Communication method, device and system

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method, device and system, applied to the technical field of communications. The method comprises: a second device receives first data from a first device at a first time unit; the second device determines first information on the basis of the first data, wherein the first information indicates a first ACK or a first NACK for the first data, the first information is determined on the basis of a first mode, and a second mode is used for decoding on the basis of HARQ by means of a physical layer; the second device determines second information on the basis of the first data, wherein the second information indicates a second ACK or a second NACK for the first data, the second information is determined on the basis of the second mode, and the first mode is different from the second mode; and the second device transmits the first information to the first device at a second time unit, and transmits the second information to the first device at a third time unit, wherein the third time unit is later than the second time unit.

Description

Communication method, apparatus and system

[0001] The present application claims priority from the Chinese patent application No. 202410671585.3 filed on May 24, 2024, and entitled "Communication method, apparatus and system", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, in particular to a communication method, apparatus and system. BACKGROUND

[0003] Hybrid automatic repeat-request (HARQ) is a technology combining forward error correction (FEC) and automatic repeat request (ARQ) methods. In the HARQ mechanism, the sender adds redundant information to the data, so that the receiver can correct part of the errors. The receiver sends feedback information to the sender according to the decoding result of the data, and the sender determines whether to retransmit the data or newly transmit the data according to the feedback information.

[0004] In uplink (UL) HARQ, the sender is the terminal and the receiver is the base station. However, in the current uplink HARQ technology, the response speed of the base station from receiving the data to sending the feedback information is slow, which makes it difficult to guarantee the low latency of uplink transmission. Therefore, how to reduce the processing delay and guarantee the reliability of data transmission is a technical problem to be solved. In addition, how to balance between the correctness and the processing delay, and take into account the correctness and the processing delay, is also a technical problem to be solved. SUMMARY

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, apparatus and system, which can reduce the latency of uplink transmission while guaranteeing the normal transmission of uplink data. In addition, the technical solution provided by the present application can balance between the correctness and the processing delay, and take into account the correctness and the processing delay.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the embodiments of the present application adopt the following technical solutions:

[0007] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by a second device, or by a module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the second device. The method performed by the second device is described below, which includes: receiving, at a first time unit, first data from a first device. According to the first data, determining first information, the first information indicating a first acknowledge character (ACK) or a first negative acknowledge character (NACK) for the first data, the first information being determined according to a first manner. The second manner is based on HARQ and is decoded by a physical layer. According to the first data, determining second information, the second information indicating a second ACK or a second NACK for the first data. The second information is determined according to a second manner, and the first manner is different from the second manner. Transmitting, at a second time unit, the first information to the first device, and transmitting, at a third time unit, the second information to the first device, the third time unit being later than the second time unit.

[0008] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, after receiving the first data from the first device, the second device can determine two feedback information for the first data in two different manners, i.e., the first manner and the second manner. The first information obtained based on the first manner is transmitted to the first device earlier than the second information obtained based on the second manner. In this way, the first device can first transmit or retransmit the data based on the first information. Compared with the existing HARQ mechanism in which the first device can only determine whether to transmit or retransmit the data based on the second information obtained based on the second manner, the method provided in the embodiments of the present application can reduce the time delay. Moreover, if the first information does not correctly reflect the decoding result of the first data, the first device can also perform corresponding behaviors according to the second information, avoiding the problem that the first data cannot be correctly transmitted to the second device due to the determination of whether to retransmit or transmit based on the first information. Therefore, based on the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the time delay of uplink transmission can be reduced while ensuring the normal transmission of the first data. In addition, the second device can balance the correctness and the processing time delay, and take into account the correctness and the processing time delay.

[0009] In combination with the first aspect described above, in a possible design, the first manner includes predicting HARQ based on artificial intelligence (AI).

[0010] Based on the scheme, the first information can be obtained by AI prediction of HARQ. Generally, the AI prediction takes less time, and the prediction result of HARQ can be obtained immediately after receiving the first data. Therefore, compared with determining the second information by the second method, the time for determining the first information by the first method is greatly reduced.

[0011] In combination with the first aspect, in a possible design, the first information is determined according to the first data, including: determining the first information according to all or part of the first data.

[0012] The scheme provides different implementations of determining the first information according to the first data.

[0013] In combination with the first aspect, in a possible design, the second information is determined according to the first data, including: determining the second information according to all of the first data.

[0014] Based on the scheme, the second device determines the second information according to all of the first data, so that the second NACK or the second NACK indicated by the second information can accurately reflect the decoding result of the first data.

[0015] In combination with the first aspect, in a possible design, in the case where the first information indicates the first NACK for the first data, the method further includes: determining, according to the first data, a first retransmission number of the first data, the first retransmission number being determined according to the first method. The third information is sent to the first device, the third information indicating the first retransmission number.

[0016] Based on the scheme, the second device can indicate the first retransmission number to the first device, so that the first device can directly retransmit the first data according to the first retransmission number, saving the time delay of multiple transmissions of the first information from the second device to the first device.

[0017] In combination with the first aspect, in a possible design, the method further includes: receiving the first data retransmitted one or more times from the first device, the number of times of retransmission being the first retransmission number. The fourth information is determined according to the first data retransmitted one or more times, the fourth information indicating the first ACK or the first NACK for the first data retransmitted one or more times, the fourth information being determined according to the first method. The fourth information is sent to the first device by the second device.

[0018] Based on the scheme, the fourth information for the first data retransmitted one or more times can be sent to the first device after receiving the first data retransmitted by the first device according to the first retransmission number, which can save signaling overhead.

[0019] With reference to the above first aspect, in a possible design, the method further includes: receiving the first data retransmitted one or more times from the first device, the one or more times being the first retransmission times. determining the one or more fifth information according to the first data retransmitted each time among the one or more times; each fifth information among the one or more fifth information indicates the first ACK or the first NACK for the first data retransmitted one time. sending the one or more fifth information to the first device.

[0020] Based on this scheme, the corresponding fifth information can be sent for each retransmitted first data among the first data retransmitted the first retransmission times by the first device, thereby improving the accuracy of the fifth information determined by the second device through the first manner.

[0021] With reference to the above first aspect, in a possible design, in the case where the first information indicates the first NACK for the first data, the first information further indicates that the first device retransmits the first data in the first uplink time unit or the first time unit after the fourth time unit, where the fourth time unit is a time unit in which the first device receives the first information, and the uplink time unit is a time unit used for transmitting uplink data. Alternatively, in the case where the first information indicates the first ACK for the first data, the first information further indicates that the first device transmits the second data in the first uplink time unit or the first time unit after the fourth time unit.

[0022] Based on this scheme, the first device can retransmit data or newly transmit data as soon as possible after receiving the first information.

[0023] With reference to the above first aspect, in a possible design, the second time unit is the first time unit or the first downlink time unit after the first time unit, where the downlink time unit is a time unit used for transmitting downlink data.

[0024] Based on this scheme, the second device can send the first information as soon as possible in the adjacent time unit or the nearest time unit in which downlink transmission can be performed after receiving the first data, thereby reducing the delay of HARQ feedback.

[0025] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by a first device, or by a module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the first device. The method performed by the first device includes: sending first data to a second device. Receiving, at a fourth time unit, first information from the second device, the first information indicating a first ACK or a first NACK for the first data, the first information being determined according to a first manner. Re-transmitting the first data or transmitting second data according to the first information. Receiving, at a fifth time unit, second information from the second device, the second information indicating a second ACK or a second NACK for the first data, the second information being determined according to a second manner, the second manner being based on HARQ and decoded by a physical layer. The first manner is different from the second manner, and the fifth time unit is later than the fourth time unit.

[0026] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, after the first device sends the first data to the second device, the first device receives the first information obtained based on the first manner, which is earlier than receiving the second information obtained based on the second manner, so that the first device can first re-transmit or re-transmit the data based on the first information. Compared with the existing HARQ mechanism, the first device can only determine whether to re-transmit or re-transmit according to the second information, and the method provided in the embodiments of the present application can reduce the time delay. Moreover, if the decoding result of the first data is not correctly reflected by the first information, the first device can also perform corresponding behaviors according to the second information, avoiding the problem that the first data cannot be correctly transmitted to the second device due to the determination of re-transmitting or re-transmitting based on the first information. Therefore, based on the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the time delay of uplink transmission can be reduced while ensuring the normal transmission of the first data. In addition, the balance between accuracy and processing time delay can be achieved, and the accuracy and processing time delay are taken into account.

[0027] In combination with the second aspect described above, in a possible design, the first manner includes predicting HARQ based on AI.

[0028] Based on the present solution, the first information can be obtained by predicting HARQ based on AI. Generally, the time for AI prediction is less, and the prediction result of HARQ can be obtained immediately after receiving the first data. Therefore, compared with determining the second information based on the second manner, the time for determining the first information based on the first manner is greatly reduced.

[0029] In combination with the second aspect described above, in a possible design, the first information is determined according to all or part of the first data.

[0030] The present solution provides different implementations of determining the first information according to the first data.

[0031] With reference to the second aspect above, in a possible design, the second information is determined based on the first data.

[0032] Based on this scheme, the second NACK or the second ACK indicated by the second information can accurately reflect the decoding result of the first data.

