and fourth resource configuration information are determined by the host node based on the first resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB), it can be understood that the host node adjusts the current resource configuration of the host node's cell (i.e., the serving cell of the relay device's MT) based on the current resource configuration of the relay device's gNB, and also adjusts the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB. This helps to avoid the failure of the host node to schedule the relay device's MT due to unreasonable resource configuration of the relay device's gNB, increases the probability of the host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT, improves the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improves the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0239] Optionally, if the host node is a CU-DU separated architecture node, the CU of the host node determines the fourth and fifth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. After determining the fourth and fifth resource configuration information, the CU of the host node sends the fourth and fifth resource configuration information to the DU of the host node. The fourth and fifth resource configuration information are used by the DU of the host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device.

[0240] Step 303: The host node sends the fifth resource configuration information to the relay device; correspondingly, the relay device receives the fifth resource configuration information from the host node.

[0241] For example, after the host node determines the fifth resource configuration information, the host node sends the fifth resource configuration information to the relay device.

[0242] Optionally, if the host node is a node with a CU-DU separation architecture, the CU of the host node sends the fifth resource configuration information to the relay device.

[0243] Specifically, the host node can send the fifth resource configuration information to the relay device through any of the following implementation methods:

[0244] In one possible implementation, an Xn connection is established between the host node (e.g., the CU of the host node) and the gNB of the relay device. The host node (e.g., the CU of the host node) sends fifth resource configuration information to the gNB of the relay device via XnAP messages.

[0245] In another possible implementation, an RRC connection is established between the host node (e.g., the CU of the host node) and the MT of the relay device. The host node (e.g., the CU of the host node) sends fifth resource configuration information to the MT of the relay device via RRC messages.

[0246] In another possible implementation, a MAC layer connection is established between the host node (e.g., the DU of the host node) and the MT of the relay device. The host node (e.g., the DU of the host node) sends fifth resource configuration information to the MT of the relay device via MAC CE.

[0247] Step 304: The host node schedules the relay device's MT based on at least one of the first resource configuration information, the fourth resource configuration information, and the fifth resource configuration information.

[0248] Step 304 is an optional step.

[0249] In one possible implementation, the host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the first resource configuration information and / or the fourth resource configuration information.

[0250] In another possible implementation, the host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the fifth resource configuration information and the resource configuration information of the host node's cell.

[0251] In another possible implementation, the host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the fifth resource configuration information and the fourth resource configuration information.

[0252] In this embodiment, the host node can obtain first resource configuration information from the relay device's gNB, and then determine fourth and / or fifth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. That is, the host node can determine whether to modify the resource configuration information currently used by the relay device's gNB (i.e., the first resource configuration information), and / or whether to modify the resource configuration information currently used by the host node's cell, based on the modified resource configuration information (the fourth and / or fifth resource configuration information). This allows the host node to perform reasonable scheduling of the relay device's MT based on the modified resource configuration information (the fourth and / or fifth resource configuration information), reducing the probability of resource conflicts. This, in turn, helps improve the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improves the communication efficiency between them.

[0253] Figure 4 shows another flowchart of a communication method provided in this application. This communication method can be applied to signaling interaction between a relay device and its current host node. It should be understood that the actions of the relay device involved in this communication method can also be performed by a device or module within the relay device; the actions of the host node involved in this communication method can also be performed by a device or module within the host node, and this embodiment does not specifically limit this. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the communication method includes the following steps:

[0254] Step 401: The host node sends the sixth resource configuration information to the relay device; correspondingly, the relay device receives the sixth resource configuration information from the host node.

[0255] In this context, the host node is the current host node providing services to the relay device. The serving cell of the host node refers to the cell generated by the host node that provides services to the relay device's MT (Metal Transport Unit). For example, if the relay device's MT is connected to cell #1 of the host node, and the MT accesses the network through cell #1, then cell #1 of the host node is the serving cell generated by the host node to provide services to the relay device's MT. In some scenarios, the serving cell within the host node that provides services to the relay device's MT is also referred to as the serving cell of the relay device's MT, indicating that the relay device's MT is connected to that serving cell.

[0256] The sixth resource configuration information is used to indicate the resource configuration of the serving cell of the host node to which the relay device's MT accesses. For example, if MT#1 accesses cell #1 of the host node, then the sixth resource configuration information sent by the host node to MT#1 is the resource configuration information of cell #1.

[0257] In one possible implementation, the sixth resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the serving cell and / or the energy-saving information of the serving cell.

[0258] For an introduction to DFU information, please refer to step 202 above; it will not be repeated here. The DFU information of the host node is used to indicate whether the transmission resources of one or more time slots in the serving cell of the relay device's MT are used for downlink transmission, uplink transmission, or flexible scheduling. For example, if the host node's DFU information indicates that time slot 1 is D, time slot 2 is U, and time slot 3 is F, then time slot 1 is used for downlink transmission between the host node and the MT in the serving cell, i.e., the host node sends downlink data to the MT; time slot 2 is used for uplink transmission between the host node and the MT in the serving cell, i.e., the MT sends uplink data to the host node; whether time slot 3 is used for downlink or uplink transmission can be determined by the host node itself, i.e., the host node determines whether time slot 3 is used to send data to the MT or receive data from the MT based on current scheduling requirements. Optionally, the host node's DFU information includes the host node's DFU transmission periodicity and the host node's DFU slot configuration list.

