Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of communications. Provided are a communication method and apparatus. The communication method comprises: a terminal device receiving a first timing; the terminal device determining a second timing on the basis of the first timing and a clock offset of a sensing signal sent by the terminal device; and the terminal device then sending a sensing signal on the basis of the second timing. It can be ensured that the sending time of the sensing signal is consistent with an expected time of a network device, thereby overcoming the influence of a clock offset.

Description

Communication method and apparatus

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202411053008.4, filed on July 31, 2024, and entitled "Communication method and apparatus", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

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

[0003] Since the evolution of mobile communication technology to the fifth generation mobile communication technology (5G) era, wireless cellular communication technology has achieved a qualitative leap, greatly promoting the instant transmission of information and seamless interconnection between devices, laying a solid foundation for the vigorous development of the Internet of Things. On this basis, the integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) system emerged as the times require, which aims to reduce inter-system interference, improve information exchange efficiency, and opens a new era of wireless communication networks. The ISAC system not only enhances resource utilization efficiency, but also provides strong technical support for smart cities, autonomous driving and other fields through high-precision sensing capabilities.

[0004] However, with the in-depth application of the ISAC system, the clock synchronization problem gradually highlights as a key factor restricting its performance improvement. In the ISAC system, high-precision time of arrival (ToA) or distance measurement is the cornerstone of achieving accurate positioning or imaging functions, and the clock frequency offset caused by the precision limitation of the internal crystal oscillator of the user equipment directly affects the accuracy of these measurements. To address the problem of clock frequency offset, the current user equipment can obtain the downlink timing difference by measuring the synchronization signal at a certain time interval twice, thereby determining the clock offset rate. When the clock offset reaches a certain threshold, the user equipment will actively perform clock correction to maintain uplink synchronization with the base station. Although the user equipment is designed with a self-correction mechanism to cope with clock offset, on the one hand, before the clock offset reaches a certain threshold, the signals transmitted by the user equipment are subject to clock offset. On the other hand, the user equipment will actively perform clock correction, and there is a clear deficiency in the network side's perception of the user equipment's clock state. Especially in the single-station ranging scenario, due to the time synchronization error, the measurement result is easily affected, limiting the accuracy of the ranging application and the reliability of the services relying on distance information. SUMMARY

[0005] The application provides a communication method and device for improving the measurement accuracy of ToA or distance measurement.

[0006] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is applied to a terminal device. The execution subject of the method can be the terminal device, a component or device (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system) applied to the terminal device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The communication method comprises: receiving a first timing; determining a second timing according to the first timing and a clock offset of the terminal device for sending a sensing signal; and sending the sensing signal according to the second timing.

[0007] In the first aspect, the terminal device sends the sensing signal based on the second timing on the basis of the first timing indicated by the network device. Since the second timing is obtained by adjusting the clock offset from the first timing, it is ensured that the sending time of the sensing signal can be consistent with the expected time of the network device, and the influence of the clock offset is overcome.

[0008] In an implementation, the first timing is carried in a timing advance command. Optionally, the method can further comprise: sending a communication signal according to the first timing.

[0009] In this implementation, the network device configures a first timing, and the terminal device can adopt different timing calculation manners when sending a communication signal or a sensing signal. The indication overhead of the network device can be reduced.

[0010] In an implementation, the first timing is carried in configuration information of the sensing signal.

[0011] In this implementation, the terminal device maintains two sets of timings, that is, the timing of the sensing signal and the timing of the communication signal are decoupled, or can also be interpreted as the timing of the sensing signal and the timing of the communication signal are independently configured. In this way, the coupling degree of the system parts is reduced, and the system is more flexible. This design allows the timing of the sensing signal to be independently adjusted and optimized without affecting the timing of the communication signal.

[0012] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is applied to a terminal device. The execution subject of the method can be the terminal device, a component or device (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system) applied to the terminal device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The communication method comprises: sending clock correction information comprising a clock correction time, and sending a first signal, the first signal being a sensing signal or a positioning signal, the first signal and the clock correction information being used to determine a measurement result, the measurement result comprising a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result.

[0013] In a second aspect, the terminal device sends clock correction information to the network device, which is used by the network device to determine the measurement result based on the clock correction information and overcome the clock offset.

[0014] In one implementation, the method further includes receiving first information indicating a first clock correction threshold, which is used to determine the clock correction time.

[0015] In this implementation, the network device first indicates to the terminal device the first clock correction threshold via the first information, which is used by the terminal device to perform clock correction based on the first clock threshold. Further, the first clock correction threshold can also be used by the network device to determine the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal in combination with the first signal and the clock correction time, and then determine the measurement result based on the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal.

[0016] In this implementation, the method can further include receiving a signal for measuring clock offset information, wherein the signal for measuring clock offset information is used to measure the clock offset information; determining the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the signal for measuring clock offset information; and performing clock correction and recording the clock correction time in a case where the clock offset is not less than the first clock correction threshold.

[0017] In this implementation, the terminal device decides whether to perform clock correction based on the first clock correction threshold. If the clock offset is less than the threshold, it can mean that the clock of the terminal device is already accurate enough and does not need to be corrected. If the clock offset is not less than the first clock correction threshold, it needs to be corrected. At this time, clock correction is performed and the clock correction time is recorded. Through this mechanism, the terminal device can be ensured to perform clock correction in time, and the clock correction time is provided to the network device to determine the measurement result.

[0018] In one implementation, the clock correction information further includes a clock drift rate.

[0019] In this implementation, the network device and the terminal device interact clock correction information, which includes the clock drift rate and the clock correction time. The terminal device provides the clock drift rate and the clock correction time to the network device. After the terminal device reports the clock correction time to the network device, the network device can determine the clock offset of the terminal device and further determine the measurement result according to the clock drift rate and the clock correction time.

[0020] In one implementation, the clock correction information further includes a second clock correction threshold.

[0021] In this implementation, the network device and the terminal device interact clock correction information, which includes a second clock correction threshold and a clock correction time. The terminal device provides the second clock correction threshold to the network device, the terminal device performs clock correction according to the second clock correction threshold, and reports the clock correction time to the network device, and the network device can determine the clock offset of the terminal device according to the second clock correction threshold and the clock correction time to determine the measurement result.

[0022] In this implementation, the method can further include: receiving a signal for measuring clock offset information, wherein the signal for measuring clock offset information is used to measure clock offset information; determining the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the signal for measuring clock offset information; in the case that the clock offset is not less than the preset second clock correction threshold, performing clock correction and recording the clock correction time.

[0023] In this implementation, the terminal device decides whether to perform clock correction based on the second clock correction threshold. If the clock offset is less than the threshold, it may mean that the clock of the terminal device is already accurate enough and does not need to be corrected; if the clock offset is not less than the second clock correction threshold, it needs to be corrected. At this time, clock correction is performed and the clock correction time is recorded. Through this mechanism, the terminal device can perform clock correction in time, and provide the network device with the clock correction time for the network device to determine the measurement result.

[0024] In one implementation, the method can further include: the terminal device receiving first request information, the first request information being used to request clock correction information.

[0025] In this implementation, the terminal device receives specific first request information from the network device to request clock correction information, and the terminal device only sends the clock correction information after the network device sends the first request information, avoiding the terminal device from blindly sending clock correction information or sending clock correction information multiple times, thereby reducing unnecessary signaling overhead.

[0026] In one implementation, the clock correction time includes at least two clock correction time points, or the clock correction time includes at least one clock correction time point and a clock correction period.

[0027] In this implementation, the possible content of the clock correction time is flexibly configured. By allowing the clock correction time to contain diversified content, such as multiple selectable clock correction time points or a hybrid mode combining the clock correction period and at least one correction time point, the system can flexibly adjust the correction strategy according to different scenarios and requirements.