[0033] With reference to the second aspect above, in a possible design, retransmitting the first data based on the first information includes: in a case where the first information indicates the first NACK for the first data, retransmitting the first data and retaining the first data.

[0034] Based on this scheme, the first device can first retransmit the first data based on the first information to reduce latency, and retain the first data for possible retransmission of the first data in the future.

[0035] With reference to the second aspect above, in a possible design, the method further includes: in a case where the second information indicates the second ACK, the first device does not retain the first data.

[0036] Based on this scheme, in a case where the second information indicates the second ACK, it indicates that the first data has been successfully decoded at the physical layer, and thus the first device does not need to retain the first data.

[0037] With reference to the second aspect above, in a possible design, transmitting the second data based on the first information includes: in a case where the first information indicates the first ACK for the first data, transmitting the second data and retaining the first data.

[0038] Based on this scheme, the first device can first transmit the second data based on the first information to reduce latency, and retain the first data for possible retransmission of the first data in the future.

[0039] With reference to the second aspect above, in a possible design, the method further includes:

[0040] in a case where the second information indicates the second ACK, the first data is not retained.

[0041] Based on this scheme, in a case where the second information indicates the second ACK, it indicates that the first data has been successfully decoded at the physical layer, and thus the first device does not need to retain the first data.

[0042] With reference to the second aspect above, in a possible design, in a case where the first indication information indicates the first NACK, the method further includes: receiving third information from the second device, the third information indicating a first retransmission number. The retransmitting the first data based on the first information includes: retransmitting the first data to the second device one or more times based on the first information and the third information, the number of the one or more times being the first retransmission number.

[0043] Based on the scheme, the first data can be retransmitted directly according to the first retransmission number indicated by the second device, and the latency of the second device sending the first information to the first device multiple times can be saved.

[0044] With reference to the second aspect, in a possible design, the method further includes: receiving fourth information from the second device, the fourth information indicating the first ACK or the first NACK for the first data retransmitted one or more times; and the fourth information being determined according to the first manner.

[0045] Based on the scheme, signaling overhead can be saved.

[0046] With reference to the second aspect, in a possible design, the method further includes: receiving one or more fifth information from the second device, each of the one or more fifth information indicating the first ACK or the first NACK for the first data retransmitted one time.

[0047] Based on the scheme, the accuracy of the fifth information can be improved.

[0048] With reference to the second aspect, in a possible design, retransmitting the first data or transmitting the second data according to the first information includes: retransmitting the first data or transmitting the second data in a first uplink time unit after the fourth time unit, where the uplink time unit is a time unit for transmitting uplink data; or retransmitting the first data or transmitting the second data in a first time unit after the fourth time unit.

[0049] Based on the scheme, the first device can retransmit the data or newly transmit the data as soon as possible after receiving the first information.

[0050] The third aspect provides a communication device for implementing the method implemented by the second device in the first aspect.

[0051] The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the above method, which can be implemented by hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions.

[0052] With reference to the above third aspect, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the communication apparatus includes a processing module and a transceiver; the transceiver is configured to receive, at a first time unit, first data from a first apparatus; the processing module is configured to determine, according to the first data, first information, the first information indicating a first ACK or a first NACK for the first data, the first information being determined according to a first manner; the second manner is based on HARQ and is decoded by a physical layer; the processing module is further configured to determine, according to the first data, second information, the second information indicating a second ACK or a second NACK for the first data; the second information is determined according to a second manner, and the first manner is different from the second manner; the transceiver is further configured to send, at a second time unit, the first information to the first apparatus, and send, at a third time unit, the second information to the first apparatus, the third time unit being later than the second time unit.

[0053] With reference to the above third aspect, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the first manner includes prediction of HARQ based on AI.

[0054] With reference to the above third aspect, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the processing module, when determining the first information according to the first data, includes: determining the first information according to all or part of the first data.

[0055] With reference to the above third aspect, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the processing module, when determining the second information according to the first data, includes: determining the second information according to all of the first data.

[0056] With reference to the above third aspect, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the processing module is further configured to determine, according to the first data, a first retransmission number of the first data, the first retransmission number being determined according to the first manner; and the transceiver is further configured to send, to the first apparatus, third information indicating the first retransmission number.

[0057] With reference to the above third aspect, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the transceiver is further configured to receive, from the first apparatus, the first data retransmitted one or more times, the number of times of retransmission being the first retransmission number; the processing module is further configured to determine, according to the first data retransmitted one or more times, fourth information, the fourth information indicating a first ACK or a first NACK for the first data retransmitted one or more times, the fourth information being determined according to the first manner; and the transceiver is further configured to send, to the first apparatus, the fourth information.

[0058] With reference to the third aspect above, in a possible design, the transceiving module is further configured to receive the first data retransmitted one or more times from the first device, and the number of the one or more times is the first retransmission number. The processing module is further configured to determine one or more fifth information according to the first data retransmitted each time in the one or more times; each fifth information in the one or more fifth information indicates the first ACK or the first NACK for the first data retransmitted one time. The transceiving module is further configured to send the one or more fifth information to the first device.

[0059] With reference to the third aspect above, in a possible design, in the case where the first information indicates the first NACK for the first data, the first information further indicates that the first device retransmits the first data in a first uplink time unit or a first time unit after a fourth time unit, where the fourth time unit is a time unit in which the first device receives the first information, and the uplink time unit is a time unit for transmitting uplink data. Alternatively, in the case where the first information indicates the first ACK for the first data, the first information further indicates that the first device transmits the second data in a first uplink time unit or a first time unit after the fourth time unit.

[0060] With reference to the third aspect above, in a possible design, the second time unit is a first time unit or a first downlink time unit after the first time unit, where the downlink time unit is a time unit for transmitting downlink data.

[0061] The fourth aspect provides a communication device for implementing the method implemented by the first device in the second aspect above.

[0062] The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the above method, which can be implemented by hardware, software, or by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions.

[0063] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the communication apparatus includes a processing module and a transceiver; the transceiver is configured to send the first data to the second apparatus; the transceiver is further configured to receive, at a fourth time unit, the first information from the second apparatus, the first information indicating the first ACK or the first NACK for the first data, the first information being determined according to the first manner; the processing module is configured to retransmit, according to the first information, the first data or transmit second data by the transceiver; the transceiver is further configured to receive, at a fifth time unit, the second information from the second apparatus, the second information indicating the second ACK or the second NACK for the first data, the second information being determined according to the second manner, the second manner being based on HARQ and decoded by a physical layer; the first manner is different from the second manner, and the fifth time unit is later than the fourth time unit.

[0064] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the first manner includes prediction of HARQ based on AI.

[0065] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the first information is determined according to all or part of the first data.

[0066] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the second information is determined according to all of the first data.

[0067] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the processing module retransmits, according to the first information, the first data by the transceiver, including: in a case where the first information indicates the first NACK for the first data, retransmitting the first data by the transceiver and retaining the first data.

[0068] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the processing module is further configured to, in a case where the second information indicates the second ACK, not retain the first data.

[0069] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the processing module transmits, according to the first information, the second data by the transceiver, including: in a case where the first information indicates the first ACK for the first data, transmitting the second data by the transceiver and retaining the first data.

[0070] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible design of the communication apparatus, the processing module is further configured to, in a case where the second information indicates the second ACK, not retain the first data.

[0071] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible design, the transceiver module is further configured to receive third information from the second device, where the third information indicates the first retransmission number. The processing module is configured to retransmit the first data via the transceiver module according to the first information, including: retransmitting the first data via the transceiver module to the second device one or more times according to the first information and the third information, where the one or more times is the first retransmission number.

[0072] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible design, the transceiver module is further configured to receive fourth information from the second device, where the fourth information indicates the first ACK or the first NACK for the one or more times of retransmitting the first data; and the fourth information is determined according to the first manner.

[0073] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible design, the transceiver module is further configured to receive one or more pieces of fifth information from the second device, where each piece of the one or more pieces of fifth information indicates the first ACK or the first NACK for the one time of retransmitting the first data.

[0074] With reference to the fourth aspect above, in a possible design, the processing module is configured to retransmit the first data or transmit the second data via the transceiver module according to the first information, including: retransmitting the first data or transmitting the second data via the transceiver module in a first uplink time unit after the fourth time unit, where the uplink time unit is a time unit for transmitting uplink data; or retransmitting the first data or transmitting the second data in a first time unit after the fourth time unit.

[0075] A fifth aspect provides a communication device. The communication device includes a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory, and when the processor executes the instructions, the communication device performs the method in any of the aspects above. The communication device can be the second device in the first aspect, or in any of the possible designs of the first aspect, or a module (for example, a chip) applied to the second device. Alternatively, the communication device can be the first device in the second aspect, or in any of the possible designs of the second aspect, or a module (for example, a chip) applied to the first device.

[0076] In a possible design, the communication device further includes a memory configured to store computer instructions. Optionally, the processor and the memory are integrated together, or the processor and the memory are separately arranged.

[0077] In a possible design, the memory is coupled with the processor, and is outside the communication device.

[0078] In a sixth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus includes a processor and an interface circuit for communicating with modules outside the communication apparatus; the processor is configured to implement the method in any one of the preceding aspects by logic circuitry, or by running computer programs or instructions. The communication apparatus can be the second apparatus in the first aspect, or any possible implementation of the first aspect, or a module (for example, a chip) applied to the second apparatus. Alternatively, the communication apparatus can be the first apparatus in the second aspect, or any possible implementation of the second aspect, or a module (for example, a chip) applied to the first apparatus.