[0259] Furthermore, the serving cell's energy-saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission (DTX) and / or discontinuous reception (DRX) status of the host node's serving cell, i.e., the DTX / DRX information of the serving cell accessed by the relay equipment's MT. It can also be understood as the serving cell's energy-saving information indicating the shutdown status of the host node's serving cell (i.e., the serving cell accessed by the relay equipment's MT), i.e., when the host node's serving cell is active, inactive, or deactivated. For example, when the host node's serving cell has only a few MTs or UEs accessing it, the host node can activate the cell in some time slots to save energy; or, when the cell under the relay equipment's gNB is on (i.e., active), the host node should not shut down (i.e., keep active) the serving cell accessed by the relay equipment's MT, which helps ensure uninterrupted service transmission of the relay node's gNB.

[0260] Optionally, the energy-saving information of the serving cell includes at least one DTX / DRX pattern of the serving cell of the host node. For example, the energy-saving information of the serving cell may include only one DTX / DRX pattern, indicating that the serving cell of the host node uses only one DTX / DRX pattern; or, the energy-saving information of the serving cell may include multiple DTX / DRX patterns, indicating that the serving cell of the host node can have multiple DTX / DRX patterns to choose from. The DTX / DRX pattern of the host node is used to indicate the time slots for activating and / or deactivating the serving cell, that is, to indicate in which time slots the serving cell of the host node is activated and / or deactivated. Optionally, the energy-saving information of the serving cell also includes fifth indication information, which is used to indicate whether the host node enables the cell energy-saving function. If the fifth indication information indicates that the host node enables the cell energy-saving function, then the host node activates and / or deactivates the serving cell in a specific time slot based on the DTX / DRX pattern; if the fifth indication information indicates that the host node does not enable the cell energy-saving function, then the serving cell of the host node remains in an active state. Optionally, the energy-saving information for the service cell may also include a sixth indication information, which indicates which or all of the at least one DTX / DRX pattern to enable.

[0261] Furthermore, the sixth resource configuration information is carried in the second message. For example, the host node sends a second message to the relay device, which carries the sixth resource configuration information; correspondingly, the relay device receives a second message from the host node, which includes the sixth resource configuration information. Optionally, the second message can be an RRC message, an XnAP message, or a MAC CE. Examples are given below:

[0262] In one possible implementation, an Xn connection is established between the host node (e.g., the CU of the host node) and the gNB of the relay device. The host node (e.g., the CU of the host node) sends sixth resource configuration information to the gNB of the relay device via XnAP messages.

[0263] In another possible implementation, an RRC connection is established between the host node (e.g., the CU of the host node) and the MT of the relay device. The host node (e.g., the CU of the host node) sends sixth resource configuration information to the MT of the relay device via RRC messages.

[0264] In another possible implementation, a MAC layer connection is established between the host node (e.g., the host node's DU) and the relay device's MT. The host node (e.g., the host node's DU) sends sixth resource configuration information to the relay device's MT via MAC CE.

[0265] Step 402: The relay device determines the seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information.

[0266] The seventh resource configuration information refers to the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB. This seventh resource configuration information differs from the resource configuration information currently used by the relay device's gNB. It can be understood that the seventh resource configuration information is the new resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB, determined by the relay device based on the sixth resource configuration information. In other words, the relay device modifies the resource configuration currently used by its gNB based on the resource configuration information of the host node's serving cell (i.e., the sixth resource configuration information) to obtain the new resource configuration information (i.e., the seventh resource configuration information) that the host node expects the relay device's gNB to use.

[0267] In one possible implementation, the seventh resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the relay device's gNB. The relay device determines the seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information, including: the relay device determines the DUF information of the relay device's gNB based on the DUF information of the serving cell and the duplex information of the relay device. For an explanation of the relay device's duplex information, please refer to the relevant description in step 202 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0268] For example, if the duplex information of a relay device indicates that it does not support simultaneous transmission by the relay device's gNB and reception by the relay device's MT, but supports simultaneous reception by the relay device's gNB and MT, and the DUF information of the serving cell indicates that time slot 1 is a resource for downlink transmission (i.e., the transmission resource for the host node to send downlink data to the relay device's MT), then the relay device's gNB cannot send downlink data to the UE in time slot 1, but can receive uplink data from the UE in time slot 1. Therefore, the relay device can determine that the DUF information of time slot 1 is U, that is, it is used for the relay device's gNB to receive uplink data from the UE. In practical applications, there may be other examples, which will not be elaborated here.

[0269] Optionally, the transmission resources of the relay device's gNB, as indicated in the seventh resource configuration information, are soft resources. Since the gNB's resource usage priority is generally lower than the host node's scheduling of the relay device's MT, if all the relay device's gNBs are hard resources, and the serving cell's resource configuration is not adjusted accordingly, frequent host node MT scheduling failures may occur, resulting in wasted serving cell resources. Configuring all transmission resources indicated in the seventh resource configuration information as soft resources helps the relay device's gNB avoid the relay device's MT, preventing excessive impact on the serving cell due to the introduction of relay devices.

[0270] In another possible implementation, the seventh resource configuration information includes energy-saving information of the relay device's gNB cell. The relay device determines the seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information, including: the relay device determines the energy-saving information of the relay device's gNB cell based on the energy-saving information of the host node's serving cell.

