Data transmission method and apparatus

Abstract

A data transmission method and apparatus. The method comprises: for first sensing data corresponding to a same time unit, the first sensing data can be transmitted by determining N PDCP PDUs, wherein one PDCP PDU comprises part of the first sensing data. In this way, segmented transmission of the large-volume first sensing data can be realized, and compatibility with a current air interface data transmission method can be achieved, thereby improving the transmission efficiency of sensing data.

Description

Data transmission method and apparatus

[0001] Cross-reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202411048725.8, filed on July 31, 2024, and entitled “A Data Transmission Method and Apparatus”, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a data transmission method and apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0004] With the development of communication technology, communication and perception fusion technology is proposed. The core idea of the communication and perception fusion technology is to add perception capability on the mobile communication network, and to build the ability of target detection, tracking and imaging, so as to integrate the communication and perception capabilities in one network system. The principle of the perception technology is that the sending end sends a signal (also called a perception signal), the perception signal reaches the perception target, is reflected by the perception target, the receiving end receives the reflected perception signal (also called a return signal), and processes the received return signal to obtain information such as the position, speed or type of the perception target.

[0005] The terminal device, as a perception device, acquires perception measurement data. If the perception demander is the network side, the terminal device needs to report the perception measurement data to the network side. The data volume of the perception measurement data is very large, for example, for moving target detection, the data volume of the perception measurement data is about 100G. Therefore, how to efficiently transmit the perception measurement data is a problem to be solved. SUMMARY

[0006] The present application provides a data transmission method and apparatus to improve the efficiency of perception data transmission.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a data transmission method, the execution subject of the method is a terminal device or a module or chip in the terminal device, and here the terminal device is taken as an example for description. The method comprises: determining N packet data convergence layer protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs), N being an integer greater than 1; the N PDCP PDUs are used to transmit first perception data, the first perception data corresponding to a same time unit, and one PDCP PDU comprising partial data of the first perception data; and transmitting the N PDCP PDUs.

[0008] By the method, the first perception data corresponding to the same time unit can be transmitted through the N PDCP PDUs, so that the segmented transmission of the first perception data with a large data amount can be implemented, the data transmission method of the current air interface can be compatible, and the transmission efficiency of the perception data is improved.

[0009] In a possible implementation, the determining the N packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) includes: determining N perception data packets according to the first perception data; one of the perception data packets includes first information and partial data of the first perception data, and the first information indicates a position of the partial data included in the perception data packet in the first perception data; determining the N PDCP PDUs according to N PDCP service data units (SDUs); one of the N PDCP SDUs includes one of the N perception data packets, one of the N PDCP PDUs is determined according to one of the N PDCP SDUs, and a data amount of one of the perception data packets is less than or equal to a maximum data amount of the PDCP PDU.

[0010] By the method, the first perception data is divided into N partial data at the perception protocol layer, and each partial data can be used to determine one perception data packet, because a data amount of one of the perception data packets is less than or equal to a maximum data amount of the PDCP PDU, the transmission of the first perception data can be compatible with the related protocol of the PDCP layer, and the data transmission efficiency is improved. In addition, the receiver can restore or recover the first perception data according to the first information of each data packet.

[0011] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving first indication information from the access network device, and the first indication information indicates the maximum data amount of the perception data packet.

[0012] In a possible implementation, the determining the N PDCP PDUs includes: determining a perception data packet according to the first perception data; and determining the N PDCP PDUs according to a first PDCP SDU, wherein the first PDCP SDU includes the perception data packet, and one of the N PDCP PDUs includes a part of the first PDCP SDU.

[0013] By the method, the first perception data is divided into N PDCP PDUs at the PDCP layer, so that the transmission of the first perception data can be compatible with the related protocol of the PDCP layer, and the data transmission efficiency is improved.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the PDCP PDU further includes second information, where the second information indicates a position of the PDCP PDU in the first PDCP SDU.

[0015] By this method, the receiving end can restore or recover the first perception data according to the second information.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending third information, where the third information indicates a PDCP sequence number range of the PDCP PDU corresponding to the first PDCP SDU.

[0017] By this method, the receiving end can determine whether the reception of the first perception data is completed, and improve the data transmission efficiency.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the perception data packet is a data packet corresponding to a perception protocol layer.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the perception data packet further includes fourth information, where the fourth information indicates the time unit or the sequence number corresponding to the first perception data.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the time unit is a refresh period, an accumulation period, a generation period, a measurement period, or a reporting period of the first perception data.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: determining the first perception data.

[0022] In a second aspect, the present application provides a data transmission method, an execution subject of the method is an access network device or a module or chip in the access network device, and here, the access network device is taken as an execution subject for example. The method includes: receiving N packet data convergence layer protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDU) from a terminal device, where N is an integer greater than 1; the N PDCP PDUs are used to transmit first perception data, the first perception data corresponds to a same time unit, and one PDCP PDU includes partial data of the first perception data; determining the first perception data or N perception data packets according to the N PDCP PDUs; one PDCP PDU in the N PDCP PDUs includes one perception data packet in the N perception data packets, and one perception data packet includes partial data of the first perception data; and sending the first perception data or the N perception data packets.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the N PDCP PDUs are determined according to N PDCP service data units (SDUs); one of the N PDCP SDUs includes one of the N perception data packets.

[0024] The one of the N PDCP PDUs is determined according to one of the N PDCP SDUs, and a data amount of the one of the perception data packets is less than or equal to a maximum data amount of the PDCP PDU.

[0025] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0026] The first indication information is transmitted, and the first indication information indicates a maximum data amount of the perception data packet.

[0027] In a possible implementation, the N PDCP PDUs are determined according to a first PDCP SDU, one of the N PDCP PDUs includes a part of the first PDCP SDU, and the first PDCP SDU includes the first perception data.

[0028] In a possible implementation, the PDCP PDU further includes second information, and the second information indicates a position of the PDCP PDU in the first PDCP SDU.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving third information, and the third information indicates a PDCP sequence number range of a PDCP PDU corresponding to the first PDCP SDU.

[0030] In a possible implementation, the perception data packet is a data packet corresponding to a perception protocol layer.

[0031] In a possible implementation, the perception data packet further includes fourth information, and the fourth information indicates the time unit or the sequence number corresponding to the first perception data.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the time unit is a refresh period, an accumulation period, a generation period, a measurement period, or a reporting period of the first perception data.

[0033] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which can implement any method provided in any of the first aspect to the second aspect. The communication apparatus can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0034] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus includes a processor configured to support the communication apparatus to perform the corresponding functions of the access network device or the terminal device or the core network device in the above method. The communication apparatus can further include a memory coupled to the processor, which stores program instructions and data necessary for the communication apparatus. Optionally, the communication apparatus further includes an interface circuit for supporting the communication between the communication apparatus and other devices such as terminal devices.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus includes corresponding functional modules for implementing the steps in the above method, respectively. The functions can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0036] In a possible implementation, the structure of the communication apparatus includes a processing unit and a communication unit, which can perform the corresponding functions in the above method examples, and the details are described in the method provided in any of the first aspect to the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the structure of the communication apparatus includes a processing unit and a communication unit, which can perform the corresponding functions in the above method examples, and the details are described in the method provided in any of the first aspect to the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the structure of the communication apparatus includes a processing unit and a communication unit, which can perform the corresponding functions in the above method examples, and the details are described in the method provided in any of the first aspect to the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0039] In a possible implementation, the structure of the communication apparatus includes a processing unit and a communication unit, which can perform the corresponding functions in the above method examples, and the details are described in the method provided in any of the first aspect to the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0040] In a possible implementation, the structure of the communication apparatus includes a processing unit and a communication unit, which can perform the corresponding functions in the above method examples, and the details are described in the method provided in any of the first aspect to the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0041] In an eighth aspect, a chip is provided, which includes a processor, and the processor, when executing a computer program or instructions, is configured to implement the method in any possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the second aspect. Optionally, the chip further includes a memory, and the chip can be configured by the chip or can include the chip and other discrete devices.