[0028] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is applied to a network device. The execution subject of the method can be the network device, a component or apparatus (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) applied to the network device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the network device. The communication method comprises: receiving clock correction information comprising a clock correction time, and receiving a first signal which can be a sensing signal or a positioning signal, and then determining a measurement result based on the first signal and the clock correction information. The measurement result can comprise a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result.

[0029] In the third aspect, the network device obtains the clock correction information from the terminal device, and determines the measurement result based on the clock correction information and under the premise of overcoming the clock offset. Since the measurement result is determined under the premise of overcoming the clock offset, the accuracy of the determined measurement result is high.

[0030] In an implementation, the method can further comprise: reporting the measurement result to a measurement result demand device.

[0031] In this implementation, the network device can report the sensing measurement result to the measurement result demand device in real time, so that the measurement result demand device can quickly obtain the latest sensing data, positioning data, and the like, thereby quickly responding to and processing sensing tasks, positioning tasks, and the like.

[0032] In an implementation, the method can further comprise: sending first information indicating a first clock correction threshold, the first clock correction threshold being used to determine the clock correction time. Determining the measurement result based on the first signal and the clock correction information comprises: determining a sending time of the first signal based on the clock correction time and the first clock correction threshold; and determining the measurement result based on the sending time of the first signal and the first signal. Alternatively, determining a clock offset amount of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the clock correction time and the first clock correction threshold; and determining the measurement result based on the clock offset amount and the first signal.

[0033] In this implementation, the network device side designs a clock correction mechanism. The network device determines the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset amount of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the first signal, the first clock correction threshold, and the clock correction time, and then determines the measurement result based on the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset amount of the terminal device sending the first signal. Since the measurement result is determined under the premise of overcoming the clock offset, the accuracy of the determined measurement result is high.

[0034] In an implementation, the clock correction information further comprises a clock drift rate. The determining the measurement result according to the first signal and the clock correction information comprises: determining a sending time of the first signal based on the clock correction time and the clock drift rate; determining the measurement result according to the sending time of the first signal and the first signal; or determining a clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the clock correction time and the clock drift rate; and determining the measurement result according to the clock offset and the first signal.

[0035] In this implementation, a clock correction mechanism is designed at the network device side. The network device first determines the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal according to the first signal, the clock drift rate and the clock correction time, and then determines the measurement result based on the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal. Since the measurement result is determined on the basis of overcoming the influence of the clock offset, the determined measurement result is more accurate.

[0036] In an implementation, the clock correction information further comprises a second clock correction threshold. The determining the measurement result according to the first signal and the clock correction information comprises: determining a sending time of the first signal based on the clock correction time and the second clock correction threshold; determining the measurement result according to the sending time of the first signal and the first signal; or determining a clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the clock correction time and the second clock correction threshold; and determining the measurement result according to the clock offset and the first signal.

[0037] In this implementation, a clock correction mechanism is designed at the network device side. The network device first determines the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal according to the first signal, the second clock correction threshold and the clock correction time, and then determines the measurement result based on the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal. Since the measurement result is determined on the basis of overcoming the influence of the clock offset, the determined measurement result is more accurate.

[0038] In an implementation, the method can further comprise: sending a signal for measuring clock offset information, wherein the signal for measuring clock offset information is used to determine the clock correction time.

[0039] In this implementation, the network device sends the signal for measuring clock offset information to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can determine the clock offset based on the signal for measuring clock offset information, so as to start the clock correction in time.

[0040] In an implementation, the method can further comprise: sending first request information, wherein the first request information is used to request the clock correction information.

[0041] In this implementation, the network device sends specific first request information to request the clock correction information, and the terminal device only sends the clock correction information after the network device sends the first request information, thereby avoiding the terminal device from blindly sending the clock correction information or sending the clock correction information multiple times, and reducing unnecessary signaling overhead.

[0042] In one implementation, the clock correction time includes at least two clock correction instants, or the clock correction time includes at least one clock correction instant and a clock correction period.

[0043] In this implementation, the possible content of the clock correction time is flexibly configured, and by allowing the clock correction time to contain diversified content, such as multiple selectable clock correction instants or a mixed mode combining the clock correction period and at least one correction instant, the system can flexibly adjust the correction strategy according to different scenarios and requirements.

[0044] In a fourth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided for implementing the method described in any of the first aspect to the third aspect. For example, the communication apparatus can be the terminal device in the first aspect or the second aspect, or an apparatus included in the terminal device, such as a chip or a chip system; or the communication apparatus can be the network device in the third aspect, or an apparatus included in the network device, such as a chip or a chip system. When the apparatus is a chip system, it can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0045] The communication apparatus includes modules, units, or means for implementing the corresponding functions of the method, which can be implemented by hardware, software, or by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions.

[0046] In some possible designs, the communication apparatus can include a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module can be used to implement the processing functions in any of the aspects and any possible implementation manners thereof. The transceiver module, which can also be referred to as a transceiver unit, is used to implement the functions of sending and / or receiving in any of the aspects and any possible implementation manners thereof. The transceiver module can be composed of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

[0047] In some possible designs, the transceiver module includes a sending module and / or a receiving module, which are used to implement the sending or receiving functions in any of the aspects and any possible implementation manners thereof.

[0048] In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises: a processor and a communication interface; the communication interface is configured to communicate with a module outside the communication apparatus; the processor is configured to execute computer programs or instructions to enable the communication apparatus to perform the method in any of the aspects. For example, the communication apparatus can be the terminal device in the first aspect or the second aspect, or a device included in the terminal device, such as a chip or a chip system; or the communication apparatus can be the network device in the third aspect, or a device included in the network device, such as a chip or a chip system. When the device is a chip system, the device can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0049] In a sixth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises: at least one processor; the processor is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in a memory to enable the communication apparatus to perform the method in any of the aspects. The memory can be coupled with the processor, or the memory can exist independently of the processor, for example, the memory and the processor are two independent modules. The memory can be located outside the communication apparatus, or can be located inside the communication apparatus.

[0050] The communication apparatus is configured to implement the method in any of the first aspect to the third aspect. For example, the communication apparatus can be the terminal device in the first aspect or the second aspect, or a device included in the terminal device, such as a chip or a chip system; or the communication apparatus can be the network device in the third aspect, or a device included in the network device, such as a chip or a chip system. When the device is a chip system, the device can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0051] In a seventh aspect, a computer readable storage medium is provided, which stores computer programs or instructions, when the computer programs or instructions are executed on a communication apparatus, the communication apparatus can perform the method in any of the aspects.

[0052] In an eighth aspect, a computer program product is provided, which includes instructions, when the instructions are executed on a communication apparatus, the communication apparatus can perform the method in any of the aspects.

[0053] In a ninth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which is configured to enable the communication apparatus to perform the method in any of the aspects.

[0054] It can be understood that, when the communication apparatus in any of the fourth aspect to the sixth aspect is a chip, the sending action / function of the communication apparatus can be understood as outputting information, and the receiving action / function of the communication apparatus can be understood as inputting information.

[0055] The technical effects brought by any one of the fourth aspect to the ninth aspect can be referred to the technical effects brought by different design manners of the first aspect to the third aspect, and will not be described here again.

[0056] In a tenth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes the terminal device and the network device according to the above aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0057] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a clock correction process according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a single station uplink sensing ranging scenario according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0059] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] FIG. 4-a is a schematic diagram of a structure of a sensing network system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] FIG. 4-b is a schematic diagram of another structure of a sensing network system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a structure of an open access network system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a chip structure according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a flow of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a flow of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0066] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a flow of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a flow of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0068] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a flow of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a clock correction scenario according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of another clock correction scenario according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of another clock correction scenario according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a flow of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0073] FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] FIG. 17 is a flow diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] FIG. 18 is a flow diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] FIG. 20 is a flow diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0078] FIG. 21 is a flow diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0079] FIG. 22 is a flow diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0080] FIG. 23 is a structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0081] FIG. 24 is a structural diagram of another communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0082] FIG. 25 is a structural diagram of another communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0083] The network architecture and service scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are for more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application. It can be known by those skilled in the art that, with the evolution of network architecture and the appearance of new service scenarios, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0084] Before introducing the embodiments of the present application, some terms related to the embodiments of the present application are explained.