[0079] Alternatively, the interface circuit can be a code / data read-write interface circuit, which is configured to receive computer-executed instructions (the computer-executed instructions are stored in a memory, which can be read directly from the memory or can pass through other devices) and transmit the computer-executed instructions to the processor, so that the processor runs the computer-executed instructions to implement the method in any one of the preceding aspects.

[0080] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus further includes a memory configured to store computer programs or instructions. Optionally, the processor and the memory are integrated together, or the processor and the memory are separately arranged.

[0081] In a possible implementation, the memory is coupled to the processor and is outside the communication apparatus.

[0082] In some possible implementations, the communication apparatus can be a chip or a chip system.

[0083] In a seventh aspect, a computer readable storage medium is provided. The computer readable storage medium stores instructions that, when executed, cause the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect to be performed or implemented, or cause the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect to be performed or implemented.

[0084] In an eighth aspect, a computer program is provided. The computer program, when executed, causes the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect to be performed or implemented, or causes the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect to be performed or implemented.

[0085] In a ninth aspect, a communication apparatus (for example, the communication apparatus can be a chip or a chip system) is provided. The communication apparatus includes a processor configured to implement the functions involved in any one of the preceding aspects. In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus further includes a memory configured to store necessary program instructions and data. When the communication apparatus is a chip system, the communication apparatus can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0086] In a tenth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes a first device and a second device. The second device is configured to implement the method in the first aspect or in any of the possible designs of the first aspect, and the first device is configured to implement the method in the second aspect or in any of the possible designs of the second aspect.

[0087] The technical effects brought by any of the designs of the third aspect to the tenth aspect can be referred to the technical effects brought by different designs of the first aspect to the second aspect, which will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0088] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a base station indicating NACK or ACK based on a physical layer decoding result in a case of configuring time slot ratio;

[0089] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of interaction of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a first device retransmitting data or newly transmitting data according to first information provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of uplink transmission delay in different cases provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a structure of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0095] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, first, a brief introduction of the related technologies of the present application is given as follows.

[0096] 1. HARQ:

[0097] In the HARQ technology, after the sending end sends data to the receiving end for the first time, the transmission of the data occupies a HARQ process. After the receiving end receives the data, the receiving end performs physical layer decoding on the data. If the decoding is successful, the receiving end feeds back an ACK to the sending end, and the sending end determines, based on the ACK, that the data does not need to be retransmitted, and releases the maintenance of the HARQ process corresponding to the data. If the decoding fails, the receiving end feeds back a NACK to the sending end, and the sending end maintains the HARQ process corresponding to the data based on the NACK, and retransmits the data to the receiving end through the HARQ process corresponding to the data.

[0098] The data transmitted by the sending end for the first time can also be referred to as new transmission data or initial transmission data. The HARQ process can be uniquely identified by a HARQ process number.

[0099] In the HARQ technology, the sending end transmits information bits and a part of redundant bits when transmitting data. After receiving the data transmitted by the sending end, the receiving end retains the data in a HARQ buffer (hereinafter referred to as a HARQ buffer) corresponding to the HARQ process. If the sending end retransmits data subsequently, the receiving end combines the received retransmission data with the data in the HARQ buffer and decodes again. If the decoding is successful or the number of times of retransmission of the sending end reaches the maximum number of retransmissions and the decoding is still unsuccessful, the receiving end clears the HARQ buffer. In addition, the sending end also configures a HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process to buffer data corresponding to the HARQ process. If it is determined that the decoding of the receiving end is successful or the number of times of retransmission of the sending end reaches the maximum number of retransmissions and the decoding is still unsuccessful, the sending end clears the HARQ buffer.

[0100] The set of redundant bits each time the sending end retransmits data is referred to as a redundancy version (RV). The maximum number of retransmissions can be preconfigured by the receiving end or configured by the sending end to the receiving end.

[0101] In uplink (UL) HARQ, the sending end is a terminal and the receiving end is a base station. The UL HARQ is introduced below.

[0102] In the UL HARQ, the base station can indicate, by a new data indicator (NDI) in an uplink grant (UL Grant) included in downlink control information (DCI), whether the data scheduled by the terminal is new transmission or retransmission. Specifically, an NDI value is saved for a HARQ process. When dynamically scheduled, if the value of the NDI indicated by the base station changes compared with before (NDI toggled), the terminal can transmit new data by a new transport block (TB) this time, and if the value of the NDI indicated by the base station does not change (NDI not toggled), the terminal needs to retransmit data this time.

[0103] In the DCI, in addition to the NDI, other HARQ-related information is also included, such as uplink resource allocation information, HARQ process number, modulation and coding scheme (MCS) order, redundancy version, etc. In the DCI, some HARQ-related information can be as shown in Table 1:

[0104] Table 1

[0105] The DCI is sent through a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). In a long term evolution (LTE) system, in addition to sending DCI to indicate new transmission or retransmission, the base station can also send information indicating ACK or information indicating NACK through a physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel (PHICH) channel. The terminal can determine whether to perform new transmission or retransmission based on the feedback received through the PHICH channel. In a new radio (NR) system, the PHICH channel is cancelled, and the base station only indicates the terminal to perform new transmission or retransmission through the NDI in the DCI.

[0106] It can be understood that, since the terminal can be indicated to perform new transmission or retransmission through the NDI, whether the HARQ feedback is ACK or NACK can be reflected through the NDI. In other words, ACK or NACK can be indicated through the NDI.

[0107] In some communication systems, such as a half-duplex system, a time slot is divided into a time slot dedicated to uplink transmission (hereinafter referred to as an uplink time slot) and a time slot dedicated to downlink transmission (hereinafter referred to as a downlink time slot). The network side also configures a time slot ratio. Taking an uplink time slot to downlink time slot ratio of 1:4 as an example, the time slots in the time domain are arranged in the order of “1 uplink time slot + 4 downlink time slots”.

[0108] In the uplink HARQ technology, after the base station receives the uplink data, the response speed of starting to decode the data to feedback information indicating ACK or NACK is slow. After the terminal receives the information indicating ACK or NACK, when to perform new transmission or retransmission of the data can be limited by the time slot ratio. Therefore, the uplink transmission has a high latency. Moreover, if multiple retransmissions are required, each retransmission will be subject to the above constraints, making it difficult to guarantee the performance of the uplink transmission.

[0109] Taking 1:4 as an example, as shown in FIG. 1, the base station sends a DCI scheduling initial transmission data to the terminal in a downlink time slot, and the value of NDI carried in the DCI is 0. After receiving the DCI, the terminal waits for the first uplink time slot and transmits data through a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). After receiving the data transmitted by the terminal, the base station decodes the data and obtains a decoding result. After obtaining the decoding result, the base station sends a DCI to the terminal. If the decoding is successful, the value of NDI carried in the DCI is still 0, that is, ACK is indicated by no change of the value of NDI. If the decoding fails, the value of NDI carried in the DCI is 1, that is, NACK is indicated by flipping the value of NDI. After receiving the DCI, the terminal determines whether to newly transmit data or retransmit data according to the NDI. If the data is to be newly transmitted, the terminal clears the HARQ buffer; if the data is to be retransmitted, the terminal maintains the HARQ process and retains the data in the HARQ buffer. However, due to the time slot ratio restriction, the terminal cannot immediately newly transmit or retransmit the data, but needs to wait for the next uplink time slot to newly transmit or retransmit the data.

[0110] Based on the problems existing in the current uplink HARQ technology, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, device and system, which can reduce the uplink transmission delay while ensuring a certain decoding accuracy.

[0111] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, “ / ” represents a “or” relationship of the objects before and after the “ / ”. For example, A / B can represent A or B; “and / or” in the present application is only a description of the relationship of the associated objects, which represents that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, A and / or B, which can represent three cases of A alone, A and B together, and B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In addition, in the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, “multiple” means two or more than two. “At least one of the following” or the like means any combination of the items, including any combination of single item or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple. In addition, in order to clearly describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, “first”, “second”, and the like are used to distinguish the same items or similar items with basically the same function and effect. Those skilled in the art can understand that “first”, “second”, and the like do not limit the quantity and execution order, and “first”, “second”, and the like do not necessarily mean different. At the same time, in the embodiments of the present application, “exemplary” or “for example” is used to represent as an example, illustration or description. Any embodiment or design scheme described as “exemplary” or “for example” in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Rather, “exemplary” or “for example” is used to present the relevant concept in a specific manner, for understanding.

[0112] In the embodiments of the present application, “indication” can include direct indication and indirect indication, and can also include explicit indication and implicit indication. The information indicated by a certain information (such as the first indication information or the second indication information below) is referred to as to-be-indicated information, and there are many ways to indicate the to-be-indicated information in the specific implementation process, for example but not limited to, the to-be-indicated information can be directly indicated, such as the to-be-indicated information itself or the index of the to-be-indicated information. The to-be-indicated information can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, where the other information and the to-be-indicated information have an association relationship. The to-be-indicated information can also be indicated only by a part, and the other part of the to-be-indicated information is known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of a specific information can also be achieved by means of the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (for example, a protocol stipulates), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. At the same time, the common part of each information can be identified and uniformly indicated, so as to reduce the indication overhead caused by separately indicating the same information.