[0042] In a ninth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes a processor, and the processor, by logic circuit or executing a computer program or instructions, implements the method in any possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0043] In a tenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes a unit or module configured to implement the method in any possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0044] In an eleventh aspect, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication system. The communication system includes: a terminal device configured to implement the method in the first aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect; and an access network device configured to implement the method in the second aspect and any possible implementation of the second aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of multiple sensing modes provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0046] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0047] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a core network architecture provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0048] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of two typical architectures of introducing SF at the RAN side provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0049] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of potential communication interfaces of SU provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0050] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a protocol stack provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0051] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a data transmission method flow provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0052] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of division of first sensing data provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0053] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of division of first sensing data provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0054] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of PDCP PDU determination provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0055] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a PDCP PDU provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. The terms "first", "second", and corresponding terms of reference labels in the present application are used to distinguish similar objects, and do not necessarily indicate a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the terms used in this way can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances, which is only a distinguishing way used in the description of the embodiments of the present application to describe the objects with the same attributes. In addition, the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that the processes, methods, systems, products or devices containing a series of units do not have to be limited to those units, but can include other units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices. The methods and devices provided by the embodiments of the present application are based on the same or similar technical concepts, and since the principles of the devices and methods for solving problems are similar, the implementation of the devices and methods can be mutually referred to, and the repeated parts will not be described again.

[0060] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to an integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) system. The integrated sensing and communication system refers to a system in which communication and sensing are integrated, also known as a harmonized communication and sensing (HCS) system. The core idea of the integrated sensing and communication is to add sensing capability to the communication network, and to build the ability to detect, track and image targets, so that the two capabilities of communication and sensing are integrated into one network.

[0061] The method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various mobile communication systems, for example, can be an internet of things (IoT), narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT), can be a 4th generation (4G) communication system (for example, long term evolution (LTE)), can also be a 5th generation (5G) communication system (for example, 5G new radio (NR)), can also be a mixed architecture of LTE and NR, can also be a new communication system in future communication development, and the like.

[0062] Before introducing the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application, first, the technical terms related by the embodiments of the present application, the network architecture applicable and the scene, and the like are introduced.

[0063] (1) Sensing, which can also be replaced by: sensing process, sensing operation, sensing detection, detection process.

[0064] Sensing can be understood as a technology capable of obtaining environmental and / or object feature information in the environment. The object feature information in the environment includes but is not limited to shape, size, direction, speed, position, distance between objects or relative motion, and the like. The working principle of sensing is that the sending end sends a sensing signal, the receiving end receives a signal reflected by a sensing target (also referred to as a return signal) of the sensing signal, and obtains a sensing result such as speed, distance, shape, size, and the like according to the return signal. The sensing target can also be referred to as a target, a detected target, a sensed object, a detected object, or a sensed target, and is not limited. The sensing target can be various tangible objects in the environment that can reflect electromagnetic waves. For example, the sensing target can be a stationary object such as a building. For another example, the sensing target can also be a movable object such as a vehicle, a drone, or a terminal device.

[0065] (2) Sensing data. The sensing data can include a return signal or channel response information of the return signal; or the sensing data can also include sensing measurement data; or the sensing data can also include a sensing result.

[0066] The echo signal refers to a signal reflected back to the receiver after the sensing signal is transmitted from the transmitter to the target object. The sensing signal is used to sense (or detect) the sensed target (or target object). The sensing signal is also referred to as a detection signal, a chirp signal, a radar signal, a radar sensing signal, a radar detection signal, an environmental sensing signal, and the like. The sensing signal can be a pulse signal or a signal that can be used in a wireless communication system, such as an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal.

[0067] The channel response information of the echo signal can include at least one of amplitude data, phase data, in-phase (I) data, and quadrature (Q) data determined according to the echo signal.

[0068] The sensing measurement data refers to data obtained after processing the echo signal. The processing of the echo signal involves multiple links, and the data obtained by each processing link can be referred to as sensing measurement data. For example, the sensing measurement data can include one or more of time delay, Doppler, angle, and intensity of a sampling point, or can represent one or more of position, velocity, and intensity of the sampling point. For example, the sensing data includes but is not limited to one or more of the following: in-phase quadrature (IQ) data, range / Doppler (RD) spectrum, range / Doppler / angle (RDA) spectrum, distance / velocity (DV) spectrum, distance / velocity / angle (DVA) spectrum, range / velocity (RV) spectrum, range / velocity / angle (RVA) spectrum, a set of coordinate points, a point cloud, a centroid of a real target, and the like.

[0069] The sensing result refers to a result related to a business function and performance obtained based on processing such as calculation and analysis of the sensing measurement data. For example, the sensing result includes whether the sensed target exists, some information of the sensed target (such as speed, distance, angle, orientation, acceleration, position, moving track, imaging result, expression, breathing / heartbeat frequency, and the like). The sensing result varies according to the sensed target. For example, if the sensed target is air, the sensing result includes air quality, gas components included in the air, and the like. For another example, if the sensed target is a vehicle, the sensing result includes the number of vehicles, the position of the vehicle, the moving track of the vehicle, and the like.

[0070] (3) Access network device refers to a (radio) access network ((R)AN) device / RAN node. In the embodiments of the present application, the (R)AN and the RAN can be replaced. The access network device can also be referred to as a network apparatus or a wireless access network device.

[0071] The RAN can be a third generation partnership project (3GPP) related cellular system, for example, a 5G / new radio (NR) mobile communication system, or a future-oriented evolved system / network. The RAN can also be an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a virtualized RAN (vRAN), a non-terrestrial network (NTN), etc. The RAN can also be a communication system in which two or more of the above systems are fused. The RAN device can also be referred to as a RAN node, a RAN entity, or an access node, etc. In future scenarios, the access network device can also have other evolved forms.

[0072] In a possible scenario, the RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a base station in a future communication network, an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a satellite, etc. The RAN node can be a macro base station, a micro base station, an indoor station, a relay node, a donor node / host, or a radio controller, etc. The RAN node can also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or a vehicle-mounted device, etc. For example, the RAN node in vehicle to everything (V2X) technology can be a road side unit (RSU).

[0073] In another possible scenario, a RAN node can be a module or unit that completes part of functions of a base station; or multiple RAN nodes cooperate to assist a terminal device to implement wireless access, and different RAN nodes respectively implement part of functions of a base station. For example, a RAN node can be a CU, a DU, a radio unit (RU), or the like. The functions of a CU can be implemented by one entity, or can also be implemented by different entities. For example, the functions of the CU can be further divided, that is, the control plane and the user plane are separated and implemented by different entities, respectively, as a control plane CU entity (that is, a CU-control plane (CP) entity) and a user plane CU entity (that is, a CU-user plane (UP) entity). The CU-CP entity and the CU-UP entity can be coupled with the DU to jointly complete the functions of the RAN node. The CU and the DU can be separately arranged, or can be included in the same network element, for example, in a baseband unit (BBU). Any one of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), the DU, and the RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0074] The CU and the DU can be configured according to the protocol layer functions of the wireless network they implement: for example, the CU is configured to implement functions of a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer and protocol layers above the PDCP layer (for example, an RRC layer and / or a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, and the like); and the DU is configured to implement functions of protocol layers below the PDCP layer (for example, a radio link control (RLC) layer, a MAC layer, and / or a physical (PHY) layer, and the like). For specific descriptions of the above-mentioned various protocol layers, reference can be made to relevant technical specifications of the 3GPP or technical specifications of other applicable communication protocols.