[0271] Optionally, if the energy-saving information of the serving cell includes a third DTX / DRX pattern, the relay device determines a fourth DTX / DRX pattern based on the third DTX / DRX pattern as the energy-saving information of the relay device's gNB cell. The fourth DTX / DRX pattern is similar to or the same as the third DTX / DRX pattern. For example, when the serving cell of the host node is turned off (or when the serving cell of the host node is inactive), the relay device may consider turning off the cells of the relay device's gNB in ​​that time slot (or setting the cells under the relay device's gNB to inactive). Optionally, turning off the cells of the relay device's gNB means turning off all cells under the relay device's gNB, which is beneficial for saving the relay device's energy consumption.

[0272] Step 403: The host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the sixth resource configuration information.

[0273] In this embodiment, step 403 is an optional step.

[0274] In this embodiment, after the host node provides the sixth resource configuration information to the relay device, since the relay device can modify the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB based on the sixth resource configuration information, the host node only needs to schedule the MT of the relay device based on the sixth resource configuration information.

[0275] In this embodiment, the relay device can obtain the sixth resource configuration information from the host node, and then determine the seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information. That is, the relay device can determine how to modify the resource configuration information currently used by the relay device's gNB based on the resource configuration information currently used by the host node's serving cell (i.e., the sixth resource configuration information). This reduces the probability of resource conflicts when the host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the resource configuration information of the host node's current serving cell. This, in turn, improves the probability of the host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT, increases the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improves the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0276] It should be noted that the communication method provided in this application can also be applied to O-RAN scenarios.

[0277] Figure 5 shows a flowchart of the communication method provided in this application applied to an O-RAN scenario. As shown in Figure 5, the access network control device, relay device, and candidate host node will perform the following steps:

[0278] Step 501: The relay device sends the first resource configuration information to the access network control device; correspondingly, the access network control device receives the first resource configuration information from the relay device.

[0279] The access network control device can be a controller that controls access network devices (e.g., CU and / or DU) in the access network. For example, the access network control device can be a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC).

[0280] The first resource configuration information refers to the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device. For a description of the first resource configuration information, please refer to the relevant description in step 202 of the embodiment corresponding to Figure 2 above; it will not be repeated here.

[0281] For example, the gNB of the relay device sends first resource configuration information to the access network control device through the E2 interface. For instance, the gNB of the relay device sends an E2 message to the access network control device, which includes the first resource configuration information.

[0282] After receiving the first resource configuration information, the access network control device can use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify the resource configuration of the candidate host node, i.e., execute step 502a; or, use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB, i.e., execute step 502b; or, use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB and the resource configuration of the candidate host node, i.e., execute step 502c.

[0283] Step 502a: The access network control device determines the second resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information.

[0284] The second resource configuration information refers to the resource configuration information of the candidate host node, which is the host node that the gNB of the relay device may connect to in the future. This candidate host node can be determined by the relay device or by the access network control device; this application does not limit this. The specific method for determining the second resource configuration information is similar to step 203a in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 2 above; please refer to the relevant description in step 203a above for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0285] Step 502b: The access network control device determines the third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information.

[0286] The third resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device, which is different from the first resource configuration information. Regarding the third resource configuration information, and the specific method for determining the third resource configuration information, it is similar to step 203b in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 2 above. Please refer to the relevant description in step 203b above; it will not be repeated here.

[0287] Step 502c: The access network control device determines the second resource configuration information and the third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information.

[0288] Step 503a: The access network control device sends at least one of the first resource configuration information, the second resource configuration information, and the third resource configuration information to at least one candidate host node.

[0289] In one possible implementation, if the access control device performs step 502a, the access network control device sends second resource configuration information to at least one candidate host node. Optionally, different candidate host nodes may receive different second resource configuration information. Optionally, the access network control device may also send first resource configuration information to at least one candidate host node. For example, the access network control device sends the first and second resource configuration information in an E2 message to the candidate host node.

[0290] In another possible implementation, if the access control device performs step 502b, the access network control device sends third resource configuration information to at least one candidate host node. For example, the access network control device sends the third resource configuration information to the candidate host node in an E2 message.

[0291] In another possible implementation, if the access control device performs step 502c, the access network control device sends second resource configuration information and third resource configuration information to at least one candidate host node. For example, the access network control device sends the second resource configuration information and third resource configuration information to the candidate host node in an E2 message.

[0292] Step 503b: The access network control device sends third resource configuration information to the relay device; correspondingly, the relay device receives the third resource configuration information from the access network control device.

[0293] Step 503b is optional. If the access control device has executed step 502b or step 502c, it will also execute step 503b. For example, the access network control device sends the third resource configuration information in an E2 message to the relay device's gNB.

[0294] Step 504: The target host node schedules the relay device's MT based on at least one of the first resource configuration information, the second resource configuration information, and the third resource configuration information.

[0295] For example, after the relay device's MT receives a handover command from the source host node, the relay device's MT switches to the target host node. The source host node is the host node that provided services to the relay device's MT before the handover. The target host node is one of the aforementioned candidate host nodes.

[0296] In one possible implementation, the target host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the first resource configuration information and / or the second resource configuration information.

[0297] In another possible implementation, the target host node schedules the relay device's MT based on third-party resource configuration information and the target host node's cell resource configuration information.

[0298] In another possible implementation, the target host node schedules the relay device's MT based on third resource configuration information and second resource configuration information.

[0299] In this embodiment, the access network control device obtains first resource configuration information from the relay device's gNB, then determines second and / or third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, and then provides the first, second, or third resource configuration information to at least one candidate host node. This allows the host node to perform reasonable scheduling of the relay device's MT based on the modified resource configuration information (second and / or third resource configuration information), reducing the probability of resource conflicts. This, in turn, improves the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and enhances the communication efficiency between them.