[0085] 1. Sensing signal (SS):

[0086] The perception signal is a wireless signal sent by a perception device for implementing a perception function. For example, the perception signal can include at least one of the following: a reference signal in long term evolution (LTE), a reference signal in new radio (NR), a reference signal of a new generation mobile communication system, or other signals of the new generation mobile communication system, etc. In a possible implementation, for a perception mode in which a user equipment (UE) sends and a base station receives, the perception signal can be a sounding reference signal (SRS) defined in an existing protocol; or the perception signal can be a new reference signal different from the reference signal defined in the existing protocol; or the perception signal can be an uplink data channel such as a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). Currently, a perception signal sending end sends a perception signal to a perception signal receiving end. In the transmission process, the perception signal can pass through a perception target, causing the perception signal to produce transmission effects such as reflection, diffraction, transmission, phase change, Doppler shift, or signal strength change. Based on this, the perception signal receiving end can obtain information of the perception target by perceiving the received perception signal, thereby implementing environment reconstruction, motion detection, gesture recognition, and biometric measurement, etc.

[0087] 2. Communication signal:

[0088] The communication signal is a wireless signal sent by a communication device for realizing a communication function. For example, the communication signal can include at least one of the following: a physical channel in LTE, a physical channel in NR, a communication signal of a new generation mobile communication system, a reference signal or a physical reference signal in LTE, or a reference signal or a physical reference signal in NR. For example, the physical channel in LTE or the physical channel in NR mainly includes the following: a PUSCH, a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), or a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), etc. For example, the reference signal or the physical reference signal in LTE, or the reference signal or the physical reference signal in NR mainly includes the following: a PDSCH demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a PDCCH DMRS, a PBCH DMRS, a phase-tracking reference signal (PTRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a remote interference management reference signal (RIM-RS), and a positioning reference signal (PRS), a PUSCH DMRS, a PUCCH DMRS, a PTRS, and an SRS.

[0089] 3. Signal for measuring clock offset information:

[0090] The signal for measuring clock drift information, also known as clock drift measurement signal or clock offset measurement signal. Among them, the signal for measuring clock drift information refers to a specially designed or naturally generated electrical signal (or optical signal) that contains identifiable, periodic or non-periodic time deviation characteristics, which is used to accurately evaluate the cumulative time error (i.e. clock drift) of the clock source or clock system relative to the ideal time reference during long-term operation. This signal is analyzed and processed by a special measuring device or system to quantify the degree of clock drift, so as to evaluate the stability and synchronization performance of the clock. For example, the signal for measuring clock drift information can be a synchronization signal and PBCH block (SSB) or a tracking reference signal (TRS).

[0091] 4. Uplink reference signal:

[0092] The uplink reference signal includes the uplink reference signal or physical uplink reference signal in LTE, the uplink reference signal or physical uplink reference signal in NR, or the uplink reference signal or physical uplink reference signal of the new generation mobile communication system. The uplink reference signal or physical uplink reference signal in LTE or NR mainly includes PUSCH DMRS, PUCCH DMRS, PTRS and SRS.

[0093] 5. Clock drift rate:

[0094] The clock drift rate refers to the amount of offset between the clock (e.g. the clock of the terminal device) and the reference clock (e.g. the clock of the network device) per unit time measured by the reference clock. It measures the cumulative error of the clock signal over time, i.e. the deviation between the actual frequency of the clock signal and the ideal frequency.

[0095] 6. Clock offset:

[0096] The clock offset refers to the difference in time taken by the clock signal to reach different parts of the digital circuit, or the difference between the readings of two clocks at the same time.

[0097] 7. Relationship between clock drift rate and clock offset:

[0098] Clock drift rate (e.g., in parts per million (PPM), or parts per billion (PPB), or seconds per day) represents the trend of the deviation of a clock from a standard time or reference clock over a long period of time. This rate can be positive or negative, depending on whether the clock is running faster or slower than the standard time. Clock offset, on the other hand, is the specific value of this deviation accumulated over a certain period of time. For example, if a clock drifts by 1 second per day (i.e., a drift rate of 1 second / day), then after one year (365 days), its offset would be 365 seconds.

[0099] Therefore, the relationship between clock drift rate and clock offset can be expressed as: clock offset is the result of the accumulation of clock drift rate over a certain period of time. This relationship can be described by a simple mathematical expression, i.e., clock offset = clock drift rate x time. However, it is important to note that the "time" here should refer to the period of time calculated from the starting point of a clock offset.

[0100] Since the first generation of mobile communication technology, wireless cellular communication technology has undergone several major leaps, each upgrade greatly improving the speed and efficiency of information transmission and enhancing the interconnection capabilities between devices. The widespread use of 5G mobile communication systems not only deepens the instant communication between people, but also promotes the interconnection of various intelligent devices, opening a new chapter for the Internet of Things (IoT).

[0101] To achieve the ambitious goal of intelligent interconnection of all things, the ISAC system has emerged. By integrating radar communication technology and communication sensing functions, the system aims to reduce interference between systems and significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of information exchange. The core advantage of the ISAC system is its ability to perform both communication and sensing tasks simultaneously, maximizing the use of resources and opening up new paths for the development of future wireless communication networks.

[0102] As wireless communication technology moves towards future communication networks, the ISAC system will face unprecedented development opportunities. Future communication networks will use higher frequency bands, wider bandwidths, and large-scale antenna array technologies to provide strong technical support for the ISAC system, enabling it to achieve high-precision, high-resolution sensing capabilities. This will enable the communication network itself to become a massive sensor network, providing a variety of new services including positioning, imaging, or environmental reconstruction, while using sensing data to assist in improving communication performance.

[0103] In the future, ISAC systems will demonstrate their great potential in multiple fields, including but not limited to ultra-high precision positioning, simultaneous imaging, or map construction. By integrating advanced algorithms, edge computing, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, ISAC systems will be able to generate super-resolution and high-identification images and maps, providing strong technical support for industries such as smart cities, autonomous driving, health care, or security detection. In addition, the development of ISAC systems will go through three stages from loose coupling to complete integration, gradually improving system performance, reducing cost and energy consumption, and achieving more efficient and intelligent wireless communication services.

[0104] ISAC systems aim to achieve deep integration of communication and perception, providing high-precision positioning, imaging, or environment reconstruction capabilities. These functions often require accurate ToA or distance measurements as support, and clock synchronization is the key to ensuring the accuracy of these measurements.

[0105] However, the precision limitations of UE internal crystal oscillators can cause clock frequency offset, which in turn causes clock offset problems, which are the main source of ranging errors. To overcome this challenge, the industry generally uses multi-station differential technology to obtain ToA, thereby avoiding the difficulties of single-station clock synchronization.

[0106] In one solution, to address the clock frequency offset problem, multi-station differential technology is widely used to improve ranging and positioning accuracy. The core of this technology is to calculate the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) between signals arriving at different base stations for ranging, rather than relying on the ToA of a single base station. In a multi-station differential system, multiple high-precision synchronized base stations simultaneously receive signals from a target device (such as a UE) and record their respective reception times. Since the time references of these base stations are highly consistent, the TDOA values calculated between them have very high precision and are almost unaffected by the clock frequency offset of individual base stations.