[0075] The above-mentioned processing functions of the CU and the DU are merely examples according to the division of protocol layers, and can be divided in other manners, which is not limited in the present application. For example, in one design, the CU or the DU can also be divided into partial processing functions with protocol layers. In one design, partial functions of the RLC layer and functions of protocol layers above the RLC layer are arranged in the CU, and the remaining functions of the RLC layer and functions of protocol layers below the RLC layer are arranged in the DU. In some examples, the CU can have no PDCP layer, i.e., only include the RRC layer. The CU-CP has no PDCP-C. The CU-UP can have no PDCP-U, or have no CU-UP at all. In some examples, the DU can have no RLC layer, only have the MAC and higher PHY layers. In addition, in some examples, there can be no CU, only the DU.

[0076] When the RAN is an O-RAN, it can also have an artificial intelligence (AI) function, for example, the O-RAN includes an intelligent controller. The intelligent controller can be a non-real-time RAN intelligent controller (non-real time RAN intelligent controller, non-RT RIC / NRT RIC), or a near-real-time RAN intelligent controller (near-real time RAN intelligent controller, near-RT RIC / nRT RIC). The non-real-time RIC can be used to implement non-real-time intelligent management of the RAN function, can implement a workflow including model training and model updating, and guide applications / functions in the nRT RIC based on a policy. The near-real-time RIC can be used to implement near-real-time intelligent management of the RAN. Through data collection and related operations on the E2 interface, near-real-time control and optimization of modules and resources of the O-RAN are implemented.

[0077] (4) Terminal device. The terminal device involved in the embodiments of the present application can be a wireless terminal device capable of receiving network device scheduling and indication information. The terminal device can also be referred to as a terminal device, a user equipment (UE), a terminal, a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), etc. The terminal device can be a device including a wireless communication function (providing voice / data connectivity to a user). For example, a handheld device with a wireless connection function, or a vehicle-mounted device, a vehicle-mounted module, etc. At present, some examples of terminal devices are: a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a palm computer, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in vehicle networking, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, or a wireless terminal in smart home, a device-to-device (D2D) terminal device, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication terminal device, a smart vehicle, a telematics box (T-box), a machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC) terminal device, an internet of things (IoT) terminal device, etc. For example, the terminal device can be a vehicle-mounted device, a whole vehicle device, a vehicle-mounted module, a vehicle, an on board unit (OBU), a roadside unit (RSU), a T-box, a chip or a system on chip (SOC), etc. The above-mentioned chip or SOC can be installed in a vehicle, OBU, RSU or T-box. The wireless terminal in industrial control can be a camera, a robot, etc. The wireless terminal in smart home can be a television, an air conditioner, a sweeper, a sound box, a set-top box, etc.The terminal device can also be a V2X device, for example, a smart car or an intelligent car, a digital car, an unmanned car or a driverless car or a pilotless car or an automobile, a self-driving car or an autonomous car, a pure EV or a Battery EV, a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a range extended EV (REEV), a plug-in HEV (PHEV), a new energy vehicle, a road site unit (RSU). The terminal device can also be a device in device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example, an electricity meter, a water meter, etc.

[0078] (5) Sensing mode. The sensing mode can generally be divided into two types: single-station sensing and double-station sensing. Among them, the single-station sensing mode refers to that the transmitting terminal device of the sensing signal and the receiving terminal device of the echo signal of the sensing signal are the same device. In other words, in the single-station sensing mode, the transmitting terminal device not only transmits the sensing signal but also receives the echo signal of the sensing signal reflected on the sensing target surface. Therefore, the single-station sensing mode can also be called self-transmitting and self-receiving mode, without limitation. The double-station sensing mode refers to that the transmitting terminal device of the sensing signal and the receiving terminal device of the echo signal of the sensing signal are two different devices. In other words, sensing station A transmits the sensing signal, and the echo signal of the sensing signal reflected on the sensing target surface is received by sensing station B. Therefore, the double-station sensing mode can also be called A-transmitting and B-receiving mode. It should be pointed out that the echo signal of the sensing signal is obtained by reflecting the sensing signal on the sensing target surface, and therefore, the echo signal can still be called the sensing signal. The sensing station can be an access network device or a terminal device.

[0079] For example, please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram of various sensing modes provided by embodiments of the present application. In FIG. 1, the sensing target is a vehicle, and six sensing modes are provided. The six sensing modes are: a mode in which the access network device A sends sensing signals and receives echo signals, as shown in (1) of FIG. 1; a mode in which the terminal device A sends sensing signals and receives echo signals, as shown in (2) of FIG. 1; a mode in which the access network device A sends sensing signals and the access network device B receives echo signals, as shown in (3) of FIG. 1; a mode in which the terminal device A sends sensing signals and the terminal device B receives echo signals, as shown in (4) of FIG. 1; a mode in which the access network device A sends sensing signals and the terminal device A receives echo signals, as shown in (5) of FIG. 1; and a mode in which the terminal device A sends sensing signals and the access network device A receives echo signals, as shown in (6) of FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the terminal device is a smart phone.

[0080] Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applicable. The network architecture shown in FIG. 2 can integrate sensing functions to achieve integrated communication and sensing. As a typical application scenario of sensing, FIG. 2 takes an example in which the environment includes one access network device and multiple terminal devices, and the terminal device is a smart phone, and the sensing target is a drone, a pedestrian, and a vehicle. In FIG. 2, solid lines represent communication, and dashed lines represent sensing.

[0081] Currently, a sensing function (SF) network element can be added in the core network to achieve basic sensing functions, such as sensing authorization, sensing control, sensing measurement data processing, or result output, by controlling / managing the sensing process by the core network.

[0082] For example, please refer to FIG. 3, which is a schematic diagram of a core network architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application. The network architecture shown in FIG. 3 can be regarded as a potential possible perception network architecture. FIG. 3 is based on a 5G core network (5G core, 5GC), and a SF network element is newly added on the core network side, and an interface between the SF network element and one or more 5GC network elements is newly added. For example, in FIG. 3, the SF can interact with the 5GC network elements such as a location management function (LMF), an access and mobility management function (AMF), a network exposure function (NEF), a unified data management (UDM), a network data analytics function (NWDAF), and a policy control function (PCF) through the interfaces. The SF can interact with a RAN or a UE through the 5GC network elements to exchange perception signaling, and the perception data obtained by the RAN or the UE can be transmitted to the SF through a control plane or a user plane. When the perception data is transmitted to the SF through the user plane, the perception data can be forwarded to the SF through a UPF or directly transmitted to the SF. The interface between the SF and the 5GC network elements such as the AMF, the NEF, the UDM, the NWDAF, the PCF, the LMF, and the UPF is defined as follows.

[0083] NS1: an interface newly added between the SF and the AMF, which can transmit perception control signaling. In addition, for the scenario of transmitting perception measurement data through the control plane, the interface can also transmit the perception measurement data.

[0084] NS2: an interface newly added between the SF and the NEF, which can transmit signaling messages exchanged between a perception network element transferred through the NEF and an application function (AF) on the service side, and can also open the perception result to the AF.

[0085] NS3: an interface newly added between the SF and the UDM, through which authentication or authorization can be implemented, and UE perception subscription information, service AMF information, or other information can be obtained.

[0086] NS4: an interface newly added between the SF and the NWDAF, through which the SF can jointly complete AI processing related to a perception service with the NWDAF.

[0087] NS5: a newly added interface between SF and PCF, through which the SF can deliver information such as sensing requirements, quality of service (QoS) requirements or sensing results of a sensing service to the PCF, and the PCF can generate a policy control and charging (PCC) policy related to the sensing service.

[0088] NS6: a newly added interface between SF and LMF, through which the SF can obtain location-related information such as a sensing area, RAN information of a sensing target, and location information of a sensed UE.

[0089] NS7: a newly added interface between SF and UPF, through which sensing measurement data can be transmitted directly from the (R)AN to the SF via the UPF, or indirectly forwarded to the SF via the UPF. In the scenario where the (R)AN performs sensing via the UPF, the function of the UPF can be improved to support (R)AN-granularity data transmission.

[0090] The above interfaces are only examples and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the names of the interfaces between the SF network element and other network elements.