[0300] Figure 6 shows another flowchart of the communication method provided in this application applied to an O-RAN scenario. As shown in Figure 6, the access network control device, relay device, and host node will perform the following steps:

[0301] Step 601: The relay device sends first resource configuration information to the access network control device; correspondingly, the access network control device receives the first resource configuration information from the relay device.

[0302] Access network control equipment can be a controller that controls access network equipment (e.g., CU and / or DU) in the access network. For example, access network control equipment can be RIC.

[0303] The first resource configuration information refers to the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device. For a description of the first resource configuration information, please refer to the relevant description in step 202 of the embodiment corresponding to Figure 2 above; it will not be repeated here.

[0304] For example, the gNB of the relay device sends first resource configuration information to the access network control device through the E2 interface. For instance, the gNB of the relay device sends an E2 message to the access network control device, which includes the first resource configuration information.

[0305] After receiving the first resource configuration information, the access network control device can use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify the resource configuration of the host node, i.e., execute step 602a; or, use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB, i.e., execute step 602b; or, use the first resource configuration information to determine how to modify the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB and the resource configuration of the host node, i.e., execute step 602c.

[0306] Step 602a: The access network control device determines the fourth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information.

[0307] The fourth resource configuration information refers to the resource configuration information of the host node, which is the host node currently providing services to the relay device. For example, the MT of the relay device is accessed in a cell of the host node, and the MT of the relay device accesses the network through the host node. The fourth resource configuration information, and the specific method for determining the fourth resource configuration information, is similar to step 302a in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 3 above. Please refer to the relevant description in step 302a above; it will not be repeated here.

[0308] Step 602b: The access network control device determines the fifth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information.

[0309] The fifth resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device, which is different from the first resource configuration information. The fifth resource configuration information, and the specific method for determining it, is similar to step 302b in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 3 above. Please refer to the relevant description in step 302b above; it will not be repeated here.

[0310] Step 602c: The access network control device determines the fourth and fifth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information.

[0311] Step 603a: The access network control device sends at least one of the first resource configuration information, the fourth resource configuration information, and the fifth resource configuration information to the host node.

[0312] In one possible implementation, if the access control device performs step 602a, the access network control device sends fourth resource configuration information to the host node. Optionally, the access network control device may also send first resource configuration information to the host node. For example, the access network control device may send the first resource configuration information and the fourth resource configuration information to the host node in an E2 message.

[0313] In another possible implementation, if the access control device performs step 602b, the access network control device sends the fifth resource configuration information to the host node. For example, the access network control device sends the fifth resource configuration information to the host node in an E2 message.

[0314] In another possible implementation, if the access control device performs step 602c, the access network control device sends the fourth resource configuration information and the fifth resource configuration information to the host node. For example, the access network control device sends the fourth resource configuration information and the fifth resource configuration information to the host node in an E2 message.

[0315] Step 603b: The access network control device sends the fifth resource configuration information to the relay device; correspondingly, the relay device receives the fifth resource configuration information from the access network control device.

[0316] Step 603b is optional. If the access control device has executed step 602b or step 602c, it will also execute step 603b. For example, the access network control device sends the fifth resource configuration information in an E2 message to the relay device's gNB.

[0317] Step 604: The host node schedules the relay device's MT based on at least one of the first resource configuration information, the fourth resource configuration information, and the fifth resource configuration information.

[0318] In one possible implementation, the host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the first resource configuration information and / or the fourth resource configuration information.

[0319] In another possible implementation, the host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the fifth resource configuration information and the resource configuration information of the host node's cell.

[0320] In another possible implementation, the host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the fifth resource configuration information and the fourth resource configuration information.

[0321] In this embodiment, the access network control device obtains first resource configuration information from the relay device's gNB, then determines fourth and / or fifth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, and finally provides the first, fourth, or fifth resource configuration information to the host node. This allows the host node to perform reasonable scheduling of the relay device's MT based on the modified resource configuration information (fourth and / or fifth resource configuration information), reducing the probability of resource conflicts. This, in turn, improves the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and enhances the communication efficiency between them.

[0322] Figure 7 shows another flowchart of the communication method provided in this application applied to an O-RAN scenario. As shown in Figure 7, the access network control device, relay device, and host node will perform the following steps:

[0323] Step 701: The host node sends the sixth resource configuration information to the access network control device; correspondingly, the access network control device receives the sixth resource configuration information from the host node.

[0324] Here, the host node is the host node currently providing services to the relay device. The sixth resource configuration information is used to indicate the resource configuration of the MT access host node's serving cell for the relay device. For a description of the sixth resource configuration information, please refer to the relevant description in step 401 of the embodiment corresponding to Figure 4 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0325] For example, the host node sends sixth resource configuration information to the access network control device via the E2 interface. For instance, the host node sends an E2 message to the access network control device, which includes the sixth resource configuration information.

[0326] Step 702: The access network control device sends the sixth resource configuration information to the relay device; correspondingly, the relay device receives the sixth resource configuration information from the access network control device.

[0327] For example, the access network control device sends sixth resource configuration information to the gNB of the relay device via the E2 interface. For instance, the access network control device sends an E2 message to the gNB of the relay device, which includes the sixth resource configuration information.

[0328] Step 703: The relay device determines the seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information.

[0329] The seventh resource configuration information refers to the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device. For a description of the seventh resource configuration information, please refer to the relevant description in step 402 of the embodiment corresponding to Figure 4 above; it will not be repeated here.

