Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, which relate to the technical field of communications and can save on radio interface resources. The method comprises: a terminal sending first information, wherein the first information is used for requesting the use of a first node in a first node set as a collaborative node of the terminal; the terminal receiving second information, wherein the second information is used for indicating that a second node can serve as the collaborative node or indicating that a third node cannot serve as the collaborative node; the terminal measuring the signal quality between the terminal and the second node, so as to obtain third information, wherein the third information is used for indicating the signal quality between the terminal and the second node; and the terminal determining the collaborative node on the basis of the third information. On the basis of the solution, a second node, a reference signal of which is measured by means of a terminal, is in a first node set sent by the terminal. It may be not necessary for the terminal to measure a node outside the first node set. Therefore, resources occupied by the node outside the first set for sending a reference signal for a measurement are saved, and radio interface resources occupied by the terminal for measuring the node outside the first set are saved.

Description

Communication method and apparatus

[0001] The present application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202410628098.9, filed on May 20, 2024, and entitled "Communication method and apparatus", 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, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0003] A terminal needs to occupy air interface resources when performing communication, and how to reduce the air interface resources occupied by the terminal in the communication process is a problem to be solved urgently. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus, which can reduce the air interface resources occupied by the terminal in the communication process.

[0005] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by a terminal, a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the terminal, or a logic node, a logic module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the terminal. The method includes: sending first information, the first information being used to request a first node in a first node set as a cooperation node of the terminal, the cooperation node being used to transmit data between a service node of the terminal and a core network; receiving second information, the second information being determined according to the first information, the second information being used to indicate that a second node can be the cooperation node or that a third node cannot be the cooperation node, the second node and the third node belonging to the first node set; measuring a signal quality between the terminal and the second node to obtain third information, the third information being used to indicate the signal quality between the terminal and the second node; and determining the cooperation node according to the third information.

[0006] Based on the scheme, the second node of the terminal for measuring the reference signal is in the first node set sent by the terminal. The terminal can not need to measure nodes other than the first node set. Therefore, the resources occupied by the nodes other than the first set for sending the reference signal for measurement are saved, and the air interface resources occupied by the terminal for measuring the nodes other than the first set are saved.

[0007] In combination with the first aspect, in a possible design, the determining the cooperation node according to the third information includes: sending the third information; and receiving fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate a node as the cooperation node or to indicate a node that is not the cooperation node.

[0008] Based on the scheme, the terminal sends the measured signal quality between the terminal and the second node, and receives which nodes can be the cooperation nodes. Thus, the cooperation nodes are determined.

[0009] With reference to the first aspect, in a possible design, the method further includes: receiving fifth information, where the fifth information indicates the first time period; receiving sixth information, where the sixth information indicates the second time period; starting a timer when the first information is sent or after the first information is sent for the second time period; and the timer has a timing duration of the first time period.

[0010] Based on the scheme, the terminal can receive the second information within the timing duration of the timer. If the terminal does not receive the second information within the timing duration of the timer, the terminal can stop receiving the second information. Alternatively, if the terminal receives the second information within the timing duration of the timer, the terminal can continue with subsequent operations.

[0011] With reference to the first aspect, in a possible design, the method further includes: sending a first quantity, where the number of nodes in the first node set is related to the first quantity; or receiving a second quantity, where the number of nodes in the first node set is related to the second quantity.

[0012] Based on the scheme, the terminal can send the first quantity related to the number of first nodes in the first node set. For example, the number of cooperation nodes expected by the terminal. Alternatively, based on the scheme, the terminal receives the second quantity. The terminal can determine the number of first nodes in the first node set according to the second quantity.

[0013] With reference to the first aspect, in a possible design, before the first information is sent, the method further includes: determining the first nodes in the first node set according to one or more of the following: a direction pattern of the terminal, a location of the terminal, or a visible node location of the terminal.

[0014] Based on the scheme, the terminal can determine which nodes are the first nodes that can communicate with the terminal, and thus sends the first nodes. Thus, the nodes measured by the terminal are all nodes that can communicate with the terminal. The measurement of nodes that cannot communicate with the terminal by the terminal is reduced, and air interface resources are saved.

[0015] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by a RAN node, or by a module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) applied to the RAN node, or by a logic node, a logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the RAN node. The method includes: receiving first information, the first information being used to request a first node in a first node set as a cooperating node of a terminal, the cooperating node being used to transmit data between a serving node of the terminal and a core network; and sending second information, the second information being determined according to a determination of the first information, the second information being used to indicate that a second node can be the cooperating node or to indicate that a third node cannot be the cooperating node, the second node and the third node belonging to the first node set.

[0016] With reference to the second aspect, in a possible design, the method further includes: receiving third information, the third information being used to indicate a signal quality between the terminal and the second node; determining fourth information according to the third information; and sending the fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate a node as the cooperating node or to indicate a node that is not the cooperating node.

[0017] Based on this scheme, the RAN node can determine the fourth information according to the third information, so that the terminal determines which nodes are the cooperating nodes.

[0018] With reference to the second aspect, in a possible design, the method further includes: sending fifth information, the fifth information indicating a first time period; and sending sixth information, the sixth information indicating a second time period, the first time period being used to indicate that the terminal starts a timer when the first information is sent or after the first information is sent for the second time period.

[0019] With reference to the second aspect, in a possible design, the method further includes: receiving a first number, a number of nodes in the first node set being related to the first number; or sending a second number, a number of nodes in the first node set being related to the second number.

[0020] The technical effects brought by the second aspect can be referred to the technical effects brought by the first aspect, and details are not repeated here.

[0021] With reference to the second aspect, in a possible design, the first node in the first node set is determined according to one or more of the following: a direction pattern of the terminal, a location of the terminal, or a visible node location of the terminal.

[0022] With reference to the second aspect, in a possible design, before the sending the second information, the method further includes: sending the first information; and receiving the second information, the second information indicating whether each of the first nodes can or cannot serve as the cooperating node.

[0023] Based on this scheme, the RAN node can send the first information and receive the second information. For example, the first information is sent to the central processing node and the second information is received from the central processing node. Thus, it can be determined whether the first satellite in the first set can or cannot serve as the cooperating node. Thus, the RAN node can feed back the second information to the terminal.

[0024] With reference to the second aspect, in a possible design, before the sending the second information, the method further includes: sending the seventh information, the seventh information being used to request one of the first nodes to serve as the cooperating node; receiving one or more eighth information, the eighth information indicating whether the one of the first nodes can or cannot serve as the cooperating node; and determining the second information according to the one or more eighth information.

[0025] Based on this scheme, the RAN node can send the seventh information and receive the eighth information. For example, the seventh information is sent to the first satellite and the eighth information is received from the first satellite. Thus, it can be determined whether the first satellite can or cannot serve as the cooperating node. Thus, the RAN node can determine the second information according to the eighth information fed back by the first satellite. Thus, the second information is fed back to the terminal.

[0026] With reference to the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible design, the first node is a satellite.

[0027] With reference to the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible design, the number of the first node sets is one or more.

[0028] With reference to the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible design, each of the first node sets includes one or more nodes.

[0029] With reference to the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the first node, and the identifier of the first node includes at least one of the following: an index of the first node, ephemeris information of the first node, a physical cell identifier index of the first node, or information of a control resource set of the first node.

[0030] With this scheme, the terminal can indicate which nodes are included in the first node set through the identifier of the first node.

[0031] In a possible design of the first aspect or the second aspect, the number of the first node sets is one or more, and the first information further includes an identifier of each of the first node sets.

[0032] By this scheme, the terminal can indicate the identifier of each of the first node sets, so that when the RAN node indicates the second information and the like in the future, the second node that can serve as a cooperative node can be indicated by the identifier of the first node set. Thus, there is no need to indicate the identifier of the second node one by one, and the air interface resource is saved.

[0033] In a possible design of the first aspect or the second aspect, the second information includes an identifier of a second node set, the second node set being: a first node set in which all nodes are second nodes, or an identifier of the second node, or an identifier of the third node, or an identifier of the first node set and an identifier of a third node in the first node set, or an identifier of the first node set and an identifier of a second node in the first node set, or a first identifier, the first identifier being used to indicate that all nodes in the first node set are third nodes, or a second identifier, the second identifier being used to indicate that all nodes in the first node set are second nodes.

[0034] By this scheme, the RAN node indicates the identifier of the second node set, so that the second information occupies less air interface resource. The RAN node indicates the identifier of the first node set and the identifier of the third node in the first node set, so that when the number of second nodes is greater than the number of third nodes, less air interface resource can be consumed. The RAN node indicates the identifier of the first node set and the identifier of the second node in the first node set, so that when the number of third nodes is greater than the number of second nodes, less air interface resource can be consumed. The RAN node indicates the first identifier, so that when all nodes in one or more first node sets indicated in the first information are second nodes, the second node can be indicated by only the first identifier, and less air interface resource is consumed. The RAN node indicates the second identifier, so that when all nodes in one or more first node sets indicated in the first information are third nodes, the third node can be indicated by only the first identifier, and less air interface resource is consumed.

[0035] In a possible design of the first aspect or the second aspect, the fourth information includes an identifier of the first node set, or an identifier of the second node, or an identifier of the first node set and an identifier of a second node in the first node set, or a first identifier, the first identifier being used to indicate that there is no second node serving as a cooperative node of the terminal.

[0036] Based on the scheme, the RAN node can indicate that the nodes in the first node set can serve as the cooperation nodes by indicating the identity of the first node set, thereby consuming less air interface resources. The RAN node indicates the identity of the second nodes, so that the terminal does not need to determine which second nodes can serve as the cooperation nodes according to the correspondence between the first node set and the second nodes after receiving the fourth information, thereby reducing the processing resources of the terminal. The RAN node indicates the identity of the first node set and the identity of the second nodes in the first node set, so that when the first node set includes second nodes that do not serve as cooperation nodes, the terminal can determine that the second nodes do not serve as cooperation nodes by indicating the identity of the second nodes. The RAN node indicates the first identity, so that the terminal determines that there are no second nodes serving as cooperation nodes.