[0107] Using these high-precision TDOA values, combined with known base station location information, advanced mathematical algorithms (such as Fang, Chan, or Taylor algorithms) are used for data processing, which can consider factors such as signal propagation speed, base station layout, and TDOA values to accurately solve the position of the target device. This process effectively reduces the impact of single base station clock accuracy on overall positioning performance, and even if individual base stations have slight clock offsets, it will not significantly affect the final positioning accuracy.

[0108] However, multi-station differential systems require the deployment of multiple base stations or observation stations, which need to be precisely synchronized and equipped with corresponding receiving devices and data processing systems, increasing the complexity and cost of system deployment and failing to overcome the clock frequency offset problem in single-station scenarios.

[0109] In another solution, to address the clock frequency offset problem, the downlink timing difference is calculated by measuring the synchronization signal block (e.g., SSB) or tracking reference signal (e.g., TRS) in a specific time interval twice, and then the clock drift rate is determined, so that the clock offset can be calculated based on the downlink timing difference and the clock drift rate. Once the clock offset reaches a preset threshold, the UE will automatically trigger the clock correction process to maintain the uplink synchronization with the base station. This process is shown in FIG. 1, which ensures intervention before the clock offset accumulates to a certain extent. However, before the threshold is triggered, the signals transmitted by the UE are still affected by the clock offset.

[0110] This results in inaccurate measurement results due to the clock offset carried by the signals transmitted by the UE before the clock offset reaches the correction threshold. In particular, in a single-station ToA measurement scenario, such as the single-station bi-static uplink sensing ranging scenario shown in FIG. 2, when the UE is at the first position, d UE,BS is the true distance between the UE and the base station, d UE,S is the true distance between the UE and the base station, d BS,S is the true distance between the UE and the base station, but due to the time synchronization error between the base station and the UE, the distance measurement error is err1, i.e., the distance between the UE and the base station measured by the base station is incorrectly calculated as d UE,BS is the true distance between the UE and the base station, but due to the time synchronization error between the base station and the UE, the distance measurement error is err1, i.e., the distance between the UE and the base station measured by the base station is incorrectly calculated as d UE,S is the true distance between the UE and the base station, but due to the time synchronization error between the base station and the UE, the distance measurement error is err1, i.e., the distance between the UE and the base station measured by the base station is incorrectly calculated as d BS,S is the true distance between the UE and the base station, but due to the time synchronization error between the base station and the UE, the distance measurement error is err1, i.e., the distance between the UE and the base station measured by the base station is incorrectly calculated as d UE,S is the true distance between the UE and the base station, but due to the time synchronization error between the base station and the UE, the distance measurement error is err1, i.e., the distance between the UE and the base station measured by the base station is incorrectly calculated as d BS,S is the true distance between the UE and the base station, but due to the time synchronization error between the base station and the UE, the distance measurement error is err1, i.e., the distance between the UE and the base station measured by the base station is incorrectly calculated as d It can be seen that due to the time synchronization error between the base station and the UE, the accuracy of one-way distance measurement is greatly reduced.

[0111] In addition, the clock correction process of the UE is autonomous, and does not need to interact with the network side (such as a base station) for clock information or a correction process. This "information island" phenomenon leads to the network side being unable to directly obtain the clock state of the UE, and further, when single-station ranging is involved, whether it is a direct path or a reflected path measurement result, an additional error is superimposed due to time non-synchronization, further affecting the overall perception accuracy.

[0112] Under the current technical framework, due to the autonomy of UE clock correction and the lack of awareness of the network side of the UE clock state, the distance measurement error in the single-station bi-static uplink perception ranging scenario is difficult to effectively eliminate. This not only limits the accuracy of the ranging application, but also poses a challenge to services that rely on accurate distance information, such as positioning or tracking.

[0113] In summary, the importance of clock synchronization in ToA and distance measurement is self-evident, and although existing solutions can alleviate the problem to some extent, the improvement effect of the measurement accuracy of ToA and distance measurement needs to be improved. As described in the background, how to improve the measurement accuracy of ToA or distance measurement has become a technical problem that needs to be solved.

[0114] To solve the above technical problems, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which is described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the specification.

[0115] The communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as an LTE system, a 5G mobile communication system, a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, a future communication system, or a system that integrates multiple communication systems, and the like, without limitation. The 5G can also be referred to as NR.

[0116] The communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication scenarios, for example, can be applied to one or more of the following communication scenarios: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra reliable low latency communication (URLLC), machine type communication (MTC), massive machine type communication (mMTC), device to device (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X), vehicle to vehicle (V2V), and internet of things (IoT), etc.

[0117] In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the application scenarios used by the present application are described taking the communication system architecture shown in FIG. 3 as an example. FIG. 3 shows a possible, non-limiting system schematic diagram. As shown in FIG. 3, the communication system 3000 includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. The RAN 100 includes at least one network device (such as 101a and 101b in FIG. 3, collectively referred to as 101) and at least one terminal (such as 102a-102j in FIG. 3, collectively referred to as 102). The RAN 100 can also include other RAN nodes, for example, wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in FIG. 3), etc. The terminal 102 is connected to the network device 101 in a wireless manner. The network device 101 is connected to the core network 200 in a wireless or wired manner. The core network device in the core network 200 and the network device 101 in the RAN 100 can be different physical devices respectively, or can be the same physical device integrated with the logical functions of the core network and the logical functions of the radio access network.

[0118] The RAN 100 can be a 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) related cellular system, e.g., a 4G, 5G mobile communication system, or an evolutional system after 5G. The RAN 100 can also be an open radio access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a WiFi system. The RAN 100 can also be a communication system that combines two or more of the above systems.

[0119] The apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to the network device 101 or the terminal 102. It can be understood that FIG. 3 only shows one possible communication system architecture to which the embodiments of the present application can be applied, and in other possible scenarios, other devices can also be included in the communication system architecture.

[0120] The network device 101 is a node in the RAN, and can also be referred to as an access network device, and can also be referred to as a RAN node (or device). The network device 101 is used to help the terminal to realize wireless access. The plurality of network devices 101 in the communication system 3000 can be nodes of the same type or nodes of different types. In some scenarios, the roles of the network device 101 and the terminal 102 are relative, for example, the network element 102i in FIG. 3 can be a helicopter or a drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For the terminal 102j that accesses the RAN 100 through the network element 102i, the network element 102i is a base station; but for the base station 101a, the network element 102i is a terminal. The network device 101 and the terminal 102 are sometimes collectively referred to as communication apparatuses, for example, the network elements 101a and 101b in FIG. 3 can be understood as communication apparatuses with base station functions, and the network elements 102a-102j can be understood as communication apparatuses with terminal functions.

[0121] In a possible scenario, the network device can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmitting and receiving point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a base station in a future mobile communication system, a satellite, or an access point (AP) in a WiFi system, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, a network device in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication system, i.e., can be deployed in a high-altitude platform or a satellite, etc. The network device can be a macro base station (such as 110a in FIG. 3), a micro base station or an indoor station (such as 110b in FIG. 3), a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. The network device can also be a device assuming a base station function in device to device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, unmanned aircraft communication, or machine communication. Alternatively, the network device can also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or a vehicle-mounted device, etc. For example, the access network device in V2X technology can be a road side unit (RSU).

[0122] In another possible scenario, a terminal accesses a wireless network by cooperation of multiple network devices, and each of the network devices implements part of functions of a base station. For example, a network device can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU), etc. The CU and the DU can be separately configured, or can be included in a same network element, for example, a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, for example, a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH). It can be understood that a network device can be a CU node, or a DU node, or a device including a CU node and a DU node. In addition, the CU can be divided into a network device in a radio access network (RAN), or the CU can be divided into a network device in a core network (CN), which is not limited here.