[0330] Step 704: The host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the sixth resource configuration information.

[0331] In this embodiment, the relay device can obtain the sixth resource configuration information from the host node through the access network control device, and then determine the seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information. In other words, the relay device can determine how to modify the resource configuration information currently used by the relay device's gNB based on the resource configuration information currently used by the host node's serving cell (i.e., the sixth resource configuration information). This reduces the probability of resource conflicts when the host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the resource configuration information of the host node's current serving cell. This, in turn, improves the probability of the host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT, increases the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improves the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0332] Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 80 provided in this embodiment. The relay device in the method embodiments corresponding to Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 can be based on the structure of the communication device 80 shown in Figure 8 of this embodiment. Alternatively, the host node in the method embodiments corresponding to Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 can also be based on the structure of the communication device 80 shown in Figure 8 of this embodiment.

[0333] The communication device 80 includes at least one processor 801, at least one transceiver 802, and one or more antennas 803. The processor 801 is connected to the transceiver 802 via a connection device, and the antenna 803 is connected to the transceiver 802. The aforementioned connection device may include various interfaces, transmission lines, or buses, etc., and this embodiment does not limit its use.

[0334] When the communication device 80 is used to implement the function of a relay device (e.g., a Layer 3 relay device), the transceiver 802 can be used to support the reception or transmission of radio frequency signals between the communication device 80 and the terminal device, and can also be used to support the reception or transmission of radio frequency signals between the communication device 80 and the host node. When the communication device 80 is used to implement the function of a host node (e.g., the host node of a Layer 3 relay device), the transceiver 802 can be used to support the reception or transmission of radio frequency signals between the communication device 80 and the relay device (e.g., WAB-MT or WAB-gNB). The transceiver 802 includes a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx. Specifically, one or more antennas 803 can receive radio frequency signals, and the receiver Rx of the transceiver 802 is used to receive the radio frequency signals from the antennas 803, amplify the radio frequency signals, and then forward them. When the communication device 80 performs the function of a Layer 3 relay device (e.g., WAB), the transceiver 802 can also convert the received radio frequency signal into a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal, and provide the digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal to the processor 801 so that the processor 801 can perform further processing on the digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal, such as demodulation and decoding. Furthermore, the transmitter Tx in the transceiver 802 is also used to receive the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal from the processor 801, convert the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal into a radio frequency signal, and transmit the radio frequency signal through one or more antennas 803.

[0335] Furthermore, the aforementioned processor 801 is mainly used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire network device, execute software programs, and process the data of the software programs, for example, to support the communication device 80 in performing the actions described in the aforementioned embodiments. When the communication device 80 is used to implement the MT function of a relay device, the processor 801 establishes an RRC connection or MAC connection with the host node according to the protocol stack of the terminal device. When the communication device 80 is used to implement the gNB function of a relay device, or the function of a host node, the processor 801 also includes a baseband processor and a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor is mainly used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU is mainly used to control the entire communication device 80, execute software programs, and process the data of the software programs. As shown in Figure 8, the processor 801 can integrate the functions of a baseband processor and a CPU. Those skilled in the art will understand that the baseband processor and the CPU can also be independent processors interconnected through technologies such as buses. The communication device 80 can include multiple baseband processors to adapt to different network standards, and the communication device 80 can include multiple CPUs to enhance its processing capabilities. The various components of the communication device 80 can be connected through various buses.

[0336] Optionally, the communication device 80 further includes at least one memory 804. The memory 804 is primarily used to store software programs and data. The memory 804 can exist independently and be connected to the processor 801. Optionally, the memory 804 can be integrated with the processor 801, for example, integrated within one or more chips. The memory 804 can store program code that executes the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and its execution is controlled by the processor 801. The various types of computer program code being executed can also be considered as drivers for the processor 801. It should be understood that Figure 8 in this embodiment only shows one memory and one processor; however, in practical applications, the communication device 80 can have multiple processors or multiple memories, which is not limited here. Furthermore, the memory 804 can also be called a storage medium or storage device, etc. The memory 804 can be a storage element located on the same chip as the processor (i.e., an on-chip storage element), or it can be a separate storage element; this embodiment does not limit this.

[0337] Optionally, the communication device 80 further includes at least one network interface 805. The network interface 805 is used to enable the communication device 80 to connect with other communication devices via a communication link. Specifically, the network interface 805 may include a network interface between the communication device 80 and core network elements, such as an NG interface; the network interface 805 may also include a network interface between the communication device 80 and other network devices (such as other host nodes or core network elements), such as an X2 or Xn interface.

[0338] In one design, the communication device 80 is used to execute the method of the relay device in the embodiment corresponding to FIG2. The processor 801 is used to determine at least one candidate host node of the mobile terminal unit MT of the relay device; the transceiver 802 is used to send a first Xn interface message to the at least one candidate host node. The first Xn interface message includes first resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device. The first resource configuration information is used by the first candidate host node to determine second resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the first candidate host node. The first candidate host node is one of the at least one candidate host nodes.

[0339] In this design, the communication device 80 can send first resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB) to at least one candidate host node through the first Xn interface message. Therefore, the candidate host node can clearly know the resource configuration of the relay device's gNB based on the first resource configuration information. Thus, the candidate host node can generate second resource configuration information (i.e., the resource configuration information of the candidate host node) based on the first resource configuration information. This is beneficial for the candidate host node to achieve reasonable scheduling of the relay device's MT based on the second resource configuration information, reducing the probability of resource conflicts. Therefore, it is beneficial to improve the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improve the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0340] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0341] The relay device's gNB downlink / uplink / flexible DUF information, or the relay device's gNB hard / soft / unavailable HSNA information; or the relay device's duplex information.