[0091] In the present application, a new module can be introduced on the side of the access network device, for example, the module can be referred to as a sensing unit (SU). The SU can also be a function or entity independent of the access network device, or a function or entity within the access network device. The SU can be responsible for performing sensing-related functions, for example, the SU can be connected (directly or indirectly) with the SF and interact with the SF for related sensing requirements; for another example, the SF can be connected with core network elements such as AMF or UPF for transmitting sensing-related information or data. The SU can also be used to perform sensing control functions and data preprocessing functions.

[0092] Please refer to FIG. 4, which shows two typical architecture diagrams of introducing an SU on the side of the RAN. FIG. 4 takes a base station as an example of the access network device.

[0093] As shown in (a) of FIG. 4, the SU can be an entity independent of the RAN device, which can be connected with the base station through an interface similar to the Xn interface. For ease of distinction, the interface between the SU and the base station can be referred to as the Xn-S interface. If the base station is of a CU-DU structure, the SU can communicate with the CU through the Xn-S interface. When the SU is an entity independent of the RAN device, the SU can also be regarded as a communication node (for example, referred to as a sensing control (SC) node) independent of the RAN device.

[0094] As shown in (b) of FIG. 4, the SU can be a functional unit in the access network device, and can communicate with the CU through an interface similar to F1. For ease of distinction, the interface between the SU and the CU can be referred to as an F1-S-C interface.

[0095] The SU is introduced in the RAN side in FIG. 4, and has a function of managing UE sensing, and therefore, the base station can communicate with both a normal UE and a sensing UE.

[0096] Referring to FIG. 5, potential communication interfaces of the SU are shown. FIG. 5 shows potential interfaces of the SU in dashed lines. As shown in FIG. 5, the SU can directly communicate with the DU or directly communicate with the UE. The SU can be directly connected to one or more core network elements, for example, the SU can be directly connected to the SF, the AMF, or the UPF. The SU can also be indirectly connected to one or more core network elements, for example, the SU can be connected to the SF through the AMF or connected to the SF through the UPF. Alternatively, the SU can be connected to the AMF through the CU, and then connected to the SF through the AMF.

[0097] In the embodiments of the present application, the SU is deployed in the RAN side, and can directly interact with the CU and interact with the core network through the CU. In the sensing measurement process, the SU / CU can configure a sensing measurement configuration for the UE, and the transmission path of the sensing measurement configuration can be: DU→CU / SU→UE. Similarly, the DU obtains sensing data, and can send the sensing data to the SU. The transmission path of the sensing data can be DU→SU, or DU→CU→SU.

[0098] The access network device and the terminal device have certain protocol stack structures for mutual communication. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a protocol stack structure provided in the present application is shown. The user plane protocol stack structure can include a sensing protocol layer, a service data adaptation (SDAP) layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a user datagram protocol (UDP) / internet protocol (IP) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, a media access control (MAC) layer, and a physical (PHY) layer, etc. Among them, the physical layer is at the lowest layer and belongs to layer 1 (L1); the MAC layer, the RLC layer, the PDCP layer, and the SDAP layer belong to layer 2 (L2); and the RRC layer belongs to layer 3 (L3). The above-mentioned protocol stack is only an example and should not be construed as a limitation. For example, there can be fewer layers or more layers than the example, such as no UDP / IP layer or SDAP layer.

[0099] The peer-to-peer protocol layers between the UE and the RAN include the physical layer, the MAC layer, the RLC layer, the PDCP layer, and the SDAP layer; the peer-to-peer protocol layers between the RAN and the UPF include the N3 protocol stack; and the peer-to-peer protocol layers between the UPF and the SF include the L1 or L2 corresponding protocol layers.

[0100] Among them, the sensing protocol layer can also be called an NR sensing protocol (NRSP) layer, etc. The name of the sensing protocol layer is not limited in the present application. For the user plane protocol stack, the NRSP can include an NR sensing protocol for the user plane (NRSP-U), which is designed as an independent protocol and can be directly carried on the protocol data unit (PDU) session.

[0101] The UE as a sensing device detects to obtain sensing data. If the sensing demander is the UE and is used for local calculation, the sensing data does not need to be reported to the network side. If the sensing demander is the network side, the sensing data needs to be reported to the SF. The UE can generate a sensing data packet including the sensing data at the sensing protocol layer. The sensing data packet reaches the SDAP layer of the UE, is mapped through the SDAP layer, and is transmitted to the corresponding PDCP entity. After being processed through the PDCP layer of the UE, the sensing data packet is transmitted to the RLC layer and the MAC layer, is processed through the corresponding layers, and is sent out from the physical layer to be transmitted to the base station side through the air interface. Then, the base station side performs corresponding processing on the data packet in sequence according to the processing order opposite to that of the base station. The processing of the data packet by each layer at the base station and the UE can be combined and referred to as a radio bearer. Each data in the radio bearer needs to be processed by each layer, and each layer has a corresponding functional entity to perform a corresponding function, such as the PDCP entity of the PDCP layer.

[0102] At present, the data volume of the sensing data is very large, far greater than the upper limit of 9000 bytes of the current PDCP data packet. Therefore, the application provides a method, which can make the sensing data packet generated by the sensing protocol layer meet the requirements of the PDCP layer.

[0103] It can be understood that the specific structure of the execution subject of the method provided in the embodiments of the application is not particularly limited, and the method can be applied to a module in a terminal device or an access network device, as long as the module can communicate according to the method provided in the embodiments of the application by running a program in which the code of the method provided in the embodiments of the application is recorded. Hereinafter, the interaction between the terminal device and the access network device is taken as an example for description.

[0104] The method provided in the application can be applied to a mode in which the terminal device A transmits a sensing signal and the terminal device A receives a return signal, a mode in which the terminal device A transmits a sensing signal and the terminal device B receives a return signal, and a mode in which the access network device transmits a sensing signal and the terminal device receives a return signal.

[0105] As shown in FIG. 7, the method provided in the embodiments of the application is a flowchart of a data transmission method, and the method includes the following steps.

[0106] In step 701, the terminal device determines N PDCP protocol data units (PDUs), and N is an integer greater than 1.

[0107] The N PDCP PDUs are used to transmit first perception data, the first perception data corresponds to a same time unit, and one of the N PDCP PDUs includes partial data of the first perception data. N can be preset, or indicated by the access network device or the SF or the SU, which is not limited in the present application.

[0108] Optionally, before step 701, the terminal device can generate first perception data. The first perception data can be perception-related data generated or obtained by the terminal device in a time unit. The length of the time unit is not limited, and the time unit can be preset or configured by the access network device. For example, the time unit is a refresh period, a cumulative period, a generation period, a measurement period or a reporting period of the first perception data.

[0109] For example, the terminal device can determine the first perception data according to at least one configuration parameter as shown in Table 1.

[0110] Table 1

[0111] In Table 1, the time unit can be the moving target RVA spectrum refresh rate or the static target RA spectrum cumulative period in Table 1. If the first perception data includes the moving target RVA spectrum, the terminal device can obtain one first perception data every 0.1 seconds; if the first perception data includes the static target RA spectrum, the terminal device can obtain one first perception data every 10 seconds.

[0112] According to the configuration parameters in Table 1, if the first perception data includes the moving target RVA spectrum, the size of the first perception data obtained every time unit (i.e. every 0.1 seconds) is: 16384*8*4*256*4*16*32*2=0.55TB.

[0113] If the first perception data includes the static target RA spectrum, the size of the first perception data obtained every time unit (every 10 seconds) is: 16384*16*4*256*16*16=69GB.

[0114] In an implementation manner, the first perception data includes data corresponding to the echo signal; or, the first perception data includes channel response information of the echo signal; or, the first perception data includes perception measurement data, which is determined according to the echo signal, for example, the perception measurement data is data obtained by processing the echo signal; or, the first perception data includes a perception result, for example, the perception result refers to a result related to service function and performance, which is obtained by processing such as calculation and analysis based on the perception measurement data.