[0123] In different systems, the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU can also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an open-radio access network (O-RAN) system, the CU can also be referred to as an O-RAN central unit (O-CU) (open CU), the DU can also be referred to as an O-RAN distributed unit (O-DU), the CU-CP can also be referred to as an O-CU-CP, the CU-UP can also be referred to as an O-CU-UP, and the RU can also be referred to as an O-RAN radio unit (O-RU). For the convenience of description, the CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU are taken as examples for description in this application. Any one of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0124] In the embodiments of this application, the form of the network device is not limited, and the device for implementing the functions of the network device can be the network device; or can be a device capable of supporting the network device to implement the functions, for example, a chip system. The device can be installed in the network device or used in combination with the network device.

[0125] The terminal device 102, which can also be referred to as a user equipment (UE), a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), or the like, or a device configured to provide voice or data connectivity to a user, can also be an Internet of Things (IoT) device. For example, the terminal device can include a handheld device having wireless connection capability, a vehicle-mounted device, or the like. Currently, the terminal device can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a palm computer, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device (e.g., a smart watch, a smart bracelet, a pedometer, smart glasses, or the like), a vehicle-mounted device (e.g., a car, a bicycle, an electric vehicle, an airplane, a ship, a train, a high-speed rail, or the like), a satellite terminal, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a smart point of sale (POS) machine, a customer-premises equipment (CPE), a light UE, a reduced capability UE (REDCAP UE), a wireless terminal in industrial control, a smart home device (e.g., a refrigerator, a television, an air conditioner, an electricity meter, or the like), a smart robot, a mechanical arm, a workshop device, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, a flight device (e.g., a smart robot, a hot air balloon, a drone, an airplane), or the like. The terminal device can also be a vehicle device, such as a whole vehicle device, a vehicle-mounted module, a vehicle-mounted chip, an on board unit (OBU), or a telematics box (T-BOX), or the like. The terminal device can also be other devices having terminal functions, for example, the terminal device can also be a device performing a terminal function in D2D communication.

[0126] Embodiments of the present application do not limit the form of the terminal device, and the device for implementing the function of the terminal device can be the terminal device, or can be a device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the function, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the terminal device or used in combination with the terminal device. In embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices. All or part of the functions of the terminal device in the present application can also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform).

[0127] The foregoing has introduced the communication system to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable from the dimension of macro architecture. To help deepen the understanding of the system in the actual application environment, the communication system will be described more specifically through several specific communication system examples. It should be noted that the following listed communication system examples are for illustrative purposes and are intended to provide intuitive understanding, and the actual application range of the present application is far beyond this, and other types of communication systems also have compatibility and adaptability, which are not limited.

[0128] For example, the communication system provided by the embodiments of the present application can be a sensing network system. For example, the embodiments of the present application propose a sensing network system architecture as shown in FIG. 4-a, which integrates sensing function (SF) and flexibly supports the co-location of location management function (LMF) and SF, realizing unified network element deployment of sensing and positioning functions.

[0129] As a core component of the control plane positioning in the 5G core network (5G core network, 5GC), the LMF is responsible for not only the calculation and feedback of location information in the 5G network, but also the core functions such as positioning process management, terminal capability evaluation, auxiliary data distribution and terminal position estimation. Specifically, it supports UE position calculation, receives downlink position measurement or estimation from the UE, and obtains uplink position measurement from the next generation radio access network (next generation radio access network, NG RAN).

[0130] Under this architecture, the SF can efficiently reuse the existing interfaces between the LMF and the access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF), network capability exposure function (network exposure function, NEF), unified data management (unified data management, UDM), network data analysis function (network data analytics function, NWDAF) and other 5GC network elements to interact sensing information. The sensing control signaling between the SF and the RAN or the UE is transmitted securely through the AMF. The sensing measurement data can be transmitted to the LMF (including SF) through the control plane (using LTE positioning protocol LPP or NR positioning protocol ANRPPa) or the user plane (for example, user plane function (user plane function, UPF) forwarding or direct transmission).

[0131] The SF network element is designed flexibly, and can be independently deployed according to the sensing demand or combined with a 5GC network element (such as an AMF or an LMF) to realize basic functions such as sensing authorization, control, data processing and result output. If the SF is combined with the LMF, the LMF and a gateway mobile location center (GMLC) need to be enhanced in function to support the sensing business demand. As the initial node for processing the sensing request, the GMLC performs tasks such as privacy check, authorization and routing of the request to the AMF for LMF selection.

[0132] To support seamless interaction between the SF and the 5GC network element, the following newly added interfaces are defined:

[0133] NS1: Interface between the SF and the AMF, used for transmitting sensing control signaling and (in the control plane) sensing measurement data.

[0134] NS2: Interface between the SF and the NEF, used for transferring signaling between the sensing network element and an application function (AF), and opening the sensing result to the AF.

[0135] NS3: Interface between the SF and the UDM, used for realizing authentication / authorization and obtaining service information such as UE sensing subscription information.

[0136] NS4: Interface between the SF and the NWDAF, used for supporting AI processing cooperation related to the sensing business.

[0137] NS5: Interface between the SF and the policy control function (PCF), used for transmitting sensing requirements, quality of service (QoS) requirements and sensing results, and assisting in generating a policy control (PCC) policy.

[0138] NS6: Interface between the SF and the LMF, used for providing a location-related information query service.

[0139] NS7: Interface between the SF and the UPF, used for supporting direct or UPF forwarding user plane transmission of sensing measurement data.

[0140] In addition, existing interfaces (such as N1, N2, N5, N8, N33, etc.) need to be extended to support transmission of sensing business-related information, including but not limited to authentication information, business type, quality requirement, measurement data and result, etc. If the SF is combined with the LMF, a NL9 interface needs to be newly added between the LMF and the GMLC, and the interfaces (such as NL1, NL2, NL5, NL6) between the AMF, the NEF, the UDM and the GMLC need to be updated accordingly, to ensure comprehensive circulation and efficient processing of the sensing business information. The interface descriptions are as follows:

[0141] N33: Interface between AF and NEF, through which perception service type, service requirement, or perception result, etc. can be delivered.

[0142] NL5: Interface between NEF and GMLC, through which perception service type, service requirement, or perception result, etc. can be delivered.

[0143] NL6: Interface between GMLC and UDM, through which privacy check data can be delivered.

[0144] NL2: Interface between NEF and AMF, through which perception service type, service requirement, or perception result, etc. can be delivered.

[0145] NL1: Interface between AMF and LMF, through which perception service type, service requirement, or perception result, etc. can be delivered.

[0146] New interface NL9: Interface between GMLC and LMF, through which perception service type, service requirement, or perception result, etc. can be delivered.

[0147] In yet another example, the communication system provided by the embodiments of the present application can be another perception network system, as shown in FIG. 4-b, the perception function is relatively independent of the existing 5GC network, and the perception network element (SF) does not need or only needs limited interaction with the 5GC. This design is particularly suitable for scenarios that only require specific area perception or pure perception requirements, allowing the provision of perception services without the overall control of the 5GC or with only part of the network elements participating. Through the localization of the SF, it can be ensured that the perception measurement data or results do not leave the enterprise park, meeting the high requirements of enterprises on data security and privacy protection, and effectively reducing the perception delay.

[0148] The system is simple, flexible and efficient, reduces the transmission nodes, and is convenient for rapid deployment. At the same time, it supports selective implementation of functions such as authorization, mobility management and charging related to the UE according to requirements.

[0149] In the above system, the SF can directly establish a connection with the RAN node, and deliver perception control signaling and measurement data through the newly defined NS1 interface. When the UE participates in perception, the control plane signaling is forwarded to the SF through the AMF, while the measurement data is directly transmitted through the NS1 interface.

[0150] The interface definitions are as follows:

[0151] NS1: Newly added interface between SF and RAN, used to deliver perception control signaling and measurement data. In a specific deployment, the perception function can also be directly deployed in the base station.