[0342] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information further includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy-saving information; wherein, the first transmission resource information is used to indicate the first transmission resources, the first transmission resources including the transmission resources indicated by the system information of the relay equipment's gNB; the first cell energy-saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the cell of the relay equipment's gNB.

[0343] In one possible implementation, the second resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the first candidate host node, or the second cell energy-saving information, which is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the cell of the first candidate host node.

[0344] In one possible implementation, transceiver 802 is further configured to receive third resource configuration information from the first candidate host node, wherein the third resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB, and the third resource configuration information is different from the first resource configuration information.

[0345] In one possible implementation, transceiver 802 is further configured to receive a switching command; processor 801 is further configured to switch to a target host node, which is one of at least one candidate host node.

[0346] In another design, the communication device 80 is used to execute the method of the relay device in the embodiment corresponding to FIG3. Specifically, the transceiver 802 is used to send a first message to the host node. The first message includes first resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB. The first resource configuration information is used by the host node to determine fourth resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the host node. The first resource configuration information includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy-saving information. The first transmission resource information is used to indicate the first transmission resource, which includes the transmission resource indicated by the system information of the relay device's gNB. The first cell energy-saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the relay device's gNB cell. The fourth resource configuration information includes third cell energy-saving information, which is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the host node's cell.

[0347] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information further includes at least one of the following:

[0348] The relay device's gNB downlink / uplink / flexible DUF information, or the relay device's gNB hard / soft / unavailable HSNA information; or the relay device's duplex information.

[0349] In one possible implementation, the fourth resource configuration information also includes the DUF information of the host node.

[0350] In one possible implementation, transceiver 802 is further configured to receive fifth resource configuration information from the host node, the fifth resource configuration information being the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB, and the fifth resource configuration information being different from the first resource configuration information.

[0351] In one possible implementation, the first message is an RRC message or an XnAP message.

[0352] In another design, the communication device 80 is used to execute the method of the relay device in the embodiment corresponding to FIG4. Specifically, the transceiver 802 is used to receive a second message from the host node, the second message including sixth resource configuration information, the sixth resource configuration information being used to indicate the resource configuration of the MT of the relay device accessing the serving cell of the host node; the processor 801 is used to determine seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information, the seventh resource configuration information being the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device.

[0353] In this design, the communication device 80 can obtain the sixth resource configuration information from the host node, and then determine the seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information. That is, the communication device 80 can determine how to modify the resource configuration information currently used by the relay device's gNB based on the resource configuration information currently used by the host node's serving cell (i.e., the sixth resource configuration information). This reduces the probability of resource conflicts when the host node schedules the relay device's MT based on the resource configuration information of the host node's current serving cell. This, in turn, improves the probability of the host node successfully scheduling the relay device's MT, increases the utilization efficiency of transmission resources between the host node and the relay device's MT, and improves the communication efficiency between the host node and the relay device's MT.

[0354] In one possible implementation, the sixth resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the serving cell of the host node and / or the energy-saving information of the serving cell of the host node, wherein the energy-saving information of the serving cell is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the serving cell.

[0355] In one possible implementation, the processor 801 is specifically used to determine the seventh resource configuration information based on the DUF information of the serving cell and the duplex information of the relay equipment.

[0356] In one possible implementation, the seventh resource configuration information includes DUF information.

[0357] In one possible implementation, the transmission resources of the gNB of the relay device indicated by the seventh resource configuration information are soft resources.

[0358] In one possible implementation, the seventh resource configuration information also includes energy-saving information of the cell of the relay device's gNB; the processor 801 is specifically used to determine the energy-saving information of the cell of the relay device's gNB based on the energy-saving information of the serving cell of the host node.

[0359] It should be noted that the specific implementation method and beneficial effects of this embodiment can be referred to the relay device method in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0360] In another design, the communication device 80 is used to execute the host node method in the embodiment corresponding to FIG2. Specifically, the transceiver 802 is used to receive a first Xn interface message from the gNB of the relay device. The first Xn interface message includes first resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device, and the first candidate host node is a host node among at least one candidate host node of the MT of the relay device.

[0361] In one possible implementation, the processor 801 is further configured to determine second resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, wherein the second resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the first candidate host node, and the second resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information are used by the first candidate host node to determine the scheduling of the relay device's MT.

[0362] In one possible implementation, the processor 801 is further configured to determine third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, wherein the third resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device, and the third resource configuration information is different from the first resource configuration information. The transceiver 802 is further configured to send the third resource configuration information to the relay device.

[0363] In one possible implementation, the processor 801 is further configured to determine second resource configuration information and third resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information, wherein the second resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the first candidate host node, and the third resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device, and the third resource configuration information is different from the first resource configuration information. The transceiver 802 is further configured to send the third resource configuration information to the relay device.

[0364] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0365] The DUF information of the gNB of the relay device, or the HSNA information of the gNB of the relay device; or the duplex information of the relay device.

[0366] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information further includes at least one of the following: the first resource configuration information includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy-saving information; wherein, the first transmission resource information is used to indicate the first transmission resource, the first transmission resource includes the transmission resource indicated by the system information of the gNB of the relay equipment; the first cell energy-saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the cell of the gNB of the relay equipment.