[0037] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be executed by a central processing node, or a module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) applied to the central processing node, or a logic node, a logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the central processing node. The method includes receiving first information, the first information being used to request a first node in a first node set to serve as a cooperation node of a terminal, the cooperation node being used to transmit data between a service node of the terminal and a core network; and sending second information, the second information being determined according to the determination of the first information, the second information being used to indicate that a second node can serve as the cooperation node or to indicate that a third node cannot serve as the cooperation node, the second node and the third node belonging to the first node set.

[0038] In combination with the third aspect, in a possible example, before the second information is sent, the method further includes sending seventh information, the seventh information being used to request one of the first nodes to serve as the cooperation node; receiving one or more eighth information, the eighth information indicating that the one of the first nodes can or cannot serve as the cooperation node; and determining the second information according to the one or more eighth information.

[0039] Based on the scheme, the central processing node can send the seventh information and receive the eighth information. For example, the seventh information is sent to the first satellite, and the eighth information is received from the first satellite. Thus, the central processing node can determine that the first satellite can or cannot serve as the cooperation node. Thus, the central processing node can determine the second information according to the eighth information fed back by the first satellite. Thus, the second information is fed back to the RAN node, so that the RAN node can feed back the second information to the terminal.

[0040] In combination with the third aspect, in a possible example, the central processing node is a RAN node, a gateway, or a server.

[0041] In a fourth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a first communication device performing the method according to the second aspect and any one of the implementation forms thereof, and a second communication device performing the method according to the third aspect and any one of the implementation forms thereof.

[0042] In a possible implementation form of the fourth aspect, the communication system further comprises a third communication device performing the method according to the first aspect and any one of the implementation forms thereof.

[0043] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor configured to perform the method according to the first aspect and any one of the implementation forms thereof, or configured to perform the method according to the second aspect and any one of the implementation forms thereof, or configured to perform the method according to the third aspect and any one of the implementation forms thereof.

[0044] Optionally, the device further comprises a memory and / or a communication interface.

[0045] The communication interface is configured to receive and / or send signals. Optionally, the communication interface is coupled to the processor.

[0046] The memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor is configured to perform the method according to the first aspect and any one of the implementation forms thereof, by executing the computer program stored in the memory.

[0047] Alternatively, the processor can also be a hardware-implemented circuit, such as an artificial intelligence (AI) processor, to improve the running speed. The present application does not limit the specific implementation form of the processor.

[0048] Optionally, the communication device can be a whole device or a module in a device, such as a chip.

[0049] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which has the function of performing the method according to the first aspect and any one of the implementation forms thereof, or has the function of performing the method according to the second aspect and any one of the implementation forms thereof, or has the function of performing the method according to the third aspect and any one of the implementation forms thereof. The function can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software comprises one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0050] In a seventh aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes a function module or unit or means for performing the method of the first aspect or any of the possible implementation manners thereof, or a function module or unit or means for performing the method of the second aspect or any of the possible implementation manners thereof, or a function module or unit or means for performing the method of the third aspect or any of the possible implementation manners thereof. The module can be implemented by software or hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. The apparatus includes a processing unit and a communication unit, without limitation.

[0051] In an eighth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores instructions. When the instructions are executed by a processor, the method of the first aspect or any of the possible implementation manners thereof is implemented, or the method of the second aspect or any of the possible implementation manners thereof is implemented, or the method of the third aspect or any of the possible implementation manners thereof is implemented.

[0052] In a ninth aspect, a computer program product is provided, which includes a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the method of the first aspect or any of the possible implementation manners thereof is implemented, or the method of the second aspect or any of the possible implementation manners thereof is implemented, or the method of the third aspect or any of the possible implementation manners thereof is implemented.

[0053] In a tenth aspect, a chip system is provided, which includes a processor for supporting the communication apparatus to implement the functions of the first aspect or any of the possible implementation manners thereof, or to implement the functions of the second aspect or any of the possible implementation manners thereof, or to implement the functions of the third aspect or any of the possible implementation manners thereof. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, which is configured to store necessary program instructions and data of the communication apparatus. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0054] It can be understood that the method, communication system, communication apparatus, chip system, computer-readable storage medium, computer program product and the like provided by the second aspect to the tenth aspect have the beneficial effects as described above with respect to the first aspect and any of the possible implementation manners, which will not be described herein again. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0055] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of determining cooperating TRPs;

[0056] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a scenario of determining cooperating TRPs;

[0057] FIGS. 3-5 are schematic diagrams of architectures of communication systems provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0058] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0059] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a scenario according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] FIGS. 8-10 are flowcharts of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a terminal directional diagram according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] FIGS. 12-13 are schematic diagrams of another scenario according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] FIGS. 15-16 are schematic diagrams of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0065] In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, " / " means "or", for example, A / B can mean A or B. "And / or" in the present application is only a description of the relationship between the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B, which means that there are three cases of A alone, A and B together, and B alone. In addition, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. "First", "second", and the like do not limit the quantity and execution order, and "first", "second", and the like do not necessarily mean different.

[0066] It should be noted that in the present application, "exemplary" or "for example" means to serve as an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design scheme described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the present application should not be interpreted as more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Rather, the use of "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concept in a specific manner.

[0067] It can be understood that "embodiments" mentioned throughout the specification mean that the specific features, structures, or characteristics related to the embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Therefore, the various embodiments throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, these specific features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It can be understood that in various embodiments of the present application, the size of the sequence number of each process does not mean the execution order, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0068] It can be understood that, in the present application, “…” and “if” refer to the corresponding processing under certain objective conditions, not limited to time, and do not require judgment actions when implementing, nor does it mean that there are other limitations.

[0069] It can be understood that some optional features in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented independently in some scenarios without relying on other features, such as the scheme currently based on, to solve the corresponding technical problems and achieve the corresponding effects. In some scenarios, it can also be combined with other features according to the needs. Correspondingly, the devices given in the embodiments of the present application can also implement these features or functions, which will not be described here.

[0070] It should be noted that the data transmitted between the devices in the embodiments of the present application refers to the information, messages and the like transmitted between the devices. It can include the following forms of data: user plane data, control plane data, such as control signaling. The data described below should not be understood as only referring to a certain form of data if not limited.

[0071] First, the related technical terms involved in the present application are explained and described. It can be understood that these explanations and descriptions are to make the present application easier to understand, and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of protection required by the present application.

[0072] 1. Non-terrestrial network (NTN)

[0073] Non-terrestrial network can refer to the transmission of communication data using non-terrestrial devices. For example, non-terrestrial devices can be satellites, drones, etc., and the following will be introduced taking the satellite system as an example.

[0074] Future satellite systems have two main features: large-scale constellation and high-gain antenna. Large-scale constellation means that a terminal can receive signals from multiple satellites simultaneously, or in the coverage of multiple satellites. For example, in the mid-high latitude zone, a terminal on the ground can be under the coverage of nearly 20 satellites. High-gain antenna means that the satellite has a high-gain antenna. For example, the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the satellite signal gain can reach 20 dB.

[0075] Due to the implementation of large-scale constellation and high-gain antenna, the terminal can transmit data through multiple satellites, thereby increasing the communication efficiency of the terminal. For example, the terminal transmits data with the core network through satellite 1, satellite 2 and satellite 3. Among them, satellite 1 is the serving satellite of the terminal, and satellite 2 and satellite 3 are additional satellites (also known as joint transmission satellites) of the terminal. The terminal can transmit control signaling and user plane data through satellite 1, and transmit user plane data through satellite 2 and satellite 3.

[0076] 2. Multi-transmission and receiving point (TRP) transmission

[0077] In a terrestrial network (TN) system, the terminal can transmit data between the core network through two TRPs, realizing two-stream data transmission, which can be referred to as multi-TRP transmission. Among the two TRPs, one is a serving TRP, and the other is an additional TPR. The serving TRP is used to transmit control signaling and user plane data of the terminal, etc. The additional TRP is used to assist the serving TRP to transmit the user plane data of the terminal. The base station can configure the TRP used by the terminal. Referring to FIG. 1, the process of determining the additional TRP can include the following steps.

[0078] S1. The base station configures a measurement TRP set of the terminal.

[0079] The base station can configure the measurement TRP set of the terminal according to the location of the terminal and the coverage range of the TRP. For example, referring to FIG. 2, the location of the terminal 102a is within the coverage range of TRP1 and TRP2, and the base station can configure the measurement TRP set of the terminal as the TRP set composed of TRP1 and TRP2.

[0080] S2. The base station transmits the measurement TRP set. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the measurement TRP set.

[0081] S3. The TRP in the measurement TRP set transmits a reference signal.

[0082] S4. The terminal measures the reference signal transmitted by the TRP in the measurement TRP set to obtain measurement result 1.

[0083] S5. The terminal transmits the measurement result 1, and correspondingly, the base station receives the measurement result 1.

[0084] S6. The base station configures the additional TPR according to the measurement result 1.

[0085] S7. The base station configures the additional TRP to the terminal.

[0086] Thus, the terminal performs the transmission of the multi-flow data according to the serving TRP and the cooperating TRP.

[0087] In the process of determining the cooperating TRP of the terminal by the base station, the base station first configures a set of measurement TRPs of the terminal, the TPRs of the TRP set transmit reference signals, and the terminal measures the reference signals transmitted by the TRPs in the set of measurement TRPs. It can be seen that the TRP transmits the reference signal, which causes the TRP to consume resources. The more TRPs the base station configures for the terminal, the more TRPs need to consume resources for transmitting measurement reference signals. The terminal also needs to measure more reference signals, so that the terminal also consumes more resources.

[0088] In the NTN scenario, the satellite can transmit data between the terminal and the core network. Assuming that the satellite is equivalent to the TRP in the TN, with reference to the TN, in order to realize the multi-flow transmission of the terminal data, the base station can configure the serving satellite and the cooperating satellite for the terminal. In the NTN scenario, if with reference to the TN scenario, the base station first configures a set of measurement cooperating satellites for the terminal, and the terminal measures the reference signals transmitted by the satellites in the set of measurement cooperating satellites according to the configuration of the base station. The same problem as in the TN scenario occurs, that is, more TRPs consume resources for transmitting reference signals and the terminal measures reference signals.

[0089] Based on this, the embodiment of the application provides a communication method. In the method, the terminal reports a first node set, the base station configures a first node in the first node set to transmit a reference signal, and the terminal measures the reference signal of the first node in the first node set. Thus, the base station not only indicates the nodes to be measured for the terminal according to the position of the terminal, but also reduces the nodes configured and issued with reference signals by the base station. Thus, the downlink configuration overhead of the base station, the overhead of the nodes issuing the reference signals for measurement, and the overhead of the terminal measuring the reference signals of the nodes are saved.