[0113] In addition, the specific indication manner can also be various existing indication manners, for example but not limited to, the indication manners described above and various combinations thereof, etc. The specific details of various indication manners can refer to the prior art, and will not be described herein. As known from the above, for example, when multiple information of the same type needs to be indicated, the indication manners of different information can be different. In the specific implementation process, the required indication manner can be selected according to the specific needs, and the selected indication manner is not limited by the embodiments of the application. In this way, the indication manners involved in the embodiments of the application should be understood as covering various methods that can enable the to-be-indicated party to know the to-be-indicated information.

[0114] It should be understood that the to-be-indicated information can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information and sent separately, and the sending period and / or sending occasion of the sub-information can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited by the embodiments of the application. The sending period and / or sending occasion of the sub-information can be predefined, for example, predefined according to a protocol, or configured by the sending end device by sending configuration information to the receiving end device.

[0115] In the embodiments of the application, “predefined”, “predefinition”, “preconfigured” or “preconfiguration” can be implemented by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables or other methods that can be used to indicate related information in the device, for example, can be burned in the device when the device is manufactured, and the specific implementation manner is not limited by the embodiments of the application. The “storage” can mean storage in one or more memories. The one or more memories can be separately arranged or integrated in the encoder or decoder, processor or communication device. The one or more memories can be partially separately arranged and partially integrated in the decoder, processor or communication device. The type of the memory can be any form of storage medium, and the embodiments of the application do not limit this.

[0116] The “protocol” involved in the embodiments of the application can refer to a protocol family in the communication field, a standard protocol similar to the protocol family frame structure, or a related protocol applied to a future communication system, and the embodiments of the application do not specifically limit this.

[0117] In the embodiments of the application, “when”, “in the case of”, “if” and the like all refer to that the device will make corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances, and are not limited by time, and do not require the device to have a judgment action when implemented, nor mean that there are other limitations.

[0118] In the embodiments of the present application, "sending information to (for example, the first device) can be understood as that the destination of the information is the first device. It can include directly or indirectly sending information to the first device. "Receiving information from (for example, the first device) can be understood as that the source of the information is the first device, and it can include directly or indirectly receiving information from the first device. The information can be processed between the source and the destination of the information transmission, for example, format change, etc., but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in the present application can be similarly understood, and will not be repeated here.

[0119] The technical solutions provided by the present application can be used in various communication systems. For example, a 4th generation (4G) mobile communication system, an LTE system, an NR system, a 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system and its evolution system, a half duplex system, a frequency division duplex (FDD) system, a time division duplex (TDD) system, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) system, a vehicle to everything (V2X) system, a system of mixed networking of LTE and NR, or a device-to-device (D2D) system, a machine to machine (M2M) communication system, an internet of things (IoT), a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, and other next generation communication systems, such as a 6th generation (6G) mobile communication system, etc. In addition, the term "system" can be replaced by "network".

[0120] It should be noted that the network architecture and service scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application. Those skilled in the art can know that, with the evolution of network architecture and the appearance of new service scenarios, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0121] Figure 2 shows a possible, non-limiting system diagram. As shown in Figure 2, the communication system 10 includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (e.g., 110a and 110b in Figure 2, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal (e.g., 120a-120j in Figure 2, collectively referred to as 120). Other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 2), etc., can also be included in the RAN 100. The terminal 120 is wirelessly connected to the RAN node 110. The RAN node 110 is connected to the core network 200 through wireless or wired means. The core network devices in the core network 200 and the RAN nodes 110 in the RAN 100 can be different physical devices, respectively, or can be the same physical device that integrates the core network logical functions and the radio access network logical functions, or can be a physical device that integrates part of the core network logical functions and part of the radio access network logical functions.

[0122] Optionally, the communication system 10 can also include the Internet 300. The Internet 300 can be connected to the core network 200 or the RAN 100.

[0123] The RAN 100 can be a 3GPP related cellular system. For example, a 4G, 5G mobile communication system, or a future-oriented evolved system (e.g., a 6G mobile communication system). The RAN 100 can also be an open radio access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. The RAN 100 can also be a communication system that combines two or more of the above systems.

[0124] The RAN node 110, which can also be referred to as an access network device, a RAN entity, or an access node, etc., forms part of the communication system, and is configured to facilitate wireless access to the communication system by terminals. The RAN nodes 110 in the communication system 10 can be of the same type or different types. In some scenarios, the roles of a RAN node 110 and a terminal 120 are relative. For example, the network element 120i in Figure 2 can be a helicopter or a drone, which can be configured to move as a mobile base station. For a terminal 120j accessing the RAN 100 via the network element 120i, the network element 120i is a base station; but for the base station 110a, the network element 120i is a terminal. Both the RAN nodes 110 and the terminals 120 are sometimes referred to as communication apparatuses. For example, the network elements 110a and 110b in Figure 2 can be understood as communication apparatuses with base station functionality, and the network elements 120a-120j can be understood as communication apparatuses with terminal functionality.

[0125] In a possible scenario, the RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a next generation base station in a 6th generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc. The RAN node can be a macro base station (e.g., 110a in Figure 2), a micro base station or an indoor station (e.g., 110b in Figure 2), a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, the RAN node can also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or a vehicle-mounted device, etc. For example, an access network device in a vehicle to everything (V2X) technology can be a road side unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of the RAN node in this application can also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). The RAN node in this application can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the RAN node.

[0126] In another possible scenario, a terminal is assisted by multiple RAN nodes to implement wireless access, and different RAN nodes respectively implement part of functions of a base station. For example, a RAN node can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU), etc. The CU and the DU can be separately arranged, or can be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna processing unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0127] In different systems, the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU can also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an ORAN system, the CU can also be referred to as an O-CU (open CU), the DU can also be referred to as an O-DU, the CU-CP can also be referred to as an O-CU-CP, the CU-UP can also be referred to as an O-CU-UP, and the RU can also be referred to as an O-RU. For the convenience of description, the CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU are taken as examples for description in this application. Any one of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0128] A terminal can also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a mobile terminal, etc. The terminal can be widely applied to various scenarios. For example, device-to-device (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, automatic driving, remote medical treatment, smart power grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a wearable device, a vehicle, a drone, a helicopter, an airplane, a ship, a robot, a mechanical arm, a smart home device, etc. Embodiments of this application do not limit the device form of the terminal.

[0129] It should be noted that the names of messages between various network elements in the following embodiments of the present application or the names of parameters in the messages are only examples, and other names can also be used in actual implementation, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 3, a communication method is provided in the embodiments of the present application. In FIG. 3, the first device and the second device are taken as an example to illustrate the execution subject of the interaction, but the present application is not limited to the execution subject of the interaction. For example, the first device in FIG. 3 can also be a module applied to the first device, such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor, and can also be a logic node, a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the first device. The second device in FIG. 3 can also be a module applied to the second device, such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor, and can also be a logic node, a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the second device.

[0131] In the embodiments of the present application, the first device can be a RAN node, and the second device can be a terminal.

[0132] As shown in FIG. 3, the communication method includes steps S301-S303:

[0133] S301, the first device sends first data to the second device. Correspondingly, the second device receives the first data from the first device in a first time unit.

[0134] The first data can be initial transmission data or retransmission data. For ease of understanding, the following method embodiments take the first data as initial transmission data as an example for introduction. If the first data is retransmission data, the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application can refer to the introduction of the scheme involving retransmission of the first data in the following method embodiments.

[0135] When the first device sends the first data to the second device, the first device sends the first data to the second device together with redundancy information.

[0136] The unit of the time unit is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For example, it can be a symbol, a mini-slot, a slot, a sub-frame, etc.

[0137] S302, the second device determines first information and second information according to the first data. The first information indicates a first ACK or a first NACK for the first data, and the second information indicates a second ACK or a second NACK for the first data; the first information is determined according to a first manner, and the second information is determined according to a second manner, the first manner is different from the second manner, and the second manner is based on HARQ and decoded by a physical layer.

[0138] In the embodiments of the present application, the second device determines, according to the first manner, that the time for determining the first information is less than the time for determining the second information according to the second manner.

[0139] In S302, the first manner can include prediction of HARQ. In one possible implementation, the first manner can include prediction of HARQ based on AI, for example, the second device enables an AI model to output a prediction of a decoding result of the first data. In another possible implementation, the first manner can be prediction of HARQ based on a partial data physical layer decoding result of the first data. For example, the second device decodes a first half of the first data, and if the first half of the first data is successfully decoded at the physical layer, it is predicted that the first data is successfully decoded, and if the first half of the first data fails to be decoded at the physical layer, it is predicted that the first data fails to be decoded. The embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on the first manner.

[0140] If the first manner is that the AI model outputs a prediction of a decoding result of the first data, the embodiments of the present application do not make limitations on the input of the AI model. For example, the input data of the AI model can include at least one of the following: all or part of the first data, data similar to the first data in historical data received by the second device (for example, data having the same characteristics as the first data such as a service type, an encoding manner, or a size), historical data sent by the first device to the second device before sending the first data, and the like.