[0115] In an implementation, the first perception data can indicate values of parameters related to the perception target, such as, but not limited to, position, speed, intensity, distance, speed, direction, acceleration, position, action, expression, breathing / heart rate, imaging result, weather, air quality, material and composition, amplitude / phase, time delay, Doppler intensity, angle, trajectory information, posture, shape, and the like.

[0116] The first perception data can include a plurality of data units, which can also be referred to as data points, and each data unit indicates values of one or more parameters. For example, the first perception data can include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: IQ data, RD spectrum, RDA spectrum, DV spectrum, DVA spectrum, RV spectrum, RVA spectrum, a set of coordinate points, point cloud data, centroid of a real target, and the like. For example, the first perception data includes an RD spectrum, and one data unit in the first perception data can indicate a range of values and a distance value. For example, the first perception data includes a DV spectrum, and one data unit in the first perception data can indicate a distance value and a speed value. For example, the first perception data includes point cloud data, and one data unit in the first perception data can indicate a position coordinate.

[0117] Optionally, the SF or the SU or the access network device sends second indication information, and the terminal device receives the second indication information. The second indication information indicates that the first perception data is transmitted through a plurality of PDCP PDUs, or the second indication information indicates that the first perception data is divided into a plurality of parts, and each part is transmitted through one PDCP PDU.

[0118] In this application, there can be various implementation manners for the terminal device to determine the N PDCP PDUs, and several examples are given below.

[0119] In an implementation manner one, the terminal device determines N perception data packets according to the first perception data, determines N PDCP service data units (SDUs) according to the N perception data packets, and determines N PDCP PDUs according to the N PDCP SDUs.

[0120] Among the N PDCP SDUs, one PDCP SDU includes one perception data packet in the N perception data packets; and one PDCP PDU in the N PDCP PDUs is determined according to one PDCP SDU in the N PDCP SDUs, for example, one PDCP PDU in the N PDCP PDUs includes one PDCP SDU in the N PDCP SDUs.

[0121] In this implementation, the terminal device divides the first sensing data into N partial data at the sensing protocol layer, and each partial data can be used to determine one sensing data packet.

[0122] Optionally, each of the N sensing data packets further includes first information, and the first information in one sensing data packet can indicate a position of the partial data included in the sensing data packet in the first sensing data. The position can be understood as a range of an area of the partial data included in the sensing data packet in the first sensing data. The first information can be an index or a number of the partial data, or information such as a value range of the first parameter indicated by the partial data. In this way, a receiving end receiving the N sensing data packets can restore or recover the first sensing data according to the first information.

[0123] In this implementation, how to divide the first sensing data into N sensing data packets is not limited in the present application.

[0124] For example, the first sensing data can be evenly divided into N sensing data packets. As shown in FIG. 8, the first sensing data is an RV spectrum, and the horizontal coordinate represents a range and the vertical coordinate represents a speed. The first sensing data can be divided into multiple parts, for example, as shown in the figure, the first sensing data can be divided into 9 parts, and the data amount of each part is the same. Here, only an example is given, and how to divide the first sensing data is not limited in the present application.

[0125] In this case, each part of the first sensing data after being divided can be numbered in turn, for example, numbered from left to right and from top to bottom as 1-9. Each sensing data packet can include a first information, and the first information can indicate a number corresponding to the data included in the sensing data packet. Through the first information, the position of the partial data included in the sensing data packet in the first sensing data can be indicated, so that the first sensing data can be restored according to the first information and the N sensing data packets.

[0126] Optionally, the first sensing data can also be divided into N sensing data packets based on different parameter dimensions. For example, the data indicating that the value of the first parameter is in the same value range in the first sensing data can be divided into one sensing data packet. It can be understood that if the first sensing data includes multiple data units, each sensing data packet includes at least one data unit of the first sensing data, and the data unit included in each sensing data packet indicates that the value of the first parameter is in the same value range.

[0127] In this case, each value range can be numbered in turn, and each perception data packet can include first information indicating a value range or a number corresponding to the value range, and the first information indicates the position of the partial data included in the perception data packet in the first perception data, so that the receiving end can restore the first perception data according to the first information and the N perception data packets.

[0128] For example, the N perception data packets include a first perception data packet and a second perception data packet; the value of the first parameter corresponding to the first perception data packet is in a first value range, and the value of the first parameter corresponding to the second perception data packet is in a second value range. Wherein, the value of the first parameter corresponding to the first perception data packet in the first value range can mean that the value of the first parameter indicated by the partial data of the first perception data included in the first perception data packet is in the first value range, and other cases are similar and will not be repeated.

[0129] Wherein, the first parameter can be any of the following: range, position, speed, intensity, distance, speed, direction, acceleration, position, action, expression, breathing rate / heart rate, imaging result, weather, air quality, material and composition, amplitude / phase, time delay, Doppler intensity, angle, trajectory information, posture, shape.

[0130] In this implementation, the first value range and the second value range can be preset or configured by the access network device. The size of the first range and the size of the second range can be equal or not equal.

[0131] In combination with the foregoing description, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the first perception data is an RV spectrum, and the horizontal coordinate in the figure represents the range and the vertical coordinate represents the speed. For example, the first parameter is the range, and the multiple value ranges include [0, 5], (5, 10], (10, 15], (15, 20], (20, 25] and the like; wherein the unit of the range is meter. In the horizontal coordinate, the first perception data is divided into multiple parts at certain intervals, and each long bar in the figure corresponds to a divided data in the first perception data.

[0132] Optionally, the first perception data can also be divided into N perception data packets based on priorities. Each data unit in the first perception data can correspond to a priority, and the priority corresponding to each data unit can be preset. For example, four priorities are preset, which are 1, 2, 3, and 4. The priority can also be referred to as a transmission priority or an importance level, and a more important data unit has a higher priority and is transmitted more preferentially. Alternatively, the priority can also be referred to as a necessity degree, and the data units in the first perception data can be divided into necessary data units and non-necessary data units. The necessary data units are preferentially transmitted or transmitted with higher quality, while the non-necessary data units can be transmitted later or not transmitted or transmitted with loss or best-effort transmission.

[0133] In this case, each priority can be sequentially numbered, and each perception data packet can include first information indicating the priority or the number corresponding to the priority. The first information indicates the position of the part of the data included in the perception data packet in the first perception data, so that the receiving end can restore the first perception data according to the first information and the N perception data packets.

[0134] In this implementation, the priorities of the part of the data in the first perception data included in each of the N perception data packets are the same. It can be understood that if the first perception data includes a plurality of data units, each perception data packet includes at least one data unit of the first perception data, and the priorities of the data units included in each perception data packet are the same. For example, the N perception data packets include a first perception data packet and a second perception data packet. The part of the data in the first perception data included in the first perception data packet corresponds to a first priority, and the part of the data in the first perception data included in the second perception data packet corresponds to a second priority. The first priority is different from the second priority.

[0135] The above is only an example, and other implementation manners for dividing the first perception data are also possible, which will not be described here.

[0136] The specific process of determining the N PDCP PDUs by the terminal device according to the N perception data packets can have multiple implementation manners. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, in combination with the foregoing FIG. 6, the terminal device can determine the N PDCP PDUs through the following flow:

[0137] 1) The terminal device side perception protocol layer entity divides the first perception data into N parts of data, encapsulates the N parts of data into N perception data packets respectively, each perception data packet including one part of data in the N parts of data, and delivers the N perception data packets to the IP layer.

[0138] 2) The terminal device side IP layer receives N sensing data packets issued by the sensing protocol layer, adds an IP header (H) to each sensing data packet in the N sensing data packets, finally forms an IP layer data packet, referred to as an IP data packet, and delivers N IP data packets determined according to the N sensing data packets to the SDAP entity.