[0090] The method provided by the application can be used in various communication systems. For example, the communication system can be an LTE system, a 5G communication system, a WiFi system, a 3GPP related communication system, a communication system evolved after 5G (such as a 6G communication system), or a system integrating multiple systems, etc., without limitation. Among them, 5G can also be referred to as NR. The method provided by the application will be described below taking the communication system 1000 shown in FIG. 3 as an example. FIG. 3 is only a schematic diagram and does not constitute a limitation on the applicable scenarios of the technical solutions provided by the application.

[0091] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system 1000 to which embodiments of the present application can be applied. As shown in FIG. 3, the communication system includes a RAN 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 can also include the Internet 300. The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (e.g., 110a and 110b in FIG. 3, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal (e.g., 120a-120j in FIG. 3, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 can also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in FIG. 3). The terminals 120 are wirelessly connected to the RAN nodes 110, and the RAN nodes 110 are connected to the core network 200 by wire or wirelessly. The core network devices (or core network nodes) in the core network 200 and the RAN nodes 110 in the RAN 100 can be independent and different physical devices, or can be the same physical device integrated with the logical functions of the core network devices and the logical functions of the RAN nodes. The terminals and the terminals, and the RAN nodes and the RAN nodes can be connected to each other by wire or wirelessly.

[0092] The RAN 100 can be an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) system, a new radio (NR) system, and a future wireless access system defined in the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP). The RAN 100 can also include two or more different wireless access systems described above. The RAN 100 can also be an open RAN (O-RAN).

[0093] The RAN node, also referred to as a radio access network device, a RAN entity, or an access node, is used to help the terminal access the communication system by wirelessly. In an application scenario, the RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system, a next generation NodeB in a 6th generation (6G) mobile communication system, or a base station in a future mobile communication system. The RAN node can be a macro base station (e.g., 110a in FIG. 3), a micro base station or an indoor station (e.g., 110b in FIG. 3), a relay node, or a donor node.

[0094] In another application scenario, wireless access can be achieved for a terminal through cooperation of multiple RAN nodes, 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), or a radio unit (RU). Here, the CU completes functions of a radio resource control protocol and a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of a base station, and can also complete a function of a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP); the DU completes functions of a radio link control layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer of a base station, and can also complete a function of part of a physical layer or all of a physical layer. For specific descriptions of the above protocol layers, reference can be made to relevant technical specifications of 3GPP. The RU can be used to implement a function of transceiving a radio frequency signal. The CU and the DU can be two independent RAN nodes, or can be integrated in a same RAN node, for example, integrated in a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device, for example, included in a remote radio unit (RRU) or an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU can be further divided into two types of RAN nodes, a CU-control plane and a CU-user plane.

[0095] In different systems, a RAN node can have different names. For example, in an O-RAN system, a CU can be referred to as an open CU (O-CU), a DU can be referred to as an open DU (O-DU), and an RU can be referred to as an open RU (O-RU). A RAN node in an embodiment of the present application can be implemented through a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module. For example, the RAN node can be a server loaded with a corresponding software module. Embodiments of the present application do not limit specific technologies and specific device forms adopted by the RAN node. For ease of description, a base station is described below as an example of a RAN node.

[0096] A terminal is a device with wireless transceiving function, which can send signals to a base station or receive signals from a base station. A terminal can also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. A terminal can be widely applied in various scenarios, such as 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. A terminal can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiving function, wearable device, vehicle, airplane, ship, robot, mechanical arm, smart home device, etc. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form of the terminal.

[0097] A base station and a terminal can be in a fixed position or movable. A base station and a terminal can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on water surface; can also be deployed on an airplane, balloon and artificial satellite. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the application scenarios of the base station and the terminal.

[0098] For example, embodiments of the present application can be applied in an NTN architecture, and a base station can be a base station in the NTN architecture. Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 shows another architecture schematic diagram of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applied. As shown in FIG. 4, the communication system includes a core network, a ground station (also referred to as a gateway station), a satellite (satellite 1 and satellite 2), a terminal (terminal 1 and terminal 2) and a data network (DN).

[0099] The core network includes a user plane and a control plane. The user plane can process user-related data, and the control plane processes control-related data. The core network can include network functions (or core network nodes) such as a user plane function (UPF), an access and mobility management function (AMF), a location management unit (LMF), and a session management function (SMF), which perform user access control, mobility management, session management, user security authentication, charging, and the like. For example, the AMF can be responsible for user access management, security authentication, and mobility management. The LMF (not shown in the figure) can be responsible for managing and controlling positioning service requests for the target terminal and processing positioning-related information. The UPF can be responsible for managing the transmission of user plane data, traffic statistics, and the like.

[0100] The satellite has all or part of the functions of the base station, that is, the satellite can also be referred to as a base station. For example, satellite 1 can be referred to as base station 1, and satellite 2 can be referred to as base station 2. Satellite 1 and satellite 2 can be connected to each other through an Xn interface to realize signaling interaction and user data transmission between base stations. Satellite 1 can be connected to a ground station through an NG interface. The satellite transmits downlink data to the terminal, where the data is encoded using channel coding, and the encoded data is transmitted to the terminal after constellation modulation.

[0101] The ground station is connected to the core network through the NG interface. The ground station can forward signaling and service data between base stations and between base stations and the core network. For example, Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling and user service data.

[0102] Terminal 1 can communicate with base station 1 through an air interface and access the core network. Terminal 2 can communicate with base station 2 through an air interface and access the core network. The terminal transmits uplink data to the satellite, which can also be encoded using channel coding, and the encoded data is transmitted to the satellite after constellation modulation.

[0103] The air interface can refer to the wireless link between the terminal and the satellite.

[0104] The Xn interface can refer to the interface between base stations, which can realize signaling interaction such as handover.

[0105] The NG interface can refer to the interface between the base station and the core network, which can realize NAS signaling and user service data.

[0106] Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 shows another architecture of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applied. As shown in FIG. 5, the communication system includes a core network, a ground station, a satellite 3, a base station 3, a terminal 3, and a data network.

[0107] The core network can be implemented as shown in the communication system of FIG. 4. The ground station can forward data between the satellite and the base station.

[0108] The base station 3 can be disposed on the ground and connected to the ground station. The ground station is connected to the satellite 3. The terminal 3 can be connected to the satellite 3 through an air interface, thereby accessing the communication network.

[0109] Similar to the communication system of FIG. 4, in the communication system of FIG. 5, the satellite 3 can also be connected to other satellites, thereby enabling data transmission between satellites.

[0110] In some examples, the satellite 3 is deployed with all or part of the functions of the base station, and the satellites can enable signaling interaction and user data transmission between satellites. In other examples, the satellite 3 is not deployed with the functions of the base station, and the satellite can perform transparent forwarding of data to the terminal or the ground station. The satellite and the satellite can also perform transparent forwarding.

[0111] The above-described FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 introduce the NTN network by taking the communication architecture of the 5G system as an example. In the 4G system, the Xn interface can be referred to as the X2 interface, and the NG interface can be referred to as the S1 interface. In other systems, such as the 6G system, the above-mentioned interfaces can also use other names.

[0112] The roles of the base station and the terminal can be relative, for example, the helicopter or the drone 120i in FIG. 3 can be configured as a mobile base station. For those terminals 120j that access the wireless access network 100 through 120i, 120i is a base station; but for the base station 110a, 120i is a terminal, that is, 110a and 120i communicate through a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, 110a and 120i can also communicate through the interface protocol between the base stations and the base stations, at this time, relative to 110a, 120i is also a base station. Therefore, the base station and the terminal can be collectively referred to as a communication device, 110a and 110b in FIG. 3 can be referred to as a communication device with a base station function, and 120a-120j in FIG. 3 can be referred to as a communication device with a terminal function.

[0113] The base station and the terminal, the base station and the base station, the terminal and the terminal can communicate through the licensed spectrum, or through the unlicensed spectrum, or through the licensed spectrum and the unlicensed spectrum at the same time; can communicate through the spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), or through the spectrum above 6 GHz, or through the spectrum below 6 GHz and the spectrum above 6 GHz at the same time. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the spectrum resources used by wireless communication.

[0114] In the embodiments of the present application, the functions of the base station can also be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the base station, or by a control subsystem containing the functions of the base station. The control subsystem containing the functions of the base station herein can be a control center in the above-mentioned application scenarios such as smart grid, industrial control, intelligent transportation, and smart city. The functions of the terminal can also be performed by a module (such as a chip or a modem) in the terminal, or by a device containing the functions of the terminal.

[0115] In the present application, the base station sends a downlink signal or downlink information to the terminal, and the downlink information is carried on a downlink channel; the terminal sends an uplink signal or uplink information to the base station, and the uplink information is carried on an uplink channel.

[0116] It can be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the PDSCH, the PDCCH and the PUSCH are only examples of a downlink data channel, a downlink control channel and an uplink data channel respectively. In different systems and different scenarios, data channels and control channels can have different names, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0117] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application can also be applied in the TN architecture.

[0118] The method in the embodiments of the present application can be applied in the interaction between the terminal and the base station. The interaction between the terminal and the base station in the communication system shown in any one of FIG. 3, FIG. 4 or FIG. 5. Assuming that the first node is implemented as a satellite, the following takes the interaction between the terminal and the base station as an example to introduce the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application, which can include the following steps:

[0119] S601, the terminal sends first information. Correspondingly, the base station receives the first information.

[0120] The first information is used to request a first satellite in the first satellite set to be a cooperative satellite of the terminal.

[0121] The first satellite can refer to a satellite that can be a cooperative satellite of the terminal, or the first satellite is a candidate cooperative satellite of the terminal. The first satellite set can be referred to as a first satellite set. In some embodiments, the first satellites in each first satellite set can simultaneously communicate with the terminal. That is, the first satellites in each first satellite set can simultaneously serve as cooperative satellites of the terminal.

[0122] The number of first satellite sets can be one or more (such as W, W being a positive integer), and each first satellite set includes one or more satellites. For example, the first satellite set 1 includes the satellite 1 and the satellite 2. The first satellite set 2 includes the satellite 3. The first satellite set K includes the satellite 5 and the satellite 6. The manner in which the terminal determines the first satellites in the first satellite set can be described with reference to the following embodiments, and will not be described here.