[0141] If the first manner is that the AI model outputs a prediction of a decoding result of the first data, the AI model can be configured in the second device, for example, the second device includes an AI module, and the AI module can predict a decoding result of data. Alternatively, the AI model can be configured in another device, for example, the AI model is configured by a network element in a core network, and the second device requests the network element to predict a decoding result of the first data.

[0142] Further, the second device determines the first information based on the prediction of HARQ by the first manner. If the second device predicts, by the first manner, that the first data is successfully decoded, the first information determined by the first device indicates a first ACK for the first data. If the second device predicts, by the first manner, that the first data fails to be decoded, the first information determined by the first device indicates a first NACK for the first data.

[0143] The embodiments of the present application do not limit how the first information indicates the first ACK or the first NACK. In one possible implementation, the first information can indicate the first ACK or the first NACK by a bit value. For example, assuming that the first information is 1 bit, the protocol defines or pre-agrees that when the value of the bit is 1, the first information indicates the first ACK; and when the value of the bit is 0, the first information indicates the first NACK. It can be understood that the bit value of the first information is only an example, and in actual application, other bit values can also be used to indicate the first ACK or the first NACK. In another possible implementation, the first information can indicate the first ACK or the first NACK by a specific character. For example, assuming that the protocol defines or pre-agrees that when the first information includes a character a, the first information indicates the first ACK; and when the first information includes a character b, the first information indicates the first NACK.

[0144] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, the meanings represented by the bit values of various information and parameters are only examples, and in actual application, other bit values can also be used to indicate corresponding meanings.

[0145] In S302, the second manner is based on HARQ and is decoded by a physical layer, that is, the first device performs physical layer decoding on all the first data to obtain a decoding result of the first data: decoding success or failure.

[0146] Further, the second device determines the second information based on the decoding of the first data by the second manner. If the second device determines that the first data is decoded successfully by the second manner, the second information determined by the first device indicates a second ACK for the first data. If the second device determines that the first data is decoded unsuccessfully by the second manner, the second information determined by the first device indicates a second NACK for the first data.

[0147] The embodiments of the present application do not limit how the second information indicates the second ACK or the second NACK. In one possible implementation, the second information can indicate the second ACK or the second NACK by a bit value. For example, assuming that the second information is 1 bit, the protocol defines or pre-agrees that the value of the bit is 1 to indicate the second ACK, and the value of the bit is 0 to indicate the second NACK. It can be understood that the bit value of the second information is only illustrative, and in actual application, the second ACK or the second NACK can also be indicated by other bit values. In another possible implementation, the second ACK or the second NACK can be indicated by whether the bit value of the second information changes. For example, assuming that the second information is 1 bit, the value of the bit is 0 by default, if the second device determines that the first data decoding is successful by the second manner, the value of the bit is flipped to 1, and if the second device determines that the first data decoding fails, the value of the bit remains unchanged. In yet another possible implementation, the second information can indicate the second ACK or the second NACK by a specific character or parameter. For example, assuming that the protocol defines or pre-agrees that the second information includes character / parameter a to indicate the second ACK, and the second information includes character / parameter b to indicate the second NACK.

[0148] In S303, the second device determines the first information and sends the first information to the first device in a second time unit. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first information in a fourth time unit. The time used from receiving the first data by the second device to sending the first information by the second device can be very short. For example, the second time unit can be the first time unit or the first downlink time unit after the first time unit (the downlink time unit is a time unit used for transmitting downlink data), or the second time unit can be the same as the first time unit.

[0149] After determining the second information, the second device sends the second information to the first device in a third time unit, that is, the third time unit is later than the second time unit. Correspondingly, the first device receives the second information in a fifth time unit, and the fifth time unit is later than the fourth time unit.

[0150] After receiving the first information, the first device retransmits the first data or transmits second data according to the first information. Specifically, if the first information indicates the first NACK for the first data, the first device retransmits the first data according to the first information. If the first information indicates the first ACK for the first data, the first device transmits second data different from the first data according to the first information, that is, the first device starts new transmission.

[0151] And, the first device determines, according to the first information, that the first device continues to maintain the HARQ process corresponding to the first data and reserves the first data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process when the first device retransmits the first data or transmits the second data. The HARQ buffer can be located in a media access control (MAC) layer.

[0152] When the first device retransmits the first data or transmits the second data according to the first information, if the communication system in which the first device is located is a half-duplex system in which time units are divided into uplink time units and downlink time units (an uplink time unit is a time unit for transmitting uplink data, and a downlink time unit is a time unit for transmitting downlink data), the first device can retransmit the first data or transmit the second data in the first uplink time unit after the fourth time unit. Alternatively, if the communication system in which the first device is located is a sub-band full-duplex or frequency-division duplex system in which time units are not divided into uplink time units or downlink time units (or each time unit can be used for transmitting uplink data or downlink data), the first device can retransmit the first data or transmit the second data in the first time unit after the fourth time unit. Similarly, if the first device retransmits the first data or transmits other data according to other information in the method embodiments described below, the first device can retransmit the first data or transmit the other data in the first uplink time unit after the time unit in which the other information is received, or the first device can retransmit the first data or transmit the other data in the first time unit after the time unit in which the new first information is received.

[0153] If the first device retransmits the first data according to the first information, after the second device receives the retransmitted first data, the second device combines the first data and the retransmitted second data to obtain new first information again by using the first method. The specific implementation can be referred to the description of S302 above. At this time, the accuracy of the prediction of the first method for the HARQ can increase. Assuming that the accuracy of the prediction of the first method for the HARQ is x0 based on the first data in S302, at this time, the accuracy of the prediction of the first method for the HARQ is x1 based on the first data and the retransmitted first data, and it can be considered that x1>x0. After the first device receives the new first information, the first device retransmits the first data or transmits other data according to the new first information. The specific implementation can be referred to the description of the first device retransmitting the first data or transmitting the second data according to the first information above.

[0154] If the second device determines that the new first information still indicates the first NACK for the first data, the first device continues to repeat the process of retransmitting the first data according to the first information, and the second device continues to repeat the process of obtaining the first information again according to the retransmitted first data, until the second device determines the first information indicating the ACK for the first data, or the number of times of retransmitting the first data by the first device reaches the maximum number of retransmissions. If the number of times of retransmitting the first data by the first device reaches the maximum number of retransmissions, the first device releases the maintenance of the HARQ process corresponding to the first data, and clears the HARQ buffer, and the second device also clears the HARQ buffer.

[0155] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, if the time unit in the communication system in which the first device is located is divided into uplink time units and downlink time units, and the ratio of the uplink time unit to the downlink time unit is 1:4. The second device sends the DCI scheduling the first data to the first device, and the first device transmits the first data according to the DCI. After the second device receives the first data in the first time unit, the second device can immediately determine the first information by the first method, and send the first information to the first device. After the first device receives the first information in the fourth time unit, the first device retransmits the first data or transmits the second data in the first time unit after the fourth time unit. Then, the first device performs uplink transmission, and the second device feeds back the information indicating the first ACK or the first NACK for the transmitted uplink data, and the process is sequentially repeated.

[0156] If the second device receives the retransmitted first data, and the second device has not determined the second information by the second method, the second device can determine the second information by the second method in combination with the first data and the retransmitted first data. For example, the second device can merge the first data and the retransmitted first data in the HARQ buffer, and perform physical layer decoding on the merged data.

[0157] After the first device receives the second information, the first device can determine whether to continue to maintain the maintenance of the HARQ process corresponding to the first data according to the second information. Specifically, in the case where the second information indicates the NACK for the first data, if the number of times of retransmitting the first data by the first device has not reached the maximum number of retransmissions, the first device continues to maintain the HARQ process corresponding to the first data, and retains the first data in the HARQ buffer. If the number of times of retransmitting the first data by the first device has reached the maximum number of retransmissions, the first device releases the maintenance of the HARQ process corresponding to the first data, and clears the first data in the HARQ buffer. In the case where the second information indicates the ACK for the first data, the first device releases the maintenance of the HARQ process corresponding to the first data, and clears the first data in the HARQ buffer.

[0158] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, after the second device receives the first data from the first device, the second device can determine two feedback information for the first data through the second mode and the first mode. The first information obtained based on the first mode is sent to the first device before the second information obtained through the second mode, so that the first device can first transmit or retransmit data based on the first information. Compared with the existing HARQ mechanism, the first device can only determine whether to transmit or retransmit based on the second information, and the method provided in the embodiments of the present application can reduce the time delay. Moreover, if the feedback information obtained through the first mode does not correctly reflect the decoding result of the first data, the first device can also execute corresponding behavior according to the feedback information obtained through the second mode, avoiding the problem that only determining whether to retransmit or transmit based on the first information may cause the first data to be unable to be correctly transmitted to the second device. Therefore, based on the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the time delay of uplink transmission can be reduced while ensuring normal transmission of the first data. In addition, the accuracy and processing time delay can be balanced, and the accuracy and processing time delay are taken into account.

[0159] The gain analysis of the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application is given below in combination with an example. Assuming that the first device has 1000 TBs to be transmitted, the block error rate (BLER) is 90%, and in the HARQ mechanism based on the feedback of NACK or ACK through physical layer decoding result, 900 TBs can be transmitted successfully at a time. Assuming that the reliability is improved by one 9 each time of retransmission, 90 TBs can be transmitted successfully after retransmission once, and so on. The number of TBs that need to be retransmitted twice and three times is 9 and 0.9 (about 1).