[0152] NS2 (optional): A possible new interface between SF and AMF, used to receive the sensing service requirement from UE or transfer the interaction message with other network elements (such as UDM) in the core network.

[0153] NS3 (optional): A possible new interface between SF and NEF, used to transfer the signaling message with the application function (AF) through NEF and open the sensing result to AF. Note that the interaction between the sensing function and AF may not pass through NEF.

[0154] NS4 (optional): A possible new interface between SF and NWDAF, used to generate the sensing result through intelligent analysis and prediction with NWDAF.

[0155] According to the actual deployment, the NS2 and NS3 interfaces may be selected, that is, the AF can choose to send a request to the SF indirectly through the NEF (NS2) or directly communicate with the SF (without NEF) (NS3). In another case, the AF sends a sensing service request to the SF through N33 (NEF) and NS2 (AMF).

[0156] In another embodiment, the communication system described in the embodiments of the present application can also be an O-RAN system, as shown in FIG. 5. The innovation of O-RAN compared with the traditional RAN architecture is that the traditional RAN is regarded as a whole, focusing on the overall receiving and output performance, and the interconnection and cooperation between the internal modules (such as antennas, RRUs or BBUs) are relatively ignored, and the whole solution is usually provided by a single supplier. However, O-RAN defines the standardized architecture interface between the internal modules of RAN for the first time, which not only makes the modularization of RAN possible, but also greatly enhances the flexibility and openness of the system. Thanks to the standardization of the interface, different vendor equipment modules (such as antennas of company A, RRUs of company B, and BBUs of company C) can be seamlessly integrated to build a complete RAN system, thereby breaking the monopoly of traditional suppliers and promoting the diversified competition in the market.

[0157] For the O-RAN system architecture shown in FIG. 5 and the core network elements (network elements) contained therein, these elements jointly support the efficient operation and flexible expansion of the O-RAN system. The network elements in the O-RAN system are introduced as follows:

[0158] Non-real time RAN intelligent controller (Non-RT RIC): used for non-real time intelligent management of RAN functions. It can implement AI / ML workflow including model training and model updating, and guide the application program / function in Near-RT RIC based on policy. The Non-RT RIC is located in the SMO module.

[0159] Near-RT RIC: Near-Real Time RAN Intelligent Controller, 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 achieved.

[0160] O-CU: used to implement the radio resource control (RRC) layer, the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer in the 3GPP standard and other control functions.

[0161] O-CU-CP: similar to the CU-CP in the NR system, used to implement the functions of the RRC layer and the control plane functions of the PDCP layer. It belongs to the O-CU part.

[0162] O-CU-UP: similar to the CU-UP in the NR system, used to implement the functions of the SDAP layer and the user plane functions of the PDCP layer. It belongs to the O-CU part.

[0163] O-DU: based on low-layer function splitting, used to implement the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, and the higher physical layer (Higher PHY) in the 3GPP standard. The higher physical layer functions include one or more of the following: forward error correction (FEC) encoding / decoding, scrambling / descrambling, or modulation / demodulation.

[0164] O-RU: Based on low-layer function split, used to implement the lower physical layer (Lower PHY) function and radio frequency function in the 3GPP standard. For example, the low physical layer function includes one or more of the following: fast Fourier transform (FFT) transform / inverse Fast Fourier Transformation (iFFT) transform, digital beamforming, or extraction and filtering of a physical random access channel (PRACH), etc. The O-RU is similar to the TRP or RRH in 3GPP, but it includes low physical layer functions such as FFT / iFFT or PRACH extraction.

[0165] O-RAN Cloud (O-Cloud): As a cloud computing platform, it includes physical infrastructure nodes for hosting O-RAN functions such as RIC or O-DU, etc.; supports software components (such as operating systems, virtual machine monitors, container runtimes), management and orchestration functions.

[0166] For the O-RAN architecture diagram of FIG. 5, the interfaces contained are described as follows:

[0167] A1 interface: The interface between Non-RT RIC and Near-RT RIC, used for intelligent and dynamic control of O-RAN internal wireless resources. The Non-RT RIC provides policies, rich information, and ML model updates to the Near-RT RIC through the A1 interface, and the Near-RT RIC provides policy feedback to the Non-RT RIC through the A1 interface.

[0168] E2 interface: The E2 interface is an open interface between two endpoints to connect the Near-RT RIC and the RAN node. The RAN node includes, for example: CU, DU in 5G; O-RAN compatible eNB in 4G; O-CU (O-CU-CP and / or O-CU-UP) and / or O-DU in O-RAN, etc. The RIC can obtain RAN node data collection and feedback through the E2 node, and the RAN node can obtain control feedback from the Near-RT RIC through the E2 node.

[0169] O1 interface: The interface between the management entity in the SMO and the O-RAN module, used for operation management, through which FCAPS management, software management, or file management is implemented.

[0170] O2 interface: The interface between the SMO and the infrastructure management framework supporting the O-RAN virtual network function.

[0171] E1 interface: interface between CU-CP and CU-UP.

[0172] F1-C interface: interface between CU-CP and DU.

[0173] F1-U interface: interface between CU-UP and DU.

[0174] Under the O-RAN architecture, the network element with the sensing function can be the RT RIC, and the O-DU completes the multipath measurement and reports the measurement result to the RT RIC. The network element with the sensing function can also be the O-CU, which receives the multipath measurement result reported by the O-DU and completes the sensing calculation. The embodiment of the present application does not make specific limitation on who the network element with the sensing function is under the O-RAN architecture.

[0175] In an implementation, the network device in the communication system provided by the embodiment of the present application can be implemented based on a chip. As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a commonly used architecture of a RAN chip, which is divided into a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU) and a radio unit (RU). The CU performs upper layer second layer (Layer 2, L2) and third layer (Layer 3, L3) functions. Midhaul and backhaul interfaces are used to carry traffic between the CU and the DU and between the CU and the core network. The DU performs L1 and part of L2 functions, and the RU performs L1 calculation and radio frequency (RF) digital part functions. Fronthaul and backhaul interfaces are used to carry traffic between the RU and the DU and between the CU and the DU. The integrated DU includes the above-mentioned DU and RU functions.

[0176] The CU / DU hardware includes a chassis platform, a mainboard, peripheral devices and cooling devices. The mainboard contains a processing unit, a memory, an internal I / O interface and an external connection port. The hardware accelerator design has an interface, and the hardware function components include storage of software, hardware and system debugging interfaces, and a single-board management controller.

[0177] DU systems are typically implemented using multi-core processors and one or more hardware accelerators. Part of the DU protocol stack can be implemented in software running on the multi-core processor, compute-intensive L1 and L2 functions can be offloaded to FPGA / GPU-based hardware accelerators; or all L1 functions are offloaded to FPGA / GPU-based hardware accelerators, while other protocol stack contents are implemented in software running on the processor; or the entire protocol stack is implemented in software running on the processor. The hardware accelerators are supported by interconnection with x86 or non-x86 processors, and the accelerators have a multi-lane PCIe interface pointing to the CPU, and are externally connected through GbE connections.

[0178] The RU includes three parts:

[0179] The first part is the O-RAN processing unit (OPU), which receives enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI) frames from the O-RAN fronthaul network. The OPU handles the fronthaul interface while being responsible for the basic operations of the physical layer (L1), such as encoding or modulation, to ensure the accuracy and efficiency of data transmission. In addition, it also manages synchronization and beamforming technology, and maps data into resource units to optimize the use of spectrum resources. These functions together constitute the core capabilities of the RU. The OPU can be implemented as a CPU, FPGA, or application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0180] The second part is a digital processing unit (DPU) which performs synchronization, digital down conversion (DDC), digital up conversion (DUC), crest factor reduction (CFR) and digital pre-distortion (DPD) to improve power amplifier efficiency by reducing the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) / adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) of the RF front-end. The DPU can be implemented as an FPGA or an ASIC.