[0123] The base station corresponding to the service cell of the terminal can be referred to as a service base station. For example, the base station can be disposed on the ground. For example, with reference to FIG. 5, the base station 3 is the base station corresponding to the service cell of the terminal 3, and the satellite 3 is the service satellite of the terminal 3. For another example, the base station can be disposed on a non-ground. For example, the base station is disposed on a satellite with a base station function, in which case the service base station can be referred to as a service satellite. For example, with reference to FIG. 4, the satellite 1 is the base station corresponding to the service cell of the terminal 1, and the satellite 1 is the service satellite of the terminal 1.

[0124] The cooperative satellite is used to assist the service satellite to perform communication between the terminal and the communication network (such as the core network). The terminal can perform multi-flow transmission of data between the service satellite and the communication network through the cooperative satellite, thereby improving the throughput of data transmission.

[0125] The cooperative satellite can be a satellite in the same layer as the service satellite. Alternatively, the cooperative satellite can be a satellite in a different layer from the service satellite. For example, with reference to FIG. 7, the satellite 3 and the satellite 4 are in the same layer, the satellite 1 and the satellite 2 are in the upper layer of the satellite 4, and the satellite 5 to the satellite 8 are in the lower layer of the satellite 4. Assuming that the satellite 4 is the service satellite. Then the cooperative satellite can be the satellite 2 in the upper layer of the satellite 4 and the satellite 3 in the same layer as the satellite 4. Alternatively, the cooperative satellite can be the satellite 5 and the satellite 6 in the lower layer of the satellite 4. Alternatively, the cooperative satellite can also be the satellite 1 and the satellite 2 in the upper layer of the satellite 4. The cooperative satellite can be a low-orbit satellite, a medium-orbit satellite, a high-orbit satellite, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not limit them.

[0126] The first information can include the identification of the first satellite in the first satellite set. For example, with reference to FIG. 7, the first satellites include the satellite 1 to 3 and the satellite 5 to 8, and the first information includes {satellite 1, satellite 2, satellite 3, satellite 5, satellite 6, satellite 7, satellite 8}.

[0127] The terminal can indicate the identity of the first satellite in the first satellite set in one or more of the following ways: a first satellite index (ID), ephemeris information of the first satellite, a physical cell identifier index (PCI ID) of the first satellite, and control resource set (coresetpoolindex) information of the first satellite. It can be understood that as the standard evolves, new ways to determine a satellite will be developed, and the embodiments of the present application can also use the new ways to determine a satellite to indicate the satellite.

[0128] The terminal can indicate the first satellite set in the form of a table, list, etc. For example, referring to Table 1, Table 1 shows the indication of the above-mentioned first satellite set 1 to first satellite set K in the form of a table. Each row represents one first satellite set. The first satellite set 1 includes satellite 1 and satellite 2. The first satellite set 2 includes satellite 2 and satellite 3. The first satellite set K includes satellite 5 and satellite 6. The terminal indicates the satellites in the first satellite set by satellite ID.

[0129] Table 1

[0130] In some embodiments, the first information can include the identity of the first satellite set. As shown in Table 2, the identities of the three first satellite sets shown in Table 1 are first satellite set 1, first satellite set 2, and first satellite set K, respectively.

[0131] Table 2

[0132] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the format and transmission timing of the first information. Any information requesting the first satellite in the first satellite set to serve as a cooperative satellite of the terminal can be considered as the first information.

[0133] S602, the base station determines second information according to the first information.

[0134] The second information is used to indicate that the second satellite can serve as a cooperative satellite. Alternatively, the second information is used to indicate that the third satellite cannot serve as a cooperative satellite. The second satellite and the third satellite belong to the first satellite set. The second satellite can refer to a candidate satellite of the cooperative satellite.

[0135] For example, if the first satellite set includes satellites 1-3 and satellites 5 and 6, satellites 1-3 and satellites 5 and 6 can be referred to as first satellites. The terminal requests the first satellites as cooperative satellites through the first information. The base station determines second satellites from the first satellites that can be cooperative satellites or determines third satellites from the first satellites that cannot be cooperative satellites according to the first information. For example, if satellites 1 and 2 can be cooperative satellites, satellites 1 and 2 can also be referred to as second satellites. If satellites 3 and 5 cannot be cooperative satellites, satellites 3 and 5 can also be referred to as third satellites.

[0136] The following describes a method for determining the second information by the base station according to the first information through three examples.

[0137] Example 1

[0138] Referring to FIG. 8, if the base station is a central processing node, the base station can determine the second information according to S801 and S802.

[0139] The central processing node can implement one or more of the following functions: interacting with multiple satellites, obtaining resources of each satellite from the multiple satellites, or overall planning resources of the multiple satellites. For example, the central processing node can communicate with a first satellite and obtain resources of the first satellite. The resources of the first satellite are used to determine that the first satellite can be a cooperative satellite or that the first satellite cannot be a cooperative satellite. For example, the resources of the first satellite are determined according to one or more of the following: a usage of a first satellite beam, a load of the first satellite, and an interference level between the first satellite and a satellite adjacent to the first satellite. If the central processing node obtains that a proportion of the first satellite beam that has been used does not exceed a first proportion, the central processing node determines that the first satellite can be a cooperative satellite. If the central processing node obtains that the proportion of the first satellite beam that has been used exceeds the first proportion, the central processing node determines that the first satellite cannot be a cooperative satellite. For example, the first proportion is 90%. The central processing node can be implemented by one or more of the following devices: a base station, a gateway, a server, and the like.

[0140] S801, the base station sends the first information. Correspondingly, the first satellite receives the first information.

[0141] For example, referring to FIG. 7, take an example where the base station is located on satellite 4, and the first set of satellites includes satellite 1 and satellite 2. Satellite 4 (an example of a base station) sends seventh information 1 to satellite 1. Satellite 1 receives the seventh information 1, which requests satellite 1 to be a cooperating satellite. Similarly, satellite 4 sends seventh information 2 to satellite 2. Satellite 2 receives the seventh information 2, which requests satellite 2 to be a cooperating satellite. Exemplarily, the seventh information 1 can request satellite 1 to be a cooperating satellite by requesting one or more of the beam usage of satellite 1, the load of satellite 1, and the interference level between satellite 1 and a satellite adjacent to satellite 1. Similarly, the seventh information 2 can request satellite 2 to be a cooperating satellite by requesting one or more of the beam usage of satellite 2, the load of satellite 2, and the interference level between satellite 2 and a satellite adjacent to satellite 2.

[0142] S802, the first satellite sends eighth information. Correspondingly, the base station receives the eighth information.

[0143] The eighth information indicates that the first satellite can be a cooperating satellite, or in other words, indicates that the first satellite is a second satellite. Alternatively, the eighth information indicates that the first satellite cannot be a cooperating satellite, or in other words, indicates that the first satellite is a third satellite.

[0144] For example, referring to FIG. 7, satellite 1 sends eighth information 1. Satellite 2 sends eighth information 2. Exemplarily, the eighth information 1 can indicate whether satellite 1 can or cannot be a cooperating satellite by requesting one or more of the beam usage of satellite 1, the load of satellite 1, and the interference level between satellite 1 and a satellite adjacent to satellite 1. Similarly, the eighth information 2 can indicate whether satellite 2 can or cannot be a cooperating satellite by requesting one or more of the beam usage of satellite 2, the load of satellite 2, and the interference level between satellite 2 and a satellite adjacent to satellite 2. Thus, satellite 4 can determine whether satellite 1 and satellite 2 can be cooperating satellites according to the beam usage of satellite 1 and satellite 2, the load of satellite 1 and satellite 2, and the interference level between satellite 1 and a satellite adjacent to satellite 1, and between satellite 2 and a satellite adjacent to satellite 2.

[0145] In some embodiments, the first satellite can not send the eighth information. If the base station does not receive the eighth information sent by the first satellite, it can be considered that the first satellite cannot be a cooperating satellite.

[0146] In other embodiments, the first satellite can not send the eighth information. If the base station does not receive the eighth information sent by the first satellite, it can be considered that the first satellite can be a cooperating satellite.

[0147] Example Two

[0148] If the base station does not act as the central processing node, the base station can send the first information to the first satellites in the first satellite set respectively. The base station can receive the eighth information from each of the first satellites. For example, the base station and the first satellite can be implemented as described in S801 and S802. For example, if the first satellite set is as shown in Table 1, the base station can send the seventh information to satellite 1 to satellite 3 and satellite 5, satellite 6 respectively, and receive the eighth information from satellite 1 to satellite 3 and satellite 5, satellite 6 respectively.

[0149] Example Three

[0150] Referring to FIG. 9, if the base station does not act as the central processing node, the base station can send the first information to the central processing node, requesting the first satellites as cooperative satellites. The base station can receive the second information from the central processing node. For example, refer to S901 to S903.

[0151] S901, the base station sends the first information. Correspondingly, the central processing node receives the first information.

[0152] For example, the first information includes the identification of the first satellites in the first satellite set. For example, referring to Table 1, the base station can indicate the identification of the first satellites in the K first satellite set, such as {satellite 1, satellite 2}, {satellite 2, satellite 3} and {satellite 5, satellite 6}. For another example, the second message further includes the identification of the first satellite set. For example, referring to Table 2, the base station can indicate {1, satellite 1, satellite 2}, {2, satellite 2, satellite 3} and {K, satellite 5, satellite 6}.

[0153] S902, the central processing node determines whether the first satellites can act as cooperative satellites.

[0154] For example, the central processing node can send the seventh information 1 to satellite 1 and receive the eighth information 1 sent by satellite 1, so as to determine whether satellite 1 can act as a cooperative satellite. Similarly, the central processing node can send the seventh information 2 to satellite 2 and receive the eighth information 2 sent by satellite 2, so as to determine whether satellite 2 can act as a cooperative satellite. The implementation of the central processing node and the first satellite can refer to the implementation of the central processing node and the first satellite in S801 and S802.

[0155] S903, the central processing node sends the second information. Correspondingly, the base station receives the second information.