[0160] Assuming that the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application is applied to the application scenario of the example (i.e., the first device has 1000 TBs to be transmitted, and the BLER is 90%), the accuracy of the prediction of the first mode to the HARQ is considered to be 95%, 90%, 85% and 80% respectively, and the number of TBs transmitted once and different retransmission times is shown in Table 2 as follows:

[0161] Table 2

[0162] Based on the parameters shown in Table 2, assuming that the second device feeds back ACK or NACK based on the physical layer decoding result, the processing and packet assembly delay (i.e., the delay of performing physical layer decoding on the data and feeding back NACK or ACK based on the physical layer decoding result after receiving the data) is 1 slot, the second device feeds back the first ACK or the first NACK in the first manner, the processing and packet assembly delay (i.e., the delay of determining the first information and sending the first information after receiving the data) is 0 ms, and the first device processing and packet assembly delay (i.e., the delay of the first device receiving the NACK / first NACK to retransmit the data) is 3 slots, the average delay of each TB when transmitting 1000 TBs is shown in FIG. 5. As can be seen, compared with the existing mechanism of feeding back ACK or NACK based on the physical layer decoding result, the scheme provided by the embodiments of the present application, which determines the first information through the first manner and feeds back the first NACK or the first ACK through the first information, has better delay gain in the case of time slot ratio limitation and no time slot ratio limitation, and the delay decreases more obviously in the case of no time slot ratio limitation.

[0163] The following describes some optional schemes provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0164] Alternatively, the first device can also determine to retransmit the first data or transmit other data according to the second information. Specifically, in the case that the second information indicates the second NACK for the first data, if the number of times of retransmitting the first data by the first device does not reach the maximum number of retransmissions, the first device can retransmit the data. In the case that the second information indicates the second ACK for the first data, the first device can start new transmission. Alternatively, the first device can also start new transmission in the case that the second information indicates the second NACK for the first data. For example, if the first device determines that it has retransmitted the first data for a certain number of times, the first device can start new transmission in the case that the second information indicates the second NACK for the first data.

[0165] Alternatively, the first information or the second information can be carried in DCI. For example, the first information or the second information can be parameters in DCI Format0_0 or DCI Format0_1. In one possible example, the first information can be Pre_NDI in DCI Format0_0 or DCI Format0_1, and the second information can be Phy_NDI in DCI Format0_0 or DCI Format0_1 (it can be understood that the names of the first information or the second information are only illustrative. In actual application, the first information or the second information can also be other names). Alternatively, the first information or the second information can also be carried in other messages, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit the messages carrying the first information or the second information.

[0166] Optionally, the message carrying the first information or the second information can further comprise at least one of the following information: HARQ process number, redundancy version, MCS, or uplink resource allocation information, etc.

[0167] Optionally, the second device can further send the sixth information when sending the first information at the second time unit. The sixth information indicates that the second device has not completed decoding the first data. After receiving the first information and the sixth information, the first device can determine, according to the sixth information, to continue maintaining the HARQ process corresponding to the first data, to keep the first data in the HARQ buffer, and to determine, according to the first information, whether to retransmit the first data or to transmit the second data.

[0168] Optionally, the second device can send the sixth information together when sending the first information or new first information to the first device before determining the second information by the second manner, or in each time when sending the first information to the first device.

[0169] The embodiments of the present application do not limit how the sixth information indicates that the second device has not completed decoding the first data. In one possible implementation, the sixth information can indicate that the second device has not completed decoding the first data by a bit value. For example, assuming that the sixth information is 1 bit, the protocol defines or pre-agrees that the value of the bit is 0, which indicates that the second device has not completed decoding the first data (it can be understood that the bit value of the second information is only illustrative, and in actual application, other bit values can also be used to indicate the second ACK or the second NACK). In another possible implementation, the sixth information can be a specific character / parameter, which represents that the second device has not completed decoding the first data. For example, assuming that the protocol defines or pre-agrees that a specific character / parameter is included in the DCI, which represents that the second device has not completed decoding the first data.

[0170] Optionally, if the first device retransmits the first data (which can be any time of retransmission of the first data), the second device determines new first information according to the retransmitted first data, and when the second device determines the new first information, the second device has determined the second information by the first manner. The second device can carry the second information and the new first information in the same message and send to the first device. In this case, the first device determines whether to continue maintaining the HARQ process and whether to retransmit the first data or to transmit other data according to the second information and the new first information.

[0171] Specifically, in the case that the second information indicates the second NACK for the first data, and the new first information indicates the first NACK for the first data, if the number of times of retransmission of the first data by the first device does not reach the maximum number of retransmission times, the first device continues to maintain the HARQ process, keeps the data in the HARQ buffer, and retransmits the first data; if the number of times of retransmission of the first data by the first device has reached the maximum number of retransmission times, the first device releases the maintenance of the HARQ process, clears the data in the HARQ buffer, and starts new transmission. In the case that the second information indicates the second NACK for the first data, and the new first information indicates the first ACK for the first data, the first device continues to maintain the HARQ process, keeps the data in the HARQ buffer, and starts new transmission. In the case that the second information indicates the second ACK for the first data, and the new first information indicates the first NACK or the first ACK for the first data, the first device releases the maintenance of the HARQ process, clears the data in the HARQ buffer, and starts new transmission.

[0172] It can be understood that, for the first device, it can continue to maintain the HARQ process and keep the data in the HARQ buffer when receiving the sixth information, or continue to maintain the HARQ process and keep the data in the HARQ buffer when the second information indicates the second NACK for the first data, and therefore, for the first device, the sixth information and the second information indicating the second NACK for the first data can be the same information. Based on this, optionally, the second device can represent the third information and the second information indicating the second NACK for the first data in the same manner.

[0173] In a possible implementation, the sixth information and the second information can be represented by the same bit. When the value of the bit is a certain value / default value, or the value of the bit does not change, it indicates that the second device has not completed decoding of the first data, or indicates the second NACK for the first data; when the value of the bit is another certain value, or the value of the bit changes, such as the value of the bit flips, it indicates the second ACK for the first data.

[0174] For example, it is assumed that the DCI includes Pre_NDI and Phy_NDI, both of which are 1 bit. When the value of Pre_NDI is 0, it indicates the first NACK; when the value of Pre_NDI is 1, it indicates the first ACK; when the value of Phy_NDI is 0, it indicates the second NACK or that the second device has not completed decoding of the first data; and when the value of Phy_NDI flips to 1, it indicates the second ACK.

[0175] In this example, the first device receives the DCI, and according to the different values of Pre_NDI and Phy_NDI, the corresponding behaviors performed by the first device can be as shown in Table 3 and Table 4:

[0176] Table 3

[0177] Table 4

[0178] In this example, the values of Pre_NDI and Phy_NDI are only examples, and in actual applications, other bit values can also be used to indicate the corresponding meanings. For example, Pre_NDI and Phy_NDI can be 2 bits, when the value of Pre_NDI is 00, it indicates the first NACK, when the value of Pre_NDI is 01, it indicates the first ACK, when the value of Phy_NDI is 00, it indicates the second NACK or the second device has not completed decoding the first data, and when the value of Phy_NDI is flipped to 11, it indicates the second ACK.

[0179] Optionally, if the first information determined by the second device through the first manner in S302 indicates the first NACK for the first data, the second device can further determine the first retransmission number according to the first data. The first retransmission number is the predicted number of times that the first device needs to retransmit the first data.

[0180] Optionally, the first retransmission number can be determined according to the first manner, for example, the AI model can be used to output the prediction of the number of times that the first device needs to retransmit the first data.

[0181] If the second device determines the first retransmission number, in S303, the second device can send a message carrying the third information and the first information to the first device. The third information is used to indicate the first retransmission number. For example, the third information can be the predicted retransmission number parameter in the DCI.

[0182] After receiving the third information, the first device retransmits the first data to the second device one or more times according to the first retransmission number. For example, if the third information indicates that the first retransmission number is three, after receiving the third information, the first device directly retransmits the first data to the second device three times. Correspondingly, the second device receives the first data retransmitted one or more times (for the convenience of description, if not specified, the first data retransmitted one or more times in the following description refers to the first data retransmitted by the first device according to the first retransmission number).

[0183] In a possible implementation, after the second device receives the retransmitted first data for a first number of times, the second device determines fourth information according to the one or more times of retransmitted first data. The fourth information indicates a first ACK or a first NACK for the one or more times of retransmitted first data.

[0184] The fourth information is determined by the first manner. For example, the AI model outputs a prediction of a decoding result of the first data according to the one or more times of retransmitted data. The fourth information can refer to the description of the first information.

[0185] After the first device receives the fourth information, the first device retransmits the first data or transmits other data according to the fourth information. Specifically, refer to the description of the first device retransmitting the first data or transmitting other data according to the first information in S303.

[0186] Optionally, if the second device determines the second information (for example, the second device determines the second information by combining the first data and the retransmitted first data) during the first device transmitting the one or more times of retransmitted first data, the second device can send the second information to the first device together with the fourth information. After the first device receives the fourth information and the second information, the first device retransmits the first data or transmits other data according to the fourth information and the second information. Specifically, refer to the description of the first device retransmitting the first data or transmitting other data according to the second information and the first information in S303.