[0181] The third part is a radio frequency processing unit (RFPU) which integrates a transceiver module, up / down converters, power amplifiers (PA), low noise amplifiers (LNA) and transmit / receive (Tx / Rx) filters. This unit is responsible for performing all key conversions between the analog and digital domains, which rely on digital-to-analog converters (DAC) and analog-to-digital converters (ADC). Specifically, radio frequency sampling; using radio frequency, intermediate frequency (IF) signals in the up / down conversion process; and frequency conversion through local oscillator (LO) mixing, etc. operations are all efficiently completed within the transceiver module. It is worth noting that the physical and logical partition design within the RFPU is flexible and can be adjusted according to specific application scenarios and requirements without strictly defining its internal boundaries.

[0182] In combination with the above communication system, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method. The communication method has higher measurement accuracy by adjusting the sending timing of the signal at the terminal device side, or determining the actual sending time of the signal at the network device side, and then determining the measurement result. The communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application will be introduced below in combination with several possible typical scenarios.

[0183] It should be noted that in the following embodiments of the present application, the names of messages between network elements, the names of parameters, or the names of information, etc. are only examples, and in other embodiments, other names can also be used, and the communication method provided by the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0184] It can be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, each network element can perform part or all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application, and these steps or operations are only examples, and the embodiments of the present application can also perform other operations or variations of various operations. In addition, each step can be performed in a different order as presented in the embodiments of the present application, and it is possible that not all operations in the embodiments of the present application are performed.

[0185] It can be understood that in the present application, the terminal device and the network device are taken as examples of the execution subject of the interaction, but the present application does not limit the execution subject of the interaction. For example, the method performed by the terminal device in the present application can also be performed by a module (such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor) applied to the terminal device, and can also be implemented by a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the terminal device; the method performed by the network device in the present application can also be performed by a module (such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor) applied to the network device, and can also be implemented by a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the network device, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0186] For example, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, in which the terminal device sends a sensing signal based on a second timing adjusted based on a first timing and a clock offset on the basis of the first timing indicated by the network device. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the communication method. As shown in FIG. 7, the communication method can include the following steps:

[0187] S710, the network device sends the first timing to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first timing from the network device.

[0188] The first timing is a signal sending reference time set by the network device for the terminal device. In the case of clock synchronization between the network device and the terminal device, the terminal device sends a signal according to the timing, and the network device can accurately determine the sending time of the signal, thereby ensuring a high-precision measurement result. However, if the clocks of the terminal device and the network device are out of synchronization, at this time, although the terminal device sends a signal according to the first timing of its internal clock, due to the clock difference, the network device is difficult to determine the accurate sending time of the signal, which ultimately affects the accuracy of the measurement result.

[0189] In an implementation, the first timing can be carried in a timing advance command (TAC), and the TAC indicates a timing for sending an uplink signal. In this case, the terminal device can use the first timing in the TAC for sending a communication signal; or the terminal device can use the first timing in the TAC for sending a sensing signal in a case where clock synchronization is achieved between the network device and the terminal device; or the terminal device can use the first timing in the TAC as a timing adjustment basis for sending a sensing signal in a case where clock synchronization is not achieved between the network device and the terminal device. That is, the first timing in the embodiments of the present application can be interpreted as an uplink timing shared by the communication signal and the sensing signal.

[0190] In another implementation, the first timing can also be carried in configuration information of the sensing signal. The configuration information of the sensing signal is configuration information set for the sensing signal, for example, time-frequency resource indication information of the sensing signal. The first timing in the configuration information of the sensing signal is used for sending a sensing signal in a case where clock synchronization is achieved between the network device and the terminal device; or the first timing in the configuration information of the sensing signal is used as a timing adjustment basis for sending a sensing signal in a case where clock synchronization is not achieved between the network device and the terminal device. In this case, the terminal device maintains two sets of timing, that is, the timing of the sensing signal and the timing of the communication signal are decoupled, or can also be interpreted as the timing of the sensing signal and the timing of the communication signal being independently configured.

[0191] As a possible implementation, the first timing carried in the configuration information of the sensing signal can be determined with reference to the timing of the communication signal, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0192] S720, the terminal device determines a second timing according to the first timing and a clock offset of the terminal device for sending a sensing signal.

[0193] In a possible implementation, the terminal device can determine the second timing based on the first timing and a previously measured clock offset of the terminal device for sending a sensing signal, so that the calculation amount for determining the second timing is small, and the power consumption of the terminal device is saved.

[0194] In another possible implementation, the terminal device can also measure a clock offset based on a signal sent by the network device; and determine the second timing based on the measured clock offset and the first timing, so that the accuracy of determining the second timing is high. The process of measuring the clock offset based on the signal sent by the network device will be described in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 below, and will not be described in detail here.

[0195] For example, assuming that the clock offset is +10 nanoseconds (ns), the first timing needs to be adjusted forward to obtain the second timing, and the adjustment amount is 10 ns. The calculation formula is expressed as: the second timing = the first timing-10 ns. In another example, the clock offset is-37 ns, and the first timing needs to be adjusted backward to obtain the second timing, and the adjustment amount is 37 ns. The calculation formula is expressed as: the second timing = the first timing+37 ns. It can be understood that the clock offset is introduced above in units of ns, and in specific implementation, the clock offset can also have other units, for example, picoseconds (ps), microseconds (μs), and the like, which are not limited.

[0196] S730, the terminal device sends the sensing signal to the network device according to the second timing, and correspondingly, the network device receives the sensing signal from the terminal device.

[0197] Since the terminal device sends the sensing signal based on the second timing adjusted from the first timing and the clock offset, the influence of the clock offset is overcome. In detail, if the terminal device directly sends the sensing signal based on the first timing according to its own clock, at this time, due to the clock offset, the timing on the clock of the network device is not the first timing when the sensing signal is sent. However, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device sends the sensing signal based on the second timing adjusted from the first timing according to its own clock, at this time, the timing on the clock of the network device is the first timing, and the time when the terminal device sends the sensing signal is the time when the network device instructs to send the sensing signal. The network device determines the measurement result based on the sensing signal, and the measurement accuracy is higher.

[0198] S740, the network device determines the measurement result according to the sensing signal.

[0199] The network device can perform a series of measurements according to the sensing signal and determine the corresponding measurement result.

[0200] For example, the measurement result can include a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result. Specifically, the network device obtains the time delay measurement result by calculating the time difference between the first timing and the time when the sensing signal is received, that is, the time required for the signal to be transmitted from the terminal device to the network device. Then, using the time delay measurement result and the propagation speed of the sensing signal in the medium, the network device can further deduce the straight-line distance between the terminal device and the network device, or deduce the distance between the terminal device and the network device after the sensing target is reflected or scattered or diffracted, to obtain the distance measurement result.

[0201] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device sends the sensing signal based on the second timing adjusted based on the first timing and the clock offset indicated by the network device, ensuring that the sending time of the sensing signal can be consistent with the expected time of the network device, overcoming the influence of the clock offset, and then the network device determines the measurement result based on the sensing signal, and the measurement accuracy is higher.

[0202] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can further include:

[0203] S750, the network device sends a signal for measuring clock offset information to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the signal for measuring clock offset information from the network device.

[0204] The signal for measuring clock offset information carries a timestamp of the network device sending the signal, and the terminal device records a timestamp of receiving the signal when receiving the signal. The signal for measuring clock offset information can refer to the description in the related art, and will not be repeated. In the embodiments of the present application, the clock of the network device is referred to as a reference clock, and the clock of the terminal device is referred to as a local clock.

[0205] S760, the terminal device determines the clock offset of the terminal device sending the sensing signal based on the signal for measuring clock offset information.