[0156] Through the above scheme, the base station can request the second information from the central processing node, so as to determine whether one or more first satellites in the first set can act as cooperative satellites, and reduce the resource consumption of sending the first information to the first satellites which cannot act as cooperative satellites.

[0157] It can be understood that in the above three examples, the base station receiving the first information and sending the first information can adopt different messages. Similarly, the base station receiving the second information and sending the second information can also adopt different messages. Embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0158] S603, the base station sends the second information. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the second information.

[0159] Embodiments of the present application do not limit the format of the second information and the transmission time. Any information that explicitly or implicitly indicates the cooperative satellite to be measured by the terminal reference signal can be regarded as the second information.

[0160] The terminal can determine the second satellite by receiving the second information. That is, it can be determined which satellites can be used as cooperative satellites.

[0161] For example, with reference to Table 2, if the second information includes the first satellite set 1 and the first satellite set 2, it means that the satellite 1, the satellite 2 and the satellite 3 are the second satellites and can be used as the cooperative satellites of the terminal.

[0162] In some embodiments, the first satellite set whose identifier is not included in the second information indicates that all satellites in the first satellite set are the third satellites. For example, the second information includes the first satellite set 1 and the first satellite set 2, and the first satellite set K is not included in the second information, which means that the satellite 5 and the satellite 6 are the third satellites and cannot be used as the cooperative satellites of the terminal.

[0163] In some embodiments, the first satellite set whose identifier is not included in the second information indicates that all satellites in the first satellite set are the third satellites. For example, the second information includes the first satellite set 1 and the first satellite set 2, and the first satellite set K is not included in the second information, which means that the satellite 5 and the satellite 6 are the third satellites and cannot be used as the cooperative satellites of the terminal.

[0164] By indicating the identifier of the second satellite set, the first satellite in the second satellite set can be indicated as the second satellite with less air interface resources.

[0165] For example, with reference to Table 2, the second information can include the satellite 1, the satellite 2 and the satellite 3. Thus, the terminal can determine that the satellite 1, the satellite 2 and the satellite 3 are the second satellites. By indicating the identifier of the second satellite, the terminal can directly obtain which first satellites are the second satellites, so as to perform subsequent operations based on the second satellites.

[0166] Further exemplary, the second information comprises an identity of the third satellite. The base station can indicate the first satellite is the third satellite by indicating the identity of the third satellite. For example, referring to Table 2, the second information can comprise satellite 5. Thus, the terminal can determine satellite 5 is the third satellite. By this indication method, if the number of the second satellites in the first satellite set is greater than the number of the third satellites, the terminal can determine the non-indicated first satellite in the first satellite set is the second satellite by indicating the identity of the third satellite, and less air interface resource is consumed.

[0167] Further exemplary, the second information comprises an identity of the third satellite. The base station can indicate the first satellite is the third satellite by indicating the identity of the third satellite. For example, referring to Table 2, the second information can comprise satellite 5. Thus, the terminal can determine satellite 5 is the third satellite. By this indication method, if the number of the second satellites in the first satellite set is greater than the number of the third satellites, the terminal can determine the non-indicated first satellite in the first satellite set is the second satellite by indicating the identity of the third satellite, and less air interface resource is consumed.

[0168] Table 3

[0169] Further exemplary, the second information comprises an identity of the third satellite. The base station can indicate the first satellite is the third satellite by indicating the identity of the third satellite. For example, referring to Table 2, the second information can comprise satellite 5. Thus, the terminal can determine satellite 5 is the third satellite. By this indication method, if the number of the second satellites in the first satellite set is greater than the number of the third satellites, the terminal can determine the non-indicated first satellite in the first satellite set is the second satellite by indicating the identity of the third satellite, and less air interface resource is consumed.

[0170] For another example, the second information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier can be used to indicate that all the first satellites are third satellites, or in other words, there is no satellite in the first satellite set indicated by the first information that can be a cooperative satellite. For example, the base station can indicate the first identifier by a reserved bit in the second information. For an example, referring to Table 4, the first identifier can be 0. For another example, the first identifier can be 1. For another example, the base station can indicate the first identifier by multiplexing one or more bits in the second information. For an example, the first identifier is represented by 0 for the first satellite set 0.

[0171] Table 4

[0172] In the case of blockage between the satellite and the terminal, limited satellite capability, etc., the first satellite can be a third satellite. When all the first satellites are third satellites, the base station can send a first identifier, so that the base station does not need to indicate the identifier of each first satellite set or the identifier of each third satellite, thereby saving air interface resources.

[0173] For another example, the second information includes a second identifier, and the second identifier is used to indicate that all the first satellites are second satellites. For example, the base station can indicate the second identifier by a reserved bit in the second information. In some examples, the reserved bit is the same as the reserved bit used by the base station to indicate the first identifier in the second information. For an example, when the first identifier is 0, the second identifier can be 1. For another example, when the first identifier is 1, the second identifier can be 0. For another example, the base station can indicate the second identifier by multiplexing one or more bits in the second information. For an example, the first identifier is represented by 4 for the first satellite set 4.

[0174] When all the first satellites are second satellites, the base station can send a second identifier, so that the base station does not need to indicate the identifier of each second satellite set or the identifier of each second satellite, thereby saving air interface resources.

[0175] In the above manner, the terminal can determine which first satellites in the multiple first satellite sets indicated by the base station are second satellites, and thereby measure the signal quality between the terminal and the second satellites.

[0176] S604, the terminal measures the signal quality between the terminal and the second satellites, and obtains third information.

[0177] The third information is used to indicate the signal quality between the terminal and the second satellites.

[0178] Exemplarily, the signal quality can be represented by one or more of the following information: reference signal received power (RSRP), received signal strength indicator (RSSI), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), or signal to interference noise ratio (SINR). The signal quality can also be represented by a result calculated by an S-criterion calculation formula or an R-criterion calculation formula based on the above information (RSRP, RSSI, RSRQ, or SINR). The S-criterion and the R-criterion can refer to 3GPP TS 38.304, which will not be described herein.

[0179] The specific implementation of the terminal measuring the signal quality between the terminal and the second satellite can refer to the description of the related art, and will not be described herein in the embodiments of the present application. For example, the terminal measures the reference signal from the second satellite to determine the signal quality between the terminal and the second satellite.

[0180] S605, the terminal determines the cooperating satellite according to the third information.

[0181] Referring to FIG. 10, exemplary S605 can be implemented as S1001 to S1003.

[0182] S1001, the terminal sends the third information. Correspondingly, the base station receives the third information.

[0183] S1002, the base station determines the fourth information according to the third information.

[0184] The fourth information is used to indicate the satellite as the cooperating satellite, or to indicate the satellite without being the cooperating satellite. The method for the base station to determine the fourth information according to the third information can refer to the related art, and will not be described herein in the embodiments of the present application. In some examples, the terminal sends the third information corresponding to the signal quality of the reference signal of each second satellite. The base station determines the cooperating satellite according to the third information corresponding to each second satellite.

[0185] S1003, the base station sends the fourth information. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the fourth information.

[0186] The terminal can communicate through the cooperating satellite indicated in the fourth information, so as to realize multi-flow communication through the serving satellite and the cooperating satellite, and increase the throughput.

[0187] In some embodiments, the fourth information includes an identifier of the first satellite set.

[0188] The base station can indicate the second satellite in the first satellite set as the cooperating satellite by indicating an identity of the first satellite set. For example, referring to Table 4, take an example that the first information includes the first satellite sets 1 to K, the second information indicates the satellite 6 corresponding to the first satellite set 1, the first satellite set 2, the first satellite set K and the first satellite set K as the second satellite. If the fourth information includes the first satellite set 1, it means that the base station indicates the satellites 1 and 2 in the first satellite set 1 as the cooperating satellites of the terminal. If the fourth information includes the first satellite set K, it means that the base station indicates the satellites 3, 7 and 5 in the first satellite set K as the cooperating satellites of the terminal. The terminal can determine the satellites corresponding to the first satellite set indicated by the base station as the cooperating satellites by referring to Table 4.

[0189] In some embodiments, the fourth information includes the first identity.

[0190] Still referring to Table 4, the first identity can be used to indicate that there is no second satellite as the cooperating satellite of the terminal. For example, the second information indicates the identity of the first satellite set 1, which means that the satellites 1 and 2 can be the cooperating satellites of the terminal. The terminal measures the satellites 1 and 2 and sends the measurement results (an example of the third information), and the base station receives the measurement results of the satellites 1 and 2. However, the base station determines that neither the satellite 1 nor the satellite 2 is suitable as the cooperating satellite of the terminal according to the beam usage of the satellites 1 and 2. Then, the base station sends the first identity. After receiving the first identity, the terminal determines that there is no satellite that can be the cooperating satellite of the terminal.

[0191] In some embodiments, the fourth information includes the identity of the first satellite set and the identity of the second satellite in the first satellite set.

[0192] Still referring to Table 4, the base station sends the identity of the first satellite set and the identity of the satellite in the second satellite set. The identity of the first satellite set and the identity of the second satellite in the first satellite set indicate that no satellite in the first satellite set is indicated as the cooperating satellite. For example, the second information indicates the identity of the first satellite set 1, which means that the satellites 1 and 2 can be the cooperating satellites of the terminal. The terminal measures the satellites 1 and 2 and sends the measurement results (an example of the third information), and the base station receives the measurement results of the satellites 1 and 2. However, the base station determines that the satellite 1 is not suitable as the cooperating satellite of the terminal according to the beam usage of the satellites 1 and 2. Then, the base station sends the identity of the first satellite set 1 and the identity of the satellite 1. After receiving the identity of the first satellite set 1 and the identity of the satellite 1, the terminal determines that the satellite 2 in the first satellite set 1 can be the cooperating satellite of the terminal.

[0193] In other embodiments, the fourth information includes the identity of the second satellite.

[0194] The base station can indicate the second satellite as a cooperative satellite by indicating the identity of the second satellite. For example, the fourth information includes satellite 1, satellite 2, and satellite 6, which indicates that satellite 1, satellite 2, and satellite 6 can serve as cooperative satellites.

[0195] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the format and transmission timing of the fourth information, and any information indicating cooperative satellites for communication with the terminal can be regarded as the fourth information.