[0139] 3) The terminal device side SDAP entity receives N IP data packets, adds an SDAP header (H) to each IP data packet, obtains an SDAP PDU, and delivers N SDAP PDUs determined according to the N IP data packets to the PDCP entity.

[0140] 4) The terminal device side PDCP entity receives N SDAP PDUs, takes each SDAP PDU as a PDCP SDU, adds a PDCP header (H) to N PDCP SDUs after processing by the PDCP entity, and finally obtains N PDCP PDUs.

[0141] In another example, there is no other protocol layer between the sensing protocol layer and the PDCP layer, and in this implementation, the following processes can be included:

[0142] 1) The terminal device side sensing protocol layer entity divides first sensing data into N partial data, encapsulates the N partial data into N sensing data packets respectively, each sensing data packet including one partial data in the N partial data, and delivers the N sensing data packets to the PDCP entity.

[0143] 2) The terminal device side PDCP entity receives N sensing data packets, takes each sensing data packet as a PDCP SDU, adds a PDCP header (H) to N PDCP SDUs after processing by the PDCP entity, and finally obtains N PDCP PDUs.

[0144] The above is only an example, and the terminal device can also process N sensing data packets in other ways to obtain N PDCP PDUs, which is not limited in the present application.

[0145] In an implementation, the data amount of one sensing data packet is less than or equal to the maximum data amount of a PDCP PDU or a PDCP SDU, for example, the data amount of a sensing data packet is less than or equal to 9000 bytes. The data amount of one sensing data packet can also be preset or determined in other ways, which is not limited in the present application. For example, the SF or the SU or the access network device sends first indication information; the terminal device receives the first indication information, and the first indication information indicates the maximum data amount of the sensing data packet.

[0146] In the implementation, the terminal device can determine N sensing data packets from the first sensing data by a sensing protocol layer entity of the terminal device. The sensing data packet is a data packet corresponding to the sensing protocol layer. The sensing protocol layer can also be referred to as an NRSP layer or the like, and the sensing protocol layer can be located above a UDP / IP layer, an SDAP layer, a PDCP layer, and the like. The terminal device can generate the sensing data packet by a sensing protocol layer entity corresponding to the sensing protocol layer.

[0147] In the second implementation, the terminal device determines a sensing data packet from the first sensing data, and the sensing data packet includes the first sensing data.

[0148] The terminal device can determine N PDCP PDUs from the first PDCP SDU, wherein the first PDCP SDU includes the sensing data packet, and one PDCP PDU of the N PDCP PDUs includes a part of the first PDCP SDU. It can be understood that in the implementation, a PDCP entity of the terminal device performs segmentation on the PDCP SDU.

[0149] In the implementation, the terminal device can determine one sensing data packet from the first sensing data by a sensing protocol layer entity of the terminal device, and determine N PDCP PDUs from the first PDCP SDU by a PDCP entity. The terminal device can generate the sensing data packet by a sensing protocol layer entity corresponding to the sensing protocol layer. The sensing data packet is a data packet corresponding to the sensing protocol layer. The sensing protocol layer can also be referred to as an NRSP layer or the like, and the sensing protocol layer can be located above a UDP / IP layer, an SDAP layer, a PDCP layer, and the like.

[0150] For example, as shown in FIG. 11, in combination with the foregoing FIG. 6, the terminal device can determine N PDCP PDUs by the following flow:

[0151] 1) The terminal device side sensing protocol layer entity encapsulates the first sensing data into one sensing data packet, and delivers the sensing data packet to an IP entity.

[0152] 2) The terminal device side IP entity receives the sensing data packet delivered by the sensing protocol layer, adds an IP header (H) to the sensing data packet, finally forms an IP layer data packet, referred to as an IP data packet, and delivers the IP data packet to an SDAP entity.

[0153] 3) The terminal device side SDAP entity receives the IP data packet, adds an SDAP header (H) to the IP data packet, finally forms an SDAP layer PDU, referred to as an SDAP PDU, and delivers the SDAP PDU to a PDCP entity.

[0154] 4) The terminal device side PDCP entity receives the SDAP PDU as a PDCP layer SDU, i.e., a first PDCP SDU. The terminal device side PDCP entity divides the first PDCP SDU into N segments, and adds a PDCP header (H) to each of the N segments after processing by the PDCP entity to form one PDCP PDU, and finally obtains N PDCP PDUs.

[0155] In another example, there is no other protocol layer between the sensing protocol layer and the PDCP layer, and in this implementation, the following process can be included:

[0156] 1) The terminal device side sensing protocol layer entity encapsulates the first sensing data into one sensing data packet, and passes the sensing data packet to the PDCP entity.

[0157] 2) The terminal device side PDCP entity receives the sensing data packet as a PDCP layer SDU, i.e., a first PDCP SDU. The terminal device side PDCP entity divides the first PDCP SDU into N segments, and adds a PDCP header (H) to each of the N segments after processing by the PDCP entity to form one PDCP PDU, and finally obtains N PDCP PDUs.

[0158] The above is only an example, and the terminal device can also obtain N PDCP PDUs in other ways, which is not limited in the present application.

[0159] Optionally, in this implementation, each of the N PDCP PDUs further includes second information, and the second information in one PDCP PDU indicates the position of the PDCP PDU in the first PDCP SDU, i.e., indicates the position of the part of the first PDCP SDU included in the PDCP PDU in the first PDCP SDU. For example, the first PDCP SDU is divided into 6 segments, and the contents of the 6 segments can be numbered as 0-5 respectively. The first PDCP SDU is determined to be 6 PDCP PDUs, and the 6 PDCP PDUs can carry one of the numbers 0-5 respectively. In this way, the receiving end can restore or recover the first sensing data according to the second information and the N PDCP PDUs.

[0160] Optionally, in the implementation, each of the N PDCP PDUs further comprises sending third information, the third information indicating a PDCP sequence number range of the PDCP PDU corresponding to the first PDCP SDU, for example, the third information indicating at least one of a start sequence number of the PDCP sequence number range, an end sequence number of the PDCP sequence number range, and a range length / size of the PDCP sequence number range. Alternatively, the third information can indicate a number of PDCP PDUs associated with the first perception data after the PDCP PDU.

[0161] One PDCP PDU can carry one PDCP sequence number (SN). The PDCP sequence numbers corresponding to the N PDCP PDUs can correspond to one PDCP sequence number range, and by indicating the PDCP sequence number range through the third information, the receiving end can restore or recover the first perception data according to the third information and the N PDCP PDUs. For example, N=6, the PDCP sequence number of the first PDCP PDU in the N PDCP PDUs is 100, and the PDCP sequence number of the last PDCP PDU in the N PDCP PDUs is 105, then the third information can indicate 100-105. In this way, the receiving end can restore or recover the PDCP PDUs with PDCP sequence numbers 100-105 as the first perception data.

[0162] For another example, N=6, the PDCP sequence number of the first PDCP PDU in the N PDCP PDUs is 100, and the PDCP sequence number of the last PDCP PDU in the N PDCP PDUs is 105, and the third information in the first PDCP PDU can indicate that the number of PDCP PDUs associated with the first perception data after the PDCP PDU is 5. In this way, the receiving end can restore or recover the PDCP PDUs with PDCP sequence numbers 100-105 as the first perception data.

[0163] The above is only an example, and the third information can also be carried in at least one of the N PDCP PDUs, for example, in the first or last PDCP PDU of the N PDCP PDUs.

[0164] In the present application, the perception data packet further includes fourth information, the fourth information indicating a time unit or a sequence number or a timestamp corresponding to the first perception data. For the receiving end, for example, the access network device, when receiving the perception data packet, the time unit or the sequence number or the timestamp indicated by the fourth information can be converted into the universal time coordinated (UTC), and the specific conversion process is not limited. Optionally, the perception data packet can be re-encapsulated, and the re-encapsulated perception data packet includes the UTC.

[0165] Step 702: The terminal device sends N PDCP PDUs.

[0166] Correspondingly, the access network device receives N PDCP PDUs from the terminal device.