[0367] In one possible implementation, the second resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the first candidate host node and / or, second cell energy-saving information, which is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the cell of the first candidate host node.

[0368] In another design, the communication device 80 is used to execute the method of the host node in the embodiment corresponding to FIG3. For example, the transceiver 802 is used to receive a first message from the gNB of the relay device. The first message includes first resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device. The first resource configuration information includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell power saving information. The first transmission resource information is used to indicate the first transmission resources, which include the transmission resources indicated by the system information of the gNB of the relay device. The first cell power saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the cell of the gNB of the relay device.

[0369] In one possible implementation, the processor 801 is configured to determine fourth resource configuration information based on first resource configuration information, wherein the fourth resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the host node, and the fourth resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information are used by the host node to determine the scheduling of MT for the relay equipment; wherein the fourth resource configuration information includes third cell energy-saving information, and the third cell energy-saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the host node's cell.

[0370] In one possible implementation, processor 801 is used to determine fifth resource configuration information based on first resource configuration information, the fifth resource configuration information being the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device, and the fifth resource configuration information being different from the first resource configuration information; transceiver 8002 is used to send the fifth resource configuration information to the relay device.

[0371] In one possible implementation, processor 801 is configured to determine fourth and fifth resource configuration information based on first resource configuration information. The fourth resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the host node, and the fifth resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device. The fifth resource configuration information is different from the first resource configuration information. The fourth resource configuration information includes third cell energy-saving information, which is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the host node's cell. Transceiver 802 is configured to send the fifth resource configuration information to the relay device.

[0372] In one possible implementation, the first resource configuration information further includes at least one of the following:

[0373] The DUF information of the gNB of the relay device, or the HSNA information of the gNB of the relay device; or the duplex information of the relay device.

[0374] In one possible implementation, the fourth resource configuration information also includes the DUF information of the host node.

[0375] In another design, the communication device 80 is used to execute the method of the host node in the embodiment corresponding to FIG4. For example, the transceiver 802 is used to receive a second message from the host node, the second message including sixth resource configuration information, the sixth resource configuration information being used to indicate the resource configuration of the relay device's MT access to the serving cell of the host node; the processor 801 is used to determine seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information, the seventh resource configuration information being the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB.

[0376] In one possible implementation, the sixth resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the serving cell of the host node and / or the energy-saving information of the serving cell of the host node, wherein the energy-saving information of the serving cell is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the serving cell.

[0377] In one possible implementation, the processor 801 is used to determine the seventh resource configuration information based on the DUF information of the serving cell and the duplex information of the relay equipment.

[0378] In one possible implementation, the seventh resource configuration information includes DUF information.

[0379] In one possible implementation, the transmission resources of the gNB of the relay device indicated by the seventh resource configuration information are soft resources.

[0380] In one possible implementation, the seventh resource configuration information also includes energy-saving information of the cell of the relay device's gNB; the processor 801 is used to determine the energy-saving information of the cell of the relay device's gNB based on the energy-saving information of the serving cell of the host node.

[0381] It should be noted that the specific implementation method and beneficial effects of this embodiment can be referred to the host node method in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0382] As shown in Figure 9, this application also provides a communication device 90. The communication device 90 can be a relay device or a host node, or a component of a relay device or host node (e.g., an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.). The communication device 90 can also be other communication modules used to implement the methods in the method embodiments of this application.

[0383] The communication device 90 may include a processing module 901 (or processing unit). Optionally, it may also include an interface module 902 (or transceiver unit or transceiver module) and a storage module 903 (or storage unit). The interface module 902 is used to enable communication with other devices. The interface module 902 may be, for example, a transceiver module or an input / output module.

[0384] In one possible design, one or more modules as shown in Figure 9 may be implemented by one or more processors, or by one or more processors and memory; or by one or more processors and transceivers; or by one or more processors, memory, and transceivers. This application does not limit the specific implementation of these modules. The processors, memory, and transceivers can be implemented individually or integrated into a single unit.

[0385] The communication device 90 is equipped with the functions of the host node described in the embodiments of this application. For example, the communication device 90 includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the steps involved in the host node described in the embodiments of this application, which can be implemented by software, hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software, or by a combination of software and hardware. Further details can be found in the corresponding descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. Specifically, please refer to the communication device 80 in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 8 above.

[0386] Alternatively, the communication device 90 may have the functionality of the relay device described in the embodiments of this application. For example, the communication device 90 includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the steps involved in the relay device described in the embodiments of this application. These functions, units, or means can be implemented in software, hardware, or hardware executing corresponding software, or a combination of software and hardware. Further details can be found in the corresponding descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. Specifically, please refer to the communication device 80 in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 8 above.

[0387] Furthermore, this application provides a computer program product comprising one or more computer instructions. When these computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. For example, methods related to host nodes as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 are implemented. Another example is methods related to relay devices as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can store or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., digital versatile discs (DVDs)), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state disks (SSDs)).

[0388] In addition, this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that is executed by a processor to implement the host node-related methods as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 above.

[0389] In addition, this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that is executed by a processor to implement the relay device-related methods as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 above.