[0196] Through the above scheme, the second satellite measured by the base station is the satellite in the first satellite set reported by the terminal. That is, the second satellite measured by the terminal is no longer only indicated by the base station, and the terminal also screens the second satellite measured. Thus, the terminal can exclude some satellites through screening of the second satellite, so that the terminal no longer measures the excluded satellites in the re-measurement stage. The excluded satellites also do not need to send reference signals for the terminal to measure. Thus, the resources consumed by the terminal for measuring satellites are reduced. The resources consumed by the excluded satellites for sending reference signals are reduced. For example, referring to FIG. 7, in the related art, the base station can instruct the terminal to measure satellite 1 to satellite 3 and satellite 5 to satellite 8 according to the position of the terminal. In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal sends a first satellite set, and the satellites in the first satellite set include satellite 1 to 3, satellite 5, and satellite 6. Thus, the base station will no longer instruct the terminal to measure satellite 7 and satellite 8, thereby saving the resources consumed by satellite 7 and satellite 8 for sending reference signals, and saving the resources consumed by the terminal for measuring satellite 7 and satellite 8.

[0197] The above embodiments provide that the terminal sends first information, and the base station instructs the terminal to measure the signal quality between the candidate cooperative satellite (such as the second satellite) according to the first information. Thus, the terminal measurement overhead is reduced. In the following, the method for the terminal to determine the first satellite in the first information is introduced through the following embodiments. The terminal can determine the first satellite in the first satellite set according to one or more of the following: the directivity of the terminal, the position of the terminal, or the position of the visible satellites of the terminal.

[0198] For example, referring to FIG. 11, FIG. 11 shows a schematic diagram of a terminal directivity according to an embodiment of the present application. The directivity of the terminal shown in FIG. 11 has different gains at each angle, which can be referred to as a non-ideal directivity. The abscissa in the figure represents the azimuth angle of the terminal, and the ordinate represents the elevation angle of the terminal. Each box with the same filling pattern represents that the terminal has the same gain for signals sent through the angles represented by the boxes, or the gain of the terminal for signals sent through the angles represented by the boxes is within the same range. FIG. 11 shows five different gains 1 to 5.

[0199] In some embodiments, each of the gain 1 to the gain 5 represents a gain value. For example, the gain 1 is -5dBi, the gain 2 is -10dBi, the gain 3 is -15dBi, the gain 4 is -17dBi, and the gain 5 is -20dBi.

[0200] In some other embodiments, each of the gain 1 to the gain 5 represents a gain range. For example, the gain 1 is -5dBi to -4dBi, the gain 2 is -10dBi to -9dBi, the gain 3 is -15dBi to -14dBi, the gain 4 is -17dBi to -16dBi, and the gain 5 is -20dBi to -19dBi.

[0201] As shown in FIG. 11, the worse the pattern of the terminal is, the narrower the effective beam of the terminal is, and the fewer the number of satellites that the terminal can communicate with simultaneously is.

[0202] The position of the terminal can be determined according to a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

[0203] For example, the base station can determine the elevation angle between the terminal and the satellite according to the position of the satellite and the position of the terminal. When the elevation angle between the terminal and the satellite is greater than a first elevation angle, the satellite is a visible satellite of the terminal. For another example, the base station can determine whether a satellite is a visible satellite of the terminal according to the signal quality between the terminal and the satellite. For example, when the signal quality between the terminal and the satellite exceeds a first threshold, the satellite is a visible satellite of the terminal. For an example, the first threshold is 10 dBm.

[0204] In some embodiments, if the signal of the terminal can cover the serving satellite and one or more satellites simultaneously, the one or more satellites can form a first satellite set.

[0205] For an example, referring to FIG. 12, when the terminal is in the attitude 1, the terminal can cover the satellite 1, the satellite 2, and the satellite 4 simultaneously. The satellite 1 and the satellite 2 can form a first satellite set. For another example, referring to FIG. 13, when the terminal is in the attitude 2, the terminal can cover the satellite 2, the satellite 3, and the satellite 4 simultaneously. The satellite 2 and the satellite 3 can form a first satellite set.

[0206] By the above scheme, the terminal determines the first satellite in the first satellite set through one or more of a directional diagram of the terminal, a position of the terminal, or a position of a visible satellite of the terminal. The first satellite set can not include a satellite that cannot communicate with the terminal, thereby reducing the satellites measured by the terminal and saving air interface resources. For example, referring to FIG. 12, in the related art, the base station configures a cooperating satellite set for the terminal 102a according to the position of the terminal 102a and ephemeris information of the satellites 1 to 4. For example, the cooperating satellite set 1 includes the satellites 1 and 2, and the cooperating satellite set 2 includes the satellites 2 and 3. The terminal measures the satellites in the cooperating satellite set 1 and the cooperating satellite set 2. Assuming that the terminal 102a is in a posture 1 (for example, a pitch angle of 60 degrees and an azimuth angle of 90 degrees) and faces the satellites 1 to 2, the radiation intensity of the antenna array of the terminal can cover the satellites 1 to 2 at the same time. When the terminal 102a is in a posture 2 (for example, a pitch angle of 120 degrees and an azimuth angle of 90 degrees) and faces the satellites 2 and 3, the terminal can cover the satellite 2 but cannot cover the satellite 3. If the base station instructs the terminal to measure the satellite 3, it will waste the downlink configuration overhead of the base station, waste the overhead of the satellite 3 for sending a downlink reference signal for measurement, and waste the measurement overhead of the terminal.

[0207] The embodiment of the present application further provides a method. After the terminal sends the second information, the terminal can wait for a period of time. If the second information is not received within the waiting time, it is indicated that no satellite is suitable as a cooperating satellite of the terminal, and the terminal no longer measures the candidate cooperating satellite. Referring to FIG. 14, the method includes the following steps.

[0208] S1401, the base station sends fifth information. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the fifth information.

[0209] The fifth information indicates a first time period.

[0210] S1402, the base station sends sixth information. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the sixth information.

[0211] The sixth information indicates a second time period. The second time period can include one or more of a processing time delay of the base station, an air interface transmission time delay of communication between the terminal and the base station, and the like.

[0212] S1403, the terminal sends the first information and starts a timer. Correspondingly, the base station receives the first information.

[0213] The related process of the terminal sending the first information can refer to S601, which is not described here again.

[0214] In some embodiments, the terminal starts the timer when sending the first information. The timing duration of the timer is the first time period.

[0215] In some embodiments, the terminal starts the timer after the first information is sent for the second time period.

[0216] The terminal starting the timer can also be implemented as the terminal starting a monitoring window.

[0217] S1404. The base station determines the second information according to the first information.

[0218] The implementation of the example can refer to S602.

[0219] When the first satellite includes the second satellite, the base station can perform S1404.

[0220] When the first satellite does not include the second satellite, that is, all the first satellites are the third satellites, the base station can not perform S1405, so that the terminal cannot receive the second information sent by the base station. The terminal can determine that all the first satellites are the third satellites, and there is no satellite suitable for being the cooperative satellite, and the subsequent measurement is no longer performed.

[0221] S1405. The base station sends the second information. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the second information.

[0222] In some examples, the base station performs S1405 within the timing duration of the timer of the terminal. That is, before the timer of the terminal ends, the terminal can receive the second information sent by the base station.

[0223] The implementation of the example can refer to S603. In some examples, if all the satellites in the first satellite are the third satellites, the base station does not send the second information, that is, the second information does not include the first identifier.

[0224] S1406. The terminal measures the signal quality between the terminal and the second satellite to obtain third information.

[0225] S1406 can refer to S604, which will not be described here.

[0226] S1407. The terminal determines the cooperative satellite according to the third information.

[0227] S1407 can refer to S605, which will not be described here.

[0228] Through the scheme provided by the embodiments of the present application, when all the first satellites are the third satellites, the base station can not send the second information. The terminal does not receive the second information within the first time, and considers that all the first satellites are the third satellites, thereby reducing the air interface resources occupied by the base station sending the second information.

[0229] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the sequence of S1401 and S1402. For example, S1401 can be performed before S1402, S1401 can be performed after S1402, or S1401 can be performed simultaneously with S1402.

[0230] The above embodiments provide examples of the base station sending the second time period. In other embodiments, the base station can not send the sixth information, that is, the base station does not indicate the second time period. The terminal can calculate the second time period by itself. The terminal calculates the second time period in the manner of the related art, which is not described here.

[0231] The embodiments of the present application also provide a method. The terminal can send a request for the number of configured cooperative satellites. The base station configures the cooperative satellites of the terminal according to the number of cooperative satellites requested by the terminal. The method includes the following steps.

[0232] S901, the terminal sends a first number. Correspondingly, the base station receives the first number.

[0233] The number of satellites in the first satellite set is related to the first number.

[0234] In some embodiments, the first number indicates the number of satellites in the first satellite set.

[0235] In other embodiments, the first number indicates the minimum value of the number of satellites in the first satellite set. That is, the first number indicates the number of cooperative satellites that the terminal hopes to obtain at least.

[0236] In other embodiments, the first number indicates the sum of the number of satellites in the first satellite set and the number of serving satellites.

[0237] In other embodiments, the first number indicates the minimum value of the sum of the number of satellites in the first satellite set and the number of serving satellites.

[0238] In some examples, the first number is determined according to one or more of the following: the directional diagram of the terminal, the position of the terminal, the position of the visible satellites of the terminal, the communication capability of the antenna of the terminal, or the communication demand of the terminal.

[0239] Referring to the above terminal determining the first satellite in the first satellite set, the terminal can determine the number of visible satellites when the terminal is oriented in different directions. For example, the first number is equal to the maximum number of visible satellites when the terminal is oriented in a certain direction.

[0240] The pattern of the terminal can be represented by an azimuth angle and an elevation angle. The range of the azimuth angle is 0-360 degrees, and the range of the elevation angle is 0-180 degrees. Each {azimuth angle, elevation angle} of the terminal corresponds to a gain. When the proportion of the {azimuth angle, elevation angle} with high gain in all {azimuth angle, elevation angle} of the terminal is large, it indicates that the communication capability of the antenna of the terminal is strong. When the proportion of the {azimuth angle, elevation angle} with high gain in all {azimuth angle, elevation angle} of the terminal is small, it indicates that the communication capability of the antenna of the terminal is weak. For example, a gain greater than 8 dB is high gain. Illustratively, if the proportion of the {azimuth angle, elevation angle} with high gain in all {azimuth angle, elevation angle} of the terminal is greater than 80%, then the first number is 5. If the proportion of the {azimuth angle, elevation angle} with high gain in all {azimuth angle, elevation angle} of the terminal is greater than 60%, greater than 40%, or greater than 20%, then the first number is 4, 3, or 2, respectively.