[0167] In an implementation manner, before sending the N PDCP PDUs, the terminal device can further process the PDCP PDUs. For example, for each PDCP PDU, the following process can be performed:

[0168] First, the terminal device side RLC entity receives the PDCP PDU, takes it as an RLC layer SDU (short for RLC SDU), processes the RLC SDU through the RLC entity, adds an RLC header, finally forms an RLC layer PDU (short for RLC PDU), and delivers it to the MAC entity.

[0169] In the process of processing the RLC SDU, the RLC entity can also segment the RLC SDU to generate multiple RLC SDU segments (Segement), and then add an RLC header to each segment to finally form multiple RLC PDUs for delivery to the MAC entity.

[0170]

[0171] Second, the terminal device side MAC entity receives N RLC PDUs. For each RLC PDU, the RLC PDU is taken as a MAC SDU. After the MAC SDU is processed by the MAC entity, a MAC subheader is added to generate a MAC subPDU. For N PDCP PDUs, at least N MAC sbuPDUs are generated, and each MAC sbuPDU can generate one MAC SDU. The terminal device side MAC entity can concatenate multiple MAC SDUs to generate a MAC PDU and deliver it to the PHY entity. In the figure, H represents the header corresponding to each protocol layer, for example, the H corresponding to the SDAP SDU in the SDAP layer represents the SADP header, and other cases are not described in detail. N MAC SDUs corresponding to N PDCP PDUs can generate one or more MAC PDUs.​

[0172] Third, the terminal device side PHY entity performs PHY entity encoding after receiving the MAC PDU from the MAC entity and sends it to the access network device from the air interface.

[0173] Step 703: The access network device determines the first perception data or the N perception data packets according to the N PDCP PDUs.

[0174] The process of determining the first perception data or the N perception data packets by the access network device according to the N PDCP PDUs can be opposite to the process of determining the N PDCP PDUs by the terminal device, and the specific process will not be repeated.

[0175] Step 704: The access network device sends the first perception data or the N perception data packets.

[0176] The access network device can send the first perception data or the N perception data packets to the SF or the SU, and the specific process will not be repeated.

[0177] The present application is applied in the O-RAN scenario, and the first indication information, the second indication information and the third indication information can be sent by the CU or the RIC in the CU.

[0178] Correspondingly, the DU receives the N PDCP PDUs, and the DU can send the N PDCP PDUs to the CU, and the PDCP module of the CU determines the first perception data or the N perception data packets according to the N PDCP PDUs, and sends the first perception data or the N perception data packets to the SF or the SU. On the network side, the perception protocol layer can be located in the CU, or located in the SU, or located in the SF, and the present application does not limit this.

[0179] Through the method provided by the present application, the terminal device can transmit the first perception data through the N PDCP PDUs, so that the first perception data with a large amount of data can be transmitted through the PDCP PDU, which can be compatible with the current air interface data transmission method, and improve the transmission efficiency of the perception data.

[0180] It can be understood that, in order to realize the functions in the above embodiments, the terminal device or the access network device includes the corresponding hardware structure and / or software module for executing each function. 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 executed in hardware or computer software driven hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0181] The following is a possible structure of a communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication apparatus can be used to implement the functions of the terminal device or the access network device in the above-mentioned method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects possessed by the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0182] As shown in FIG. 12, the communication apparatus 1200 includes a processing unit 1210 and a communication unit 1220. The communication apparatus 1200 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device or the access network device in the above-mentioned various method embodiments.

[0183] When the communication apparatus 1200 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device:

[0184] a processing unit configured to determine N packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs), N being an integer greater than 1; the N PDCP PDUs are used to transmit first perception data, the first perception data corresponding to a same time unit, and one of the PDCP PDUs including partial data of the first perception data;

[0185] a communication unit configured to send the N PDCP PDUs.

[0186] When the communication apparatus 1200 is used to implement the functions of the access network device:

[0187] a communication unit configured to receive N packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) from a terminal device, N being an integer greater than 1; the N PDCP PDUs are used to transmit first perception data, the first perception data corresponding to a same time unit, and one of the PDCP PDUs including partial data of the first perception data;

[0188] a processing unit configured to determine the first perception data or N perception data packets according to the N PDCP PDUs; one of the PDCP PDUs in the N PDCP PDUs is determined according to one of the N perception data packets;

[0189] the communication unit configured to send the first perception data or the N perception data packets.

[0190] For more detailed descriptions of the processing unit 1210 and the communication unit 1220, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the above-mentioned method embodiments directly, which will not be repeated here.

[0191] As another possible product form, the terminal device or the access network device described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by a general bus architecture. For ease of illustration, refer to FIG. 13, which is a structural schematic diagram of a communication apparatus 1300 provided by the embodiments of the present application, the communication apparatus 1300 including a processor 1301 and a transceiver 1302. The communication apparatus 1300 can be a terminal device, or a chip or chip system therein; or the communication apparatus 1300 can be an access network device, or a chip or module therein. FIG. 13 only shows the main components of the communication apparatus 1300. In addition to the processor 1301 and the transceiver 1302, the communication apparatus 1300 can further include a memory 1303, and an input output device (not shown in the figure).

[0192] Optionally, the processor 1301 is mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, and controlling the whole communication apparatus, executing software programs, and processing data of the software programs. The memory 1303 is mainly used for storing software programs and data. The transceiver 1302 can include a radio frequency circuit and an antenna, the radio frequency circuit is mainly used for conversion between a baseband signal and a radio frequency signal, and processing of the radio frequency signal. The antenna is mainly used for transceiving a radio frequency signal in the form of an electromagnetic wave. The input output device, such as a touch screen, a display screen, a keyboard, etc., is mainly used for receiving data input by a user and outputting data to the user.

[0193] Optionally, the processor 1301, the transceiver 1302, and the memory 1303 can be connected through a communication bus.

[0194] When the communication apparatus is powered on, the processor 1301 can read a software program in the memory 1303, interpret and execute instructions of the software program, and process data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor 1301 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted, and outputs a baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit, the radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal, and transmits a radio frequency signal in the form of an electromagnetic wave through the antenna. When data is transmitted to the communication apparatus, the radio frequency circuit receives a radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1301, the processor 1301 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0195] In another implementation, the radio frequency circuit and the antenna can be arranged independently of the processor performing baseband processing, for example, in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuit and the antenna can be arranged remotely from the communication apparatus.

[0196] In some embodiments, in a hardware implementation, those skilled in the art can conceive that the above-mentioned communication apparatus 1200 can adopt the form of the communication apparatus 1300 shown in FIG. 13.

[0197] As an example, the function / implementation process of the processing unit 1210 in FIG. 12 can be implemented by invoking the computer-executed instructions stored in the memory 1303 by the processor 1301 in the communication apparatus 1300 shown in FIG. 13. The function / implementation process of the communication unit 1220 in FIG. 12 can be implemented by the transceiver 1302 in the communication apparatus 1300 shown in FIG. 13.

[0198] As yet another possible product form, the terminal device or the access network device in the present application can adopt the constituent structure shown in FIG. 14, or include the components shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 14 is a constituent diagram of a communication apparatus 1400 provided in the present application.

[0199] As shown in FIG. 14, the communication apparatus 1400 includes at least one processor 1401. Optionally, the communication apparatus further includes a communication interface 1402.

[0200] When the program instructions involved are executed in the at least one processor 1401, the apparatus 1400 can be caused to implement the method provided in any of the preceding embodiments and any possible design thereof. Alternatively, the processor 1401 is used to implement the method provided in any of the preceding embodiments and any possible design thereof by logic circuit or executing code instructions.

[0201] The communication interface 1402 can be used to receive program instructions and transmit them to the processor, or the communication interface 1402 can be used for the communication apparatus 1400 to communicate with other communication devices, such as interacting control signaling and / or service data, etc. For example, the communication interface 1402 can be used to receive signals from other devices outside the communication apparatus 1400 and transmit them to the processor 1401 or send signals from the processor 1401 to other communication devices outside the communication apparatus 1400.