[0187] Optionally, if the second device determines the second information after receiving the retransmitted first data, the second device can directly send the second information to the first device. If the second information indicates a second ACK for the first data, the first device can stop retransmitting the first data, release the maintenance of the HARQ process corresponding to the first data, clear the data in the HARQ buffer, and start new transmission. If the second information indicates a second NACK for the first data, the first device can continue to retransmit the first data according to the first number of times.

[0188] Optionally, if the second device still does not determine the second information after receiving the one or more times of retransmitted first data, the second device can send the sixth information to the first device together with the fourth information. After the first device receives the sixth information and the fourth information, the first device retransmits the first data or transmits other data according to the fourth information and the sixth information. Specifically, refer to the description of the first device retransmitting the first data or transmitting other data according to the sixth information and the first information in S303.

[0189] In another possible implementation, the second device determines the fifth information according to each of the one or more retransmissions of the first data after receiving the retransmission of the first data, and the fifth information indicates the first ACK or the first NACK for the retransmission of the first data.

[0190] That is, the second device determines one or more fifth information, and the number of the fifth information is the same as the first number of retransmissions. The second device sends the fifth information to the first device after determining the fifth information each time. The first device can retransmit the first data or transmit other data according to the last received fifth information. For details, refer to the description of the first device retransmitting the first data or transmitting other data according to the first information in S303.

[0191] The fifth information is determined by the first manner. For example, the AI model outputs the prediction of the decoding result of each retransmission of the first data according to each of the one or more retransmissions of the first data. The fifth information can also be understood as new first information. For details, refer to the description of the first information.

[0192] Optionally, if the second device determines the second information when determining the fifth information, the second device can send the second information to the first device together with the last fifth information. The first device receives the last fifth information and the second information, and retransmits the first data or transmits other data according to the last fifth information and the second information. For details, refer to the description of the first device retransmitting the first data or transmitting other data according to the second information and the first information in S303.

[0193] Optionally, if the second device determines the second information before the first device retransmits the first data for the first number of retransmissions, the second device can send the second information to the first device together with the last fifth information. If the second information indicates the second ACK for the first data, the first device can stop retransmitting the first data, release the maintenance of the HARQ process corresponding to the first data, clear the data in the HARQ buffer, and start new transmission. If the second information indicates the second NACK for the first data, the first device can continue to retransmit the first data according to the first number of retransmissions.

[0194] Optionally, if the second device determines the fifth information this time, but the second information has not been determined, the second device can send the sixth information to the first device together with the fifth information this time. If the fifth information this time is the last fifth information, after receiving the sixth information and the fifth information this time, the first device retransmits the first data or transmits other data according to the fifth information and the sixth information. For details, refer to the description of the first device retransmitting the first data or transmitting other data according to the sixth information and the first information in S303. If the fifth information this time is not the last fifth information, after receiving the sixth information and the fifth information this time, the first device continues to maintain the HARQ process corresponding to the first data, retains the data in the HARQ buffer, and continues to retransmit the fifth data according to the first retransmission number.

[0195] The above describes the solutions provided by the embodiments of the application from the perspective of the interaction between the devices. Accordingly, the embodiments of the application also provide a communication device for implementing the above methods. The communication device can be the first device, the second device, a device containing the first device or the second device, or a component that can be used for the first device or the second device.

[0196] It can be understood that, to implement the above functions, the communication device contains the hardware structure and / or software module for performing the corresponding functions. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in the present application, the application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is implemented in hardware or computer software driven hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the application.

[0197] The embodiments of the application can divide the functions of the communication device according to the above method embodiments, for example, each function module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be implemented in the form of hardware or software function module. It should be noted that the division of the modules in the embodiments of the application is illustrative, and is only a logical function division. Actual implementation can have another division manner.

[0198] FIG. 6 shows a structural diagram of a communication apparatus 600. The communication apparatus 600 includes a transceiver module 601 and a processing module 602. The processing module 602, which can also be referred to as a processing unit 602, is configured to implement processing functions. The transceiver module 601, which can also be referred to as a transceiver unit 601, is configured to implement receiving and transmitting functions. Optionally, the communication apparatus 600 can further include a storage module 603.

[0199] For example, in a possible design, the transceiver module 601 is configured to receive, at a first time unit, first data from a first apparatus. The processing module 602 is configured to determine, according to the first data, first information, where the first information indicates a first ACK or a first NACK for the first data, and the first information is determined according to a first manner. The second manner is based on HARQ and decoding by a physical layer. The processing module 602 is further configured to determine, according to the first data, second information, where the second information indicates a second ACK or a second NACK for the first data, and the second information is determined according to a second manner. The first manner is different from the second manner. The transceiver module 601 is further configured to send, at a second time unit, the first information to the first apparatus, and send, at a third time unit, the second information to the first apparatus, where the third time unit is later than the second time unit.

[0200] For example, in a possible design, the transceiver module 601 is configured to send, to a second apparatus, first data. The transceiver module 601 is further configured to receive, at a fourth time unit, first information from the second apparatus, where the first information indicates a first ACK or a first NACK for the first data, and the first information is determined according to a first manner. The processing module 602 is configured to retransmit, by the transceiver module 601, the first data or transmit second data according to the first information. The transceiver module 601 is further configured to receive, at a fifth time unit, second information from the second apparatus, where the second information indicates a second ACK or a second NACK for the first data, and the second information is determined according to a second manner. The second manner is based on HARQ and decoding by a physical layer. The first manner is different from the second manner, and the fifth time unit is later than the fourth time unit.

[0201] For example, in a possible design, the transceiver module 601 is configured to send, to a second apparatus, first data. The transceiver module 601 is further configured to receive, at a fourth time unit, first information from the second apparatus, where the first information indicates a first ACK or a first NACK for the first data, and the first information is determined according to a first manner. The processing module 602 is configured to retransmit, by the transceiver module 601, the first data or transmit second data according to the first information. The transceiver module 601 is further configured to receive, at a fifth time unit, second information from the second apparatus, where the second information indicates a second ACK or a second NACK for the first data, and the second information is determined according to a second manner. The second manner is based on HARQ and decoding by a physical layer. The first manner is different from the second manner, and the fifth time unit is later than the fourth time unit.

[0202] For example, in a possible design, the transceiver module 601 is configured to send, to a second apparatus, first data. The transceiver module 601 is further configured to receive, at a fourth time unit, first information from the second apparatus, where the first information indicates a first ACK or a first NACK for the first data, and the first information is determined according to a first manner. The processing module 602 is configured to retransmit, by the transceiver module 601, the first data or transmit second data according to the first information. The transceiver module 601 is further configured to receive, at a fifth time unit, second information from the second apparatus, where the second information indicates a second ACK or a second NACK for the first data, and the second information is determined according to a second manner. The second manner is based on HARQ and decoding by a physical layer. The first manner is different from the second manner, and the fifth time unit is later than the fourth time unit.

[0203] The various units in FIG. 6, if implemented in the form of software function modules and sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application essentially or say the parts that make contributions to the prior art or the whole or part of the technical solutions can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present application. The storage medium storing the computer software product includes: a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and various media that can store program codes.

[0204] In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device 600 is presented in the form of dividing various function modules in an integrated manner. The "module" here can refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a circuit, a processor and a memory executing one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and / or other devices that can provide the above functions.

[0205] FIG. 7 shows a structural schematic diagram of another possible communication device. It can be understood that the communication device 700 includes necessary means such as modules, units, elements, circuits, or interfaces, etc., which are properly configured together to execute the present solution. The communication device 700 can be the first device or the second device in the above method embodiments, or can be a component (such as a chip) of these devices, to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. The communication device 700 includes one or more processors 711. The processor 711 can be a general purpose processor, a dedicated processor, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of programs of the present application solution, etc. For example, it can be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as the first device, the second device, or the chip, etc.), execute software programs, and process data of the software programs.

[0206] The processor 711 can be a single-core processor or a multi-core processor. The processor 711 here can include, but is not limited to, at least one of: a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processing (DSP) processor, a microcontroller unit (MCU), or an artificial intelligence processor, and the like, each of which can include one or more cores for executing software instructions to perform calculations or processing.

[0207] Optionally, in one design, the processor 711 can include a program 713 (which can also be referred to as code or instructions) that can be run on the processor 711 to cause the communication apparatus 700 to perform the methods described in the above embodiments. In another possible design, the communication apparatus 700 includes a circuit (not shown in FIG. 7).

[0208] Optionally, the communication apparatus 700 can include one or more memories 712 having a program 714 (which can also be referred to as code or instructions) stored thereon, which can be run on the processor 711 to cause the communication apparatus 700 to perform the methods described in the above embodiments.

[0209] The memory 712 can be, for example, a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM), or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, a magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory can exist independently of the processor, and be connected to the processor via a circuit. The memory can also be integrated with the processor.

[0210] Optionally, the processor 711 and / or the memory 712 can include an AI module 717, 718 for implementing AI-related functions. The AI module can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. For example, the AI module can include a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) module. For example, the AI module can be a near-real-time RIC or a non-real-time RIC.

[0211] Optionally, the processor 711 and / or the memory 712 can also store data. The processor and the memory can be separately arranged or integrated together.