[0241] Illustratively, if the terminal needs high-speed communication, it indicates that the communication demand of the terminal is high, and more cooperating satellites are needed, so the first number is larger, such as the first number is 3. If the terminal does not need high-speed communication, it indicates that the communication demand of the terminal is low, and fewer cooperating satellites are needed, so the first number is smaller, such as the first number is 1.

[0242] In some embodiments, the first number is the minimum value determined by the terminal according to the pattern of the terminal, the communication capability of the antenna of the terminal, and the communication demand of the terminal. For example, the terminal determines that the maximum number of visible satellites is 4 according to the pattern of the terminal. The communication capability of the antenna of the terminal is to communicate with 4 satellites simultaneously, and the communication demand of the terminal is 1 satellite, so the terminal can determine that the first number is 1. For another example, the terminal determines that the maximum number of visible satellites is 1 according to the pattern of the terminal. The communication capability of the antenna of the terminal is to communicate with 2 satellites simultaneously, and the communication demand of the terminal is 4 satellites, so the terminal can determine that the first number is 1.

[0243] In some embodiments, the first number is the intermediate value determined by the terminal according to the pattern of the terminal, the communication capability of the antenna of the terminal, and the communication demand of the terminal. For example, the terminal determines that the maximum number of visible satellites is 4 according to the pattern of the terminal. The communication capability of the antenna of the terminal is to communicate with 4 satellites simultaneously, and the communication demand of the terminal is 1 satellite, so the terminal can determine that the first number is 4.

[0244] S902, the base station sends a response message for the first number. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the response message for the first number.

[0245] The response message for the first number is used to indicate that the base station receives the first number.

[0246] In some examples, the base station employs a 1-bit indication for the first number of response messages. For example, the base station sends a 1-bit indication to indicate that the first number of response messages are received.

[0247] In some examples, the first number of response messages comprises a second number of satellites in each first satellite set of the terminal configured by the base station. The second number can be equal to the first number. Or the second number can not be equal to the first number. For example, the first number is equal to 3, and the second number is equal to 2. Or the first number is equal to 2, and the second number is equal to 2. Or the first number is equal to 2, and the second number is equal to 3.

[0248] For example, in the case that the first number indicates the minimum value of the number of satellites in the first satellite set, the second number is greater than or equal to the first number.

[0249] In some embodiments, the maximum number of satellites in the first satellite set is less than or equal to the second number. For example, referring to Table 1, assuming that the second number is 3. The number of satellites in the first satellite set 1 and the first satellite set K shown in Table 1 is 2, which is the maximum number of satellites in the first satellite set, and the maximum number of satellites in the first satellite set is less than 3.

[0250] In some examples, the terminal can perform the method shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 14 after performing S901. In some embodiments, the terminal can determine the number of first satellites in each first satellite set according to the second number indicated by the base station.

[0251] The embodiments of the present application also provide a method. The base station can send the number of cooperating satellites to the terminal. In some examples, the number of cooperating satellites is the number of cooperating satellites that simultaneously cooperate with the serving satellite to transmit data. For example, referring to Table 2, the number of cooperating satellites can be the number of first satellites in the first satellite set 1. The method comprises the following steps.

[0252] S201, the base station sends the second number. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the second number.

[0253] The number of satellites in the first satellite set is related to the second number.

[0254] In some embodiments, the base station can send the second number according to the beam usage and / or load condition of the visible satellites of the terminal.

[0255] In some examples, the terminal can perform the method shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 14 after performing S201. In some embodiments, the terminal can determine the number of first satellites in each first satellite set according to the second number indicated by the base station.

[0256] The above embodiments provide the scheme that the terminal sends the first information in S601, the terminal sends the first number in S901, and the base station sends the second number in S201. In some embodiments, the terminal determines to start the cooperative satellite update before S601, S901 or S201.

[0257] The terminal can determine to send the first number according to one or more of the following information: the signal quality of the service satellite, the signal quality of the cooperative satellite, the ephemeris information of the service satellite, or the ephemeris information of the cooperative satellite.

[0258] For example, the terminal determines to start the cooperative satellite update according to the signal quality of the service satellite and the signal quality of the cooperative satellite. For example, referring to FIG. 7, satellite 4 is the service satellite and satellite 7 is the cooperative satellite. If the signal quality of satellite 4 is greater than the second threshold value and the signal quality of satellite 7 is less than the second threshold value, the terminal determines to start the cooperative satellite update. For example, the second threshold value is 1 dBm.

[0259] For another example, the terminal determines to start the cooperative satellite update according to the ephemeris information of the service satellite and the ephemeris information of the cooperative satellite. For example, referring to FIG. 7, satellite 4 is the service satellite and satellite 7 is the cooperative satellite. The terminal can determine to start the cooperative satellite update according to the elevation angle, distance or remaining service time of the service satellite and the cooperative satellite. For example, if the ephemeris information of satellite 4 indicates that the remaining service time of satellite 4 is greater than a first time length and the ephemeris information of satellite 7 indicates that the remaining service time of satellite 7 is less than a second time length, the terminal determines to start the cooperative satellite update. For example, the first time length is 50 seconds and the second time length is 20 seconds.

[0260] For another example, the terminal determines to start the cooperative satellite update according to the signal quality of the service satellite, the signal quality of the cooperative satellite, the ephemeris information of the service satellite and the ephemeris information of the cooperative satellite. For example, referring to FIG. 7, satellite 4 is the service satellite and satellite 7 is the cooperative satellite. If the ephemeris information of satellite 4 indicates that the remaining service time of satellite 4 is greater than a first time length, the ephemeris information of satellite 7 indicates that the remaining service time of satellite 7 is less than a second time length, the signal quality of satellite 4 is greater than a second threshold value and the signal quality of satellite 7 is less than the second threshold value.

[0261] In some embodiments, the terminal determining to start the cooperative satellite update can be implemented as S601.

[0262] In some other embodiments, the terminal determining to start the cooperative satellite update can be implemented as S901.

[0263] In some other embodiments, the terminal determining to start the cooperative satellite update can be implemented as S301.

[0264] S301, the terminal sends the ninth information. Correspondingly, the base station receives the ninth information.

[0265] The ninth information is used for indicating that the terminal starts the cooperative satellite updating. After receiving S301, the base station can perform S201.

[0266] Through the above scheme, the terminal starts the cooperative satellite updating when the above conditions are met, improves the communication effect of the cooperative satellite of the terminal, and thus improves the communication quality of the terminal.

[0267] It can be understood that, in order to realize the functions in the above embodiments, the base station and the terminal comprise corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for performing various functions. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and method steps of the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in the present application, the present application can be realized in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is realized in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0268] FIGS. 15 and 16 are structural schematic diagrams of possible communication apparatuses provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication apparatuses can be used to realize the functions of the terminal or the base station or the central processing node in the above method embodiments, and thus can also realize the beneficial effects possessed by the above method embodiments. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication apparatus can be the terminal 120 shown in FIG. 3, the terminal 1 or the terminal 2 shown in FIG. 4, or the terminal 3 shown in FIG. 5, can be the base station 110 shown in FIG. 3, the base station 1 or the base station 2 shown in FIG. 4, or the base station 3 shown in FIG. 5, can be the satellite 3 shown in FIG. 5, can be the ground station shown in FIG. 4 or the ground station shown in FIG. 5, can be the core network node such as the AMF shown in FIG. 4 or the core network node shown in FIG. 5, or can be a module (such as a chip) applied to a terminal, a base station or a satellite.

[0269] As shown in FIG. 15, the communication apparatus 1300 comprises a processing unit 1310 and a transceiver unit 1320. The communication apparatus 1300 is used to realize the functions of the terminal or the base station or the central processing node in the method embodiments shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 9, 10 or 14.

[0270] When the communication apparatus 1300 is used to realize the functions of the terminal in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to send the first information and receive the second information; and the processing unit 1310 is used to measure the signal quality between the terminal and the second satellite and determine the cooperative satellite according to the third information.

[0271] When the communication apparatus 1300 is used to realize the functions of the base station in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to receive the first information and send the second information; and the processing unit 1310 is used to determine the second information according to the first information.

[0272] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the function of the base station in the method embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the transceiver 1320 is configured to send the seventh information and receive the eighth information; the processing unit 1310 is configured to perform the function related to processing.

[0273] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the function of the satellite in the method embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the transceiver 1320 is configured to receive the seventh information and send the eighth information; the processing unit 1310 is configured to perform the function related to processing.

[0274] In some other embodiments, when the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the function of the base station in the method embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the transceiver 1320 is further configured to send the first information and receive the second information.

[0275] In some other embodiments, when the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the function of the central processing node in the method embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the transceiver 1320 is configured to receive the first information, send the second information, send the seventh information and receive the eighth information; the processing unit 1310 is configured to perform the function related to processing.

[0276] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the function of the terminal in the method embodiment shown in Fig. 10, the transceiver 1320 is configured to send the third information and receive the fourth information; the processing unit 1310 is configured to perform the function related to processing.

[0277] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the function of the base station in the method embodiment shown in Fig. 10, the transceiver 1320 is configured to send the fourth information and receive the third information; the processing unit 1310 is configured to determine the fourth information according to the third information.

[0278] For more detailed description of the processing unit 1310 and the transceiver 1320, please refer to the description of the method embodiments shown in Fig. 6, Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10 or Fig. 14.

[0279] As shown in Fig. 16, the communication apparatus 1400 comprises a processor 1410 and an interface circuit 1420. The processor 1410 and the interface circuit 1420 are coupled with each other. It can be understood that the interface circuit 1420 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication apparatus 1400 further comprises a memory 1430 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1410 or storing input data required by the processor 1410 for running instructions or storing data generated after the processor 1410 runs instructions. Optionally, the memory 1430 and the processor 1410 are integrated together.

[0280] When the communication apparatus 1400 is used to implement the method shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10 or FIG. 14, the processor 1410 is configured to implement the functions of the processing unit 1310 described above, and the interface circuit 1420 is configured to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 1320 described above.