[0390] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of this application, the order of the above-mentioned processes does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0391] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

Claims

1. A communication method applied in a relay device, characterized in that, include: The relay device determines at least one candidate host node of the mobile terminal unit MT of the relay device; The base station unit gNB of the relay device sends a first Xn interface message to the at least one candidate host node. The first Xn interface message includes first resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device. The first resource configuration information is used by the first candidate host node to determine second resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the first candidate host node. The first candidate host node is one of the at least one candidate host nodes.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first resource configuration information includes at least one of the following: The downlink / uplink / flexible DFU information of the gNB of the relay device, or, The hard / soft / unavailable HSNA information of the gNB of the relay device; or... The duplex information of the relay device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first resource configuration information also includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy saving information; Wherein, the first transmission resource information is used to indicate the first transmission resource, which includes the transmission resource indicated by the system information of the gNB of the relay device; the first cell energy saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the cell of the gNB of the relay device.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The second resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the first candidate host node, or the second cell energy-saving information, which is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the cell of the first candidate host node.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, After the base station unit gNB of the relay device sends the first Xn interface message to the at least one candidate host node, the method further includes: The relay device receives third resource configuration information from the first candidate host node. The third resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB, and the third resource configuration information is different from the first resource configuration information.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, After the relay device's gNB sends the first Xn interface message to the at least one candidate host node, the method further includes: The relay device receives the switching command; The relay device switches to the target host node, which is one of the at least one candidate host nodes.

7. A communication method applied in a relay device, characterized in that, include: The relay device sends a first message to the host node. The first message includes first resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB. The first resource configuration information is used by the host node to determine fourth resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the host node. The first resource configuration information includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy-saving information. The first transmission resource information is used to indicate the first transmission resource, which includes the transmission resource indicated by the system information of the gNB of the relay device. The first cell energy-saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the cell of the gNB of the relay device. The fourth resource configuration information includes third cell energy-saving information, which is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the cell of the host node.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first resource configuration information also includes at least one of the following: The downlink / uplink / flexible DFU information of the gNB of the relay device, or, The hard / soft / unavailable HSNA information of the gNB of the relay device; or... The duplex information of the relay device.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The fourth resource configuration information also includes the DFU information of the host node.

10. A communication method applied in a host node, characterized in that, include: The host node receives a first message from the gNB of the relay device, the first message including first resource configuration information, the first resource configuration information being the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device; The first resource configuration information includes first transmission resource information and / or first cell energy saving information. The first transmission resource information is used to indicate the first transmission resource, which includes the transmission resource indicated by the system information of the gNB of the relay device. The first cell energy saving information is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception status of the cell of the gNB of the relay device.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The method further includes: The host node determines fourth resource configuration information based on the first resource configuration information. The fourth resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the host node. The fourth resource configuration information and / or the first resource configuration information are used by the host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device. The fourth resource configuration information includes third cell energy-saving information, which is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the host node's cell.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: The CU of the host node sends the fourth resource configuration information and the first resource configuration information to the DU of the host node. The fourth resource configuration information and the first resource configuration information are used by the DU of the host node to determine the scheduling of the MT of the relay device.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that, The first resource configuration information also includes at least one of the following: The DUF information of the gNB of the relay device, or, The HSNA information of the gNB of the relay device; or... The duplex information of the relay device.

14. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The fourth resource configuration information also includes the DFU information of the host node.

15. A communication method applied in a host node, characterized in that, include: The host node sends a second message to the relay device. The second message includes sixth resource configuration information. The sixth resource configuration information is used to instruct the relay device's MT to access the resource configuration of the host node's serving cell. The sixth resource configuration information is used by the relay device to determine seventh resource configuration information, which is the resource configuration information of the relay device's gNB.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The sixth resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the serving cell and / or the energy-saving information of the serving cell, wherein the energy-saving information of the serving cell is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the serving cell.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The second message is a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, an XnAP message, or a MAC CE message.

18. A communication method applied in a relay device, characterized in that, include: Receive a second message from the host node, the second message including sixth resource configuration information, the sixth resource configuration information being used to indicate the resource configuration of the relay device's MT access to the serving cell of the host node; The seventh resource configuration information is determined based on the sixth resource configuration information, and the seventh resource configuration information is the resource configuration information of the gNB of the relay device.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, The sixth resource configuration information includes the DUF information of the serving cell of the host node and / or the energy-saving information of the serving cell of the host node. The energy-saving information of the serving cell is used to indicate the discontinuous transmission and / or discontinuous reception of the serving cell.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The process of determining the seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information includes: The seventh resource configuration information is determined based on the DFU information of the serving cell and the duplex information of the relay device.

21. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that, The seventh resource configuration information includes DUF information.

22. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, characterized in that, The seventh resource configuration information indicates that the transmission resources of the relay device's gNB are soft resources.

23. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that, The seventh resource allocation information also includes energy-saving information of the gNB cell of the relay equipment; The process of determining the seventh resource configuration information based on the sixth resource configuration information includes: The energy-saving information of the gNB cell of the relay device is determined based on the energy-saving information of the serving cell of the host node.

24. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 23, characterized in that, The second message is an RRC message, an XnAP message, or a MAC CE.

25. A communication device, characterized in that, Including processor and memory; The memory stores computer programs; The processor invokes the computer program to cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6; or, to perform the method as described in any one of claims 7 to 9; or, to perform the method as described in any one of claims 18 to 24.

26. A communication device, characterized in that, Including processor and memory; The memory stores computer programs; The processor invokes the computer program to cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 10 to 14; or, to perform the method as described in any one of claims 15 to 17.

27. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 6; or, perform the method of any one of claims 7 to 9; or, perform the method of any one of claims 10 to 14; or, perform the method of any one of claims 15 to 17; or, perform the method of any one of claims 18 to 24.

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