[0212] Optionally, the communication apparatus 700 can also include a transceiver 715 and / or an antenna 716. The processor 711 can also be referred to as a processing unit, which controls the communication apparatus (e.g., the first apparatus or the second apparatus). The transceiver 715 can also be referred to as a transceiving unit, a transceiver, a transceiving circuit, or a transceiver, which implements the transceiving function of the communication apparatus through the antenna 716.

[0213] In a specific implementation, as an example, the communication apparatus 700 can also include an output device and an input device (not shown in FIG. 7). The output device communicates with the processor 711 and displays information in various ways. For example, the output device can be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector, etc. The input device communicates with the processor 711 and receives user input in various ways. For example, the input device can be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, a sensor device, etc.

[0214] The communication apparatus 600 or the communication apparatus 700 described above can also be referred to as a communication device, which can be a general-purpose device or a special-purpose device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the type of the communication apparatus 600 or the communication apparatus 700.

[0215] In addition, the constituent structures shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 do not constitute a limitation on the communication apparatus. The communication apparatus 600 or the communication apparatus 700 can include more or fewer components than those shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, or combine certain components, or different component arrangements.

[0216] In a simple embodiment, those skilled in the art can conceive that the communication apparatus 600 shown in FIG. 6 can take the form of the communication apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7.

[0217] Optionally, the functions / implementation procedures of the transceiver module 601 and the processing module 602 in FIG. 6 can be implemented by invoking the computer-executed instructions stored in the memory 712 by the processor 711 in the communication apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7. Alternatively, the functions / implementation procedures of the processing module 602 in FIG. 6 can be implemented by invoking the computer-executed instructions stored in the memory 712 by the processor 711 in the communication apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7, and the functions / implementation procedures of the transceiver module 601 in FIG. 6 can be implemented by the transceiver 715 and / or the antenna 716 in the communication apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7.

[0218] It should be understood that one or more of the above modules or units can be implemented in software, hardware or a combination of both. When any of the above modules or units is implemented in software, the software exists in the form of computer program instructions and is stored in a memory, and a processor can be used to execute the program instructions and implement the above method procedures. The processor can be built in a SoC or an ASIC, or be a separate semiconductor chip. The processor further includes a core for executing software instructions to perform operations or processing, and can further include necessary hardware accelerators, such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a logic circuit for implementing special logic operations.

[0219] When any of the above modules or units is implemented in hardware, the hardware can be any one or any combination of a CPU, a microprocessor, a DSP chip, an MCU, an artificial intelligence processor, an ASIC, a SoC, an FPGA, a PLD, a special digital circuit, a hardware accelerator, or a non-integrated discrete device, which can run necessary software or be independent of software to execute the above method procedures.

[0220] Optionally, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication apparatus (for example, the communication apparatus can be a chip or a chip system), which comprises a processor configured to implement the method in any of the above method embodiments. In a possible design, the communication apparatus further comprises a memory. The memory is configured to store necessary program instructions and data, and the processor can invoke the program instructions stored in the memory to instruct the communication apparatus to execute the method in any of the above method embodiments. Of course, the memory can also not be in the communication apparatus. When the communication apparatus is a chip system, the communication apparatus can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices, and the embodiments of the present application do not make a specific limitation in this regard.

[0221] Optionally, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer readable storage medium, which stores computer programs or instructions, and when the computer programs or instructions are run on a communication device, the communication device can execute the method according to any of the method embodiments or any implementation manner thereof.

[0222] Optionally, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product, which stores computer programs or instructions, and when the computer programs or instructions are run on a communication device, the communication device can execute the method according to any of the method embodiments or any implementation manner thereof.

[0223] Optionally, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication system, which comprises the first device according to the method embodiments and the second device according to the method embodiments.

[0224] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center through wired (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode. The computer readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or data storage device integrated with one or more servers, data centers, etc. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (such as a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (such as a solid state drive (SSD)), etc.

[0225] Although the application has been described in connection with the embodiments thereof with reference to the various drawings, it will be understood that other variations and modifications of the details, and specific embodiments disclosed can be effected without departing from the application. In its broadest form, the application comprises the combinations of features of the application as described hereinabove. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit can fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0226] Although the application has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the application following, in general, the principles of the application and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the application pertains. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: receiving first data from a first device in a first time unit; determining first information and second information according to the first data; the first information indicates a first acknowledgement (ACK) or a first negative acknowledgement (NACK) for the first data, and the second information indicates a second ACK or a second NACK for the first data; the first information is determined according to a first manner, and the second information is determined according to a second manner, the first manner being different from the second manner, and the second manner being based on a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) and being decoded by a physical layer; sending the first information to the first device in a second time unit; sending the second information to the first device in a third time unit, the third time unit being later than the second time unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first manner comprises a prediction of the HARQ based on artificial intelligence (AI).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Determining the first information according to the first data comprises: determining the first information according to all or part of the first data.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, Determining the second information according to the first data comprises: determining the second information according to all of the first data.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, In a case where the first information indicates a first NACK for the first data, the method further comprises: determining a first retransmission number of the first data according to the first data, the first retransmission number being determined according to the first manner; sending third information to the first device, the third information indicating the first retransmission number.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving one or more times of retransmitted first data from the first device, the number of the one or more times being the first retransmission number; determining fourth information according to the one or more times of retransmitted first data; the fourth information indicating a first ACK or a first NACK for the one or more times of retransmitted first data; the fourth information being determined according to the first manner; sending the fourth information to the first device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving one or more times of retransmitted first data from the first device, the number of the one or more times being the first retransmission number; determining one or more fifth information according to the one or more times of retransmitted first data; each of the one or more fifth information indicating a first ACK or a first NACK for the one time of retransmitted first data; sending the one or more fifth information to the first device.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, In a case where the first information indicates a first NACK for the first data, the first information further indicates that the first device retransmits the first data in a first uplink time unit or a first time unit after a fourth time unit, wherein the fourth time unit is a time unit in which the first device receives the first information, and the uplink time unit is a time unit for transmitting uplink data; or In a case where the first information indicates a first ACK for the first data, the first information further indicates that the first device transmits second data in a first uplink time unit or a first time unit after the fourth time unit.

9. The method of any of claims 1-8, wherein the second time unit is a first time unit or a first downlink time unit after the first time unit, wherein the downlink time unit is a time unit for transmitting downlink data. The method comprises:

10. A communication method characterized by comprising: sending first data to a second device; receiving, at a fourth time unit, first information from the second device, the first information indicating a first acknowledgement (ACK) or a first negative acknowledgement (NACK) for the first data, the first information being determined according to a first manner; retransmitting the first data or transmitting second data according to the first information; receiving, at a fifth time unit, second information from the second device, the second information indicating a second ACK or a second NACK for the first data, the second information being determined according to a second manner, the second manner being based on a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) and decoded by a physical layer; wherein the first manner is different from the second manner, and the fifth time unit is later than the fourth time unit. The first manner comprises a prediction of the HARQ based on artificial intelligence (AI).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, The second information is determined according to all of the first data.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The retransmitting the first data according to the first information comprises:

13. The method according to any one of claims 10-12, characterized in that, in a case where the first information indicates the first NACK for the first data, retransmitting the first data and retaining the first data. The method further comprises:

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, in a case where the second information indicates the second ACK, not retaining the first data. The transmitting the second data according to the first information comprises:

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that, in a case where the first information indicates the first ACK for the first data, transmitting the second data and retaining the first data. The method further comprises:

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, in a case where the second information indicates the second ACK, not retaining the first data. In a case where the first indication information indicates the first NACK, the method further comprises:

17. The method according to any one of claims 10-16, characterized in that, receiving, from the second device, third information indicating a first number of retransmissions; The retransmitting the first data according to the first information comprises: retransmitting, to the second device, the first data one or more times according to the first information and the third information, the one or more times being the first number of retransmissions. The method further comprises:

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, receiving, from the second device, fourth information indicating a first ACK or a first NACK for the first data retransmitted one or more times, the fourth information being determined according to the first manner. The method further comprises:

19. The method of claim 17, wherein, receiving, from the second device, one or more fifth information, each of the one or more fifth information indicating a first ACK or a first NACK for the first data retransmitted one time. The retransmitting the first data or transmitting the second data according to the first information comprises:

20. The method according to any one of claims 10-19, characterized in that, retransmitting the first data or transmitting the second data at a first uplink time unit after the fourth time unit, wherein the uplink time unit is a time unit for transmitting uplink data; or ​ retransmit the first data or transmit the second data in a first time unit after the fourth time unit.

21. A communications device, characterized by The communication apparatus comprises modules or units for implementing the method of any of claims 1-9, or the communication apparatus comprises modules or units for implementing the method of any of claims 10-20.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein, The communication apparatus is a chip or a chip system.

23. A communications device, characterized by The method is implemented.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein, The communication apparatus comprises a network device or a chip in a network device.

25. A communications device, characterized by The method is implemented.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein, The communication apparatus comprises a user equipment or a chip in a user equipment.

27. A computer readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium stores instructions or programs which, when executed, cause the method of any of claims 1-9 to be performed, or cause the method of any of claims 10-20 to be implemented.

28. A computer program, characterized in that, The computer program, when executed, causes the method of any of claims 1-9 to be implemented, or causes the method of any of claims 10-20 to be implemented.

29. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer program product, when executed, causes the method of any of claims 1-9 to be implemented, or causes the method of any of claims 10-20 to be implemented.

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