[0281] When the communication apparatus described above is a terminal chip, the terminal chip implements the functions of the terminal in the method embodiments described above. The terminal chip receives information from a base station, which can be understood as that the information is first received by other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the terminal, and then transmitted to the terminal chip by the modules. The terminal chip transmits information to the base station, which can be understood as that the information is first transmitted to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the terminal, and then transmitted to the base station by the modules.

[0282] When the communication apparatus described above is a base station chip, the base station chip implements the functions of the base station in the method embodiments described above. The base station chip receives information from a terminal, which can be understood as that the information is first received by other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the base station, and then transmitted to the base station chip by the modules. The base station chip transmits information to the terminal, which can be understood as that the information is first transmitted to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the base station, and then transmitted to the terminal by the modules.

[0283] In the present application, when entity A transmits information to entity B, it can be that A directly transmits to B, or A indirectly transmits to B through other entities. Similarly, when entity B receives information from entity A, it can be that entity B directly receives the information transmitted by entity A, or entity B indirectly receives the information transmitted by entity A through other entities. Here, entity A and B can be RAN nodes or terminals, or modules inside RAN nodes or terminals. The transmission and reception of information can be the information interaction between RAN nodes and terminals, for example, the information interaction between a base station and a terminal; the transmission and reception of information can also be the information interaction between two RAN nodes, for example, the information interaction between a CU and a DU; the transmission and reception of information can also be the information interaction between different modules inside one apparatus, for example, the information interaction between a terminal chip and other modules in the terminal, or the information interaction between a base station chip and other modules in the base station.

[0284] It is to be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application can be a central processing unit (CPU), and can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0285] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware, or in software instructions executable by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an erasable programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor, so that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. The storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a base station or a terminal. The processor and the storage medium can also exist as discrete components in a base station or a terminal.

[0286] Optionally, the present application also provides a computer program product. All or part of the processes in the above method embodiments can be instructed by a computer program to relevant hardware to complete, and the program can be stored in the above computer program product. When the program is executed, the program can include the processes of the above method embodiments.

[0287] Optionally, the present application also provides a computer instruction. All or part of the processes in the above method embodiments can be instructed by a computer instruction to relevant hardware (such as a computer, a processor, a wireless relay device, a terminal or a RAN node, etc.) to complete. The program can be stored in the above computer readable storage medium or the above computer program product.

[0288] 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 programs or instructions. When the computer programs or instructions are loaded on a computer and executed, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed. The computer can be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user equipment or other programmable apparatus. The computer programs or 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 programs or instructions can be transmitted from one website site, computer, server or data center to another website site, computer, server or data center through wired or wireless manner. The computer readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center and the like integrated with one or more available media. The available media can be a magnetic medium, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape; or an optical medium, for example, a digital video disc; or a semiconductor medium, for example, a solid state disk. The computer readable storage medium can be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or can include both volatile and non-volatile storage media.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: sending first information, the first information being used for requesting a first node in a first node set as a cooperative node of a terminal, the cooperative node being used for a serving node of the cooperative terminal to transmit data between the terminal and a core network; receiving second information, the second information being determined according to the first information, the second information being used for indicating that a second node can be the cooperative node or indicating that a third node cannot be the cooperative node, the second node and the third node belonging to the first node set; measuring a signal quality between the terminal and the second node to obtain third information, the third information being used for indicating the signal quality between the terminal and the second node; determining the cooperative node according to the third information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The determining the cooperative node according to the third information comprises: sending the third information; receiving fourth information, the fourth information being used for indicating a node as the cooperative node or indicating that there is no node as the cooperative node.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first information comprises an identifier of the first node, the identifier of the first node comprising at least one of the following: an index of the first node, ephemeris information of the first node, a physical cell identifier index of the first node, or information of a control resource set of the first node.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The number of the first node set is one or more, and the first information further comprises an identifier of each of the first node set.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, The second information comprises: an identifier of a second node set, the second node set being: the first node set containing only the second node, or an identifier of the second node, or an identifier of the third node, or an identifier of the first node set and an identifier of the third node in the first node set, or an identifier of the first node set and an identifier of the second node in the first node set, or a first identifier, the first identifier being used for indicating that all the first nodes are the third node, or a second identifier, the second identifier being used for indicating that all the first nodes are the second node.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving fifth information, the fifth information indicating a first time period; receiving sixth information, the sixth information indicating a second time period; starting a timer when the first information is sent or after a second time period from when the first information is sent, a timing duration of the timer being the first time period.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The fourth information comprises an identifier of the first node set, or an identifier of the second node, or an identifier of the first node set and an identifier of the second node in the first node set, or a first identifier, the first identifier being used for indicating that there is no second node as the cooperative node of the terminal.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The method further comprises: sending a first number, a number of nodes in the first node set being related to the first number; or receiving a second number, a number of nodes in the first node set being related to the second number. Before the first information is sent, the method further comprises:

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, determining the first node in the first node set according to one or more of the following: a direction pattern of the terminal, a position of the terminal, or a visible node position of the terminal. The method comprises:

10. A communication method characterized by comprising: ​ receiving first information, the first information being used for requesting a first node in a first node set as a cooperating node of a terminal, the cooperating node being used for a serving node of the cooperating terminal to transmit data between the terminal and a core network; sending second information, the first information being determined according to the second information, the second information being used for indicating that a second node can be the cooperating node or a third node cannot be the cooperating node, the second node and the third node belonging to the first node set.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, Further comprising: receiving third information, the third information being used for indicating a signal quality between the terminal and the second node; determining fourth information according to the third information; sending the fourth information, the fourth information being used for indicating a node as the cooperating node or indicating no node as the cooperating node.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The first information comprises an identity of the first node, the identity of the first node comprising at least one of the following: an index of the first node, ephemeris information of the first node, a physical cell identity index of the first node, or information of a control resource set of the first node.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, The number of the first node set is one or more, and the first information further comprises an identity of each of the first node set.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, The second information comprises: an identity of a second node set, the second node set being: the first node set containing only second nodes, or an identity of the second node, or an identity of the third node, or an identity of the first node set and an identity of a third node in the first node set, or an identity of the first node set and an identity of a second node in the first node set, or a first identity, the first identity being used for indicating that all the first nodes are third nodes, or a second identity, the second identity being used for indicating that all the first nodes are second nodes.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that, The method further comprises: sending fifth information, the fifth information indicating a first time period; sending sixth information, the sixth information indicating a second time period; The first time period is used for indicating that the terminal starts a timer when the first information is sent or after the first information is sent for the second time period.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10-15, characterized in that, The fourth information comprises an identity of the first node set, or an identity of the second node, or an identity of the first node set and an identity of a second node in the first node set, or a first identity, the first identity being used for indicating that there is no second node as the cooperating node of the terminal.

17. The method according to any one of claims 10-16, characterized in that, Further comprising: receiving a first number, a number of nodes in the first node set being related to the first number; Or, sending a second number, a number of nodes in the first node set being related to the second number.

18. The method according to any one of claims 10-17, characterized in that, The first node in the first node set is determined according to one or more of the following: a direction pattern of the terminal, a position of the terminal, or a visible node position of the terminal.

19. The method according to any one of claims 10-18, characterized in that, Before the sending of the second information, further comprising: sending the first information; receiving the second information, the second information indicating that each of a plurality of first nodes can or cannot be the cooperating node.

20. The method according to any one of claims 10-18, characterized in that, Before the sending of the second information, further comprising: sending seventh information, the seventh information being used for requesting one of the first nodes as the cooperation node; receiving one or more eighth information, the eighth information indicating that the one of the first nodes can or cannot be the cooperation node; determining the second information according to the one or more eighth information.

21. A method of communication, comprising: comprising: receiving first information, the first information being used for requesting a first node in a first node set as a cooperation node of a terminal, the cooperation node being used for a serving node of the terminal to transmit data between the terminal and a core network; sending second information, the second information being determined according to the first information, the second information being used for indicating that a second node can be the cooperation node or indicating that a third node cannot be the cooperation node, the second node and the third node belonging to the first node set.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, Before the sending second information, the method further comprises: sending seventh information, the seventh information being used for requesting one of the first nodes as the cooperation node; receiving one or more eighth information, the eighth information indicating that the one of the first nodes can or cannot be the cooperation node; determining the second information according to the one or more eighth information.

23. The method of claim 21 or 22, wherein the central processing node is a radio access network (RAN) node, a gateway, or a server.

24. A communication system, characterized by comprising a first communication device performing the method of any one of claims 1-9 and a second communication device performing the method of any one of claims 10-20; or comprising a first communication device performing the method of any one of claims 1-9, a second communication device performing the method of any one of claims 10-20, and a central processing node performing the method of any one of claims 21-23.

25. A communications device, characterized by comprising means or modules for performing the method of any one of claims 1-9, or comprising means or modules for performing the method of any one of claims 10-20, or comprising means or modules for performing the method of any one of claims 21-23.

26. A communications device, characterized by comprising: a communication interface for receiving and / or sending signals, and at least one processor configured to enable the method of any one of claims 1-9 to be performed, or configured to enable the method of any one of claims 10-20 to be performed, or configured to enable the method of any one of claims 21-23 to be performed.

27. The communication apparatus according to claim 26, wherein further comprising: a memory for storing a computer program, the processor being configured to enable the method of any one of claims 1 to 9 to be performed, comprising the processor being configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 9; or the processor being configured to enable the method of any one of claims 10 to 20 to be performed, comprising the processor being configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory to perform the method of any one of claims 10 to 20; or the processor being configured to enable the method of any one of claims 21 to 23 to be performed, comprising the processor being configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory to perform the method of any one of claims 21 to 23.

28. The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 26-27, wherein, The communication device is a chip.

29. A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, the computer-readable storage medium comprising: The instructions, when executed by a processor, implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 9, or the instructions, when executed by a processor, implement the method of any one of claims 10 to 20, or the instructions, when executed by a processor, implement the method of any one of claims 21 to 23.

30. A computer program product comprising a computer program, characterised in that, The computer program, when executed by a processor, implements the method of any one of claims 1 to 9, or the computer program, when executed by a processor, implements the method of any one of claims 10 to 20, or the computer program, when executed by a processor, implements the method of any one of claims 21 to 23.

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