[0202] Optionally, the communication interface 1402 can be a code and / or data read-write interface circuit, or the communication interface 1402 can be a signal transmission interface circuit between the communication processor and the transceiver, or a pin of a chip.

[0203] Optionally, the communication apparatus 1400 can further include at least one memory 1403, which can be used to store the required program instructions and / or data involved. It should be noted that the memory 1403 can exist independently of the processor 1401, or can be integrated with the processor 1401. The memory 1403 can be located inside the communication apparatus 1400 or outside the communication apparatus 1400, which is not limited.

[0204] Optionally, the communication apparatus 1400 further includes a power supply circuit 1404 for supplying power to the processor 1401. The power supply circuit 1404 can be located in the same chip as the processor 1401, or in another chip other than the chip where the processor 1401 is located.

[0205] Optionally, the communication apparatus 1400 further includes a bus, and various parts in the communication apparatus 1400 can be interconnected through the bus.

[0206] In some embodiments, in hardware implementation, those skilled in the art can conceive that the communication apparatus 1200 shown in FIG. 12 can take the form of the communication apparatus 1400 shown in FIG. 14.

[0207] As an example, the function / implementation process of the processing unit 1210 in FIG. 12 can be realized by the processor 1401 in the communication apparatus 1400 shown in FIG. 14 invoking the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1403. The function / implementation process of the communication unit 1220 in FIG. 12 can be realized by the communication interface 1402 in the communication apparatus 1400 shown in FIG. 14.

[0208] It should be noted that the structure shown in FIG. 14 does not constitute a specific limitation on the terminal device or the access network device. For example, in some other embodiments of the present application, the terminal device or the access network device can include more or fewer components than those shown, or combine certain components, or split certain components, or different component arrangements. The components shown can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0209] When the above communication apparatus is a terminal chip, the terminal chip implements the functions of the terminal in the above method embodiments. The terminal chip receives information from other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the terminal, and the information is sent by the base station to the terminal; or the terminal chip sends information to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the terminal, and the information is sent by the terminal to the base station.

[0210] When the above communication apparatus is a base station module, the base station module implements the functions of the base station in the above method embodiments. The base station module receives information from other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the base station, and the information is sent by the terminal to the base station; or the base station module sends information to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the base station, and the information is sent by the base station to the terminal. The base station module here can be a baseband chip of the base station, or a DU or other module, and the DU here can be a DU under the open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture.

[0211] 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, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (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.

[0212] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by means of hardware, or by means of a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules 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. Of course, the storage medium can also be an integral part 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. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also exist as discrete components in the base station or the terminal.

[0213] 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 and executed on a computer, 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 transferred from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer programs or instructions can be transferred 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 accessible 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; an optical medium, for example, a digital video disc; and 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.

[0214] In various embodiments of the present application, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be referred to each other if there is no special description and logical conflict. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0215] Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as a method, a system or a computer program product. Therefore, the present application can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Moreover, the present application can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, optical storage, etc.) containing computer usable program code.

[0216] The computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other processing device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other processing device to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

[0217] These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

[0218] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present application without departing from the scope of the application. Thus, it is intended that the present application cover the modifications and variations of this application provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A data transmission method, characterized by, The method comprises: determining N packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs), N being an integer greater than 1; the N PDCP PDUs are used to transmit first sensing data, the first sensing data corresponding to a same time unit, and one PDCP PDU including partial data of the first sensing data; sending the N PDCP PDUs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The determining of the N PDCP PDUs comprises: determining N sensing data packets according to the first sensing data; one sensing data packet including first information and partial data of the first sensing data, the first information indicating a position of the partial data in the first sensing data; determining the N PDCP PDUs according to N PDCP service data units (SDUs); one PDCP SDU of the N PDCP SDUs including one sensing data packet of the N sensing data packets, one PDCP PDU of the N PDCP PDUs being determined according to one PDCP SDU of the N PDCP SDUs, and a data amount of one sensing data packet being less than or equal to a maximum data amount of the PDCP PDU.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving first indication information from an access network device, the first indication information indicating a maximum data amount of the sensing data packet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, The determining of the N PDCP PDUs comprises: determining a sensing data packet according to the first sensing data; determining the N PDCP PDUs according to a first PDCP SDU; the first PDCP SDU including the sensing data packet, and one PDCP PDU of the N PDCP PDUs including a part of the first PDCP SDU.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, The PDCP PDU further includes second information, the second information indicating a position of the PDCP PDU in the first PDCP SDU.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein, The method further comprises: sending third information, the third information indicating a PDCP sequence number range of a PDCP PDU corresponding to the first PDCP SDU.

7. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that, The sensing data packet is a data packet corresponding to a sensing protocol layer.

8. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that, The sensing data packet further includes fourth information, the fourth information indicating the time unit or a sequence number corresponding to the first sensing data.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The time unit is a refresh period, an accumulation period, a generation period, a measurement period or a reporting period of the first sensing data.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The method further comprises: determining the first sensing data.

11. A data transmission method, characterized by, The method comprises: receiving N packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) from a terminal device, N being an integer greater than 1; the N PDCP PDUs being used to transmit first sensing data, the first sensing data corresponding to a same time unit, and one PDCP PDU including partial data of the first sensing data; determining the first perception data or N perception data packets according to the N PDCP PDUs, one of the N PDCP PDUs including one of the N perception data packets; sending the first perception data or the N perception data packets.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The N PDCP PDUs are determined according to N PDCP service data units (SDUs), one of the N PDCP SDUs including one of the N perception data packets. A data amount of one of the perception data packets is less than or equal to a maximum data amount of the PDCP PDU.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The method further comprises: sending first indication information, the first indication information indicating the maximum data amount of the perception data packet.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein, The N PDCP PDUs are determined according to a first PDCP SDU, one of the N PDCP PDUs including a part of the first PDCP SDU, the first PDCP SDU including the first perception data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The PDCP PDU further includes second information, the second information indicating a position of the PDCP PDU in the first PDCP SDU.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving third information, the third information indicating a PDCP sequence number range of the PDCP PDU corresponding to the first PDCP SDU.

17. The method of any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein, The perception data packet is a data packet corresponding to a perception protocol layer.

18. The method of any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein, The perception data packet further includes fourth information, the fourth information indicating the time unit or the sequence number corresponding to the first perception data.

19. The method of any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein, The time unit is a refresh period or a cumulative period or a generation period or a measurement period or a reporting period of the first perception data.

20. A communications device, characterized by comprising: a processing unit configured to determine N packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs), N being an integer greater than 1, the N PDCP PDUs being used to transmit first perception data, the first perception data corresponding to a same time unit, one of the PDCP PDUs including part of the first perception data; a communication unit configured to send the N PDCP PDUs.

21. A communications device, characterized by comprising: a communication unit configured to receive N packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) from a terminal device, N being an integer greater than 1, the N PDCP PDUs being used to transmit first perception data, the first perception data corresponding to a same time unit, one of the PDCP PDUs including part of the first perception data; a processing unit configured to determine the first perception data or N perception data packets according to the N PDCP PDUs, one of the N PDCP PDUs including one of the N perception data packets; the communication unit is configured to send the first perception data or the N perception data packets.

22. A communications device, characterized by a processor configured to execute computer programs or instructions, so that the communication device implements the method in any one of claims 1 to 19. a processor configured to execute computer programs or instructions, so that the communication device implements the method in any one of claims 1 to 19.

23. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, A computer program or instructions stored in a storage medium, which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 19.

24. A chip, characterized by A chip comprising a processor coupled to a memory for executing computer programs or instructions stored in the memory, which cause the chip to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 19.

25. A computer program product, characterised in that, When a computer reads and executes the computer program product, the method of any one of claims 1 to 19 is caused to be executed.

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