[0206] The terminal device can calculate the clock offset offset(t) at this time (denoted as t) by comparing the timestamp (referred to as a local timestamp) of sending the signal for measuring clock offset information and the timestamp (referred to as a reference timestamp) of receiving the signal. When the terminal device determines a series of local timestamps (t1, t2,..., tn) and corresponding reference timestamps (r1, r2,..., rn) based on the signal for measuring clock offset information, the clock drift rate v can be estimated based on these measurement values using linear regression or other statistical methods, and then v is used to calculate the clock offset offset(T) at any time T. The specific calculation process of v can refer to the related art, and will not be repeated. As for the clock offset offset(T) at any time, there is: offset(T) = offset(t) + v*(T-t). Wherein, offset(t) is the clock offset determined by the signal for measuring clock offset information, and t is the time point of calculating the clock offset offset(t). Based on the above principle, the time of sending the sensing signal is substituted into T, and the clock offset of the terminal device sending the sensing signal can be calculated.

[0207] In the embodiments of the present application, by sending a signal specially used for measuring clock offset information, the network device can help the terminal device to measure the offset amount when the terminal device receives the signal used for measuring clock offset information, and then the clock offset amount of subsequent sending of the sensing signal can be determined, which helps to ensure that the clock of the terminal device and the network device are highly synchronized, and reduces the error introduced due to clock unsynchronization.

[0208] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can further include:

[0209] S770, the terminal device sends a communication signal to the network device according to the first timing, and correspondingly, the network device receives the communication signal from the terminal device.

[0210] In this scenario, the first timing can be interpreted as an uplink timing shared by the communication signal and the sensing signal. The first timing can be carried in the TAC, which indicates the timing of sending the uplink signal. At this time, the terminal device can use the first timing in the TAC to send the communication signal, to send the sensing signal in the case of clock synchronization between the network device and the terminal device; or, the terminal device can use the first timing in the TAC to send the sensing signal in the case of clock synchronization between the network device and the terminal device; or, the terminal device can use the first timing in the TAC as a timing adjustment basis for sending the sensing signal in the case of clock unsynchronization between the network device and the terminal device.

[0211] In the embodiments of the present application, the network device configures a first timing, and the terminal device can adopt different timing calculation methods when sending the communication signal or sending the sensing signal. The indication overhead of the network device can be reduced.

[0212] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can further include:

[0213] S780, the network device reports the measurement result to the measurement result demand device; correspondingly, the measurement result demand device receives the measurement result from the network device.

[0214] For example, the measurement result demand device can be a sensing network element. In other words, after obtaining the measurement result, the network device can report it to the sensing network element.

[0215] In the embodiments of the present application, the network device can report the sensing measurement result to the sensing network element, so that the sensing network element can obtain the latest sensing data in time, thereby quickly responding to and processing the sensing task, and then the sensing application scenarios requiring fast response, such as automatic driving, remote medical treatment, etc. can be met.

[0216] The above introduces the scheme in which the terminal device in the embodiments of the present application sends the sensing signal based on the second timing adjusted based on the first timing and the clock offset indicated by the network device. In addition to the scheme designed from the perspective of guaranteeing the timing accuracy of the sent signal at the terminal device side, the present application also designs an implementation scheme for eliminating the influence of the clock offset when determining the measurement result at the network device side. Specifically, the scheme first determines the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal according to the first signal, the clock correction threshold (or the clock drift rate), and the clock correction time at the network device side, and then determines the measurement result based on the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal.

[0217] In this implementation scheme, the terminal device is configured to send the first signal for measurement to the network device and interact with the network device for clock correction information. The network device is configured to receive the first signal and determine the measurement result according to the first signal and the clock correction information. The clock correction information includes the clock correction time, and optionally, the clock correction information also includes the clock correction threshold (or the clock drift rate). The following describes this implementation for overcoming the clock offset at the network device side to improve the measurement accuracy through several embodiments in combination with several different designs of the clock correction information.

[0218] For example, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, in which the network device and the terminal device interact with the clock correction information, and the clock correction information includes the first clock correction threshold and the clock correction time. Specifically, the network device indicates the first clock correction threshold to the terminal device, the terminal device performs clock correction according to the first clock correction threshold, and reports the clock correction time to the network device, and the network device determines the clock offset of the terminal device according to the first clock correction threshold and the clock correction time and determines the measurement result. FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the communication method. As shown in FIG. 11, the communication method can include the following steps:

[0219] S1110, the network device sends first information to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first information from the network device.

[0220] The first information is used to indicate the first clock correction threshold, and the first clock correction threshold is a kind of clock correction information, which can be used to determine the clock correction time. Specifically, when the terminal device determines that the clock offset reaches the first clock correction threshold, the terminal device starts to perform clock correction and records the corresponding clock correction time.

[0221] S1120, the network device sends a third signal to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the third signal from the network device.

[0222] The third signal is used to measure the clock offset information. The description of the third signal can refer to the description of the signal used to measure the clock offset information in step S750. The signal used to measure the clock offset information carries a timestamp of the network device sending the signal, and can be used to measure the clock offset information, such as measuring the clock drift rate or the clock offset amount, etc.

[0223] S1130, the terminal device determines the clock offset amount of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the third signal.

[0224] The determination of the clock offset amount of the terminal device sending the first signal has the same principle as the determination of the clock offset amount of the terminal device sending the sensing signal in step S750. First, a series of local timestamps and corresponding reference timestamps are determined, then the clock drift rate v is estimated based on these measurement values using linear regression or other statistical methods, and finally the clock offset amount at any time T is calculated using v, for example, the clock offset amount at the time when the terminal device sends the first signal. The specific process is not repeated.

[0225] S1140, the terminal device performs clock correction and records the clock correction time when the clock offset amount is not less than the first clock correction threshold.

[0226] The description of the first clock correction threshold in step S1110 is referred to. When the terminal device determines that the clock offset amount reaches (for example, is equal to or greater than) the first clock correction threshold, the terminal device starts to perform clock correction and records the corresponding clock correction time. The clock correction time recorded by the terminal device can be at least one clock correction time, and as time goes on, the clock correction time recorded by the terminal device may contain more and more clock correction times.

[0227] S1150, the terminal device sends the clock correction time to the network device, and correspondingly, the network device receives the clock correction time from the terminal device.

[0228] The clock correction time is a kind of clock correction information. The clock correction time transmitted in step S1150 can be a subset or the whole set of the clock correction time recorded in step S1140. In one embodiment, the clock correction time transmitted in step S1150 includes at least two clock correction times. In another embodiment, the clock correction time transmitted in step S1150 includes at least one clock correction time and a clock correction period. The clock correction time in the two embodiments can be used to determine the measurement result.

[0229] S1160, the network device sends the first timing to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first timing from the network device.

[0230] In the embodiments of the present application, the first timing is an uplink signal sending reference time set by the network device for the terminal device, which can be carried in the TAC, i.e., the timing of sending the uplink signal is indicated by the TAC. The uplink signal can be a communication signal, a sensing signal, or a positioning signal, etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0231] In S1170, the terminal device sends a first signal to the network device based on the first timing, and correspondingly, the network device receives the first signal from the terminal device.

[0232] The first signal can be used to determine the measurement result. For example, the first signal can be a sensing signal or a positioning signal, etc.

[0233] In S1180, the network device determines the measurement result according to the first signal and the clock correction information.

[0234] As described in S740, the measurement result can include a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result. The determination of the measurement result is described below.

[0235] Based on the different clock correction time, the determination of the measurement result can be divided into three modes.

[0236] Mode 1: The clock correction time reported by the terminal device to the network device includes at least two clock correction times, and the at least two clock correction times are continuous. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, T1 represents a first clock correction time, T2 represents a second clock correction time, the first clock correction time and the second clock correction time are two adjacent clock correction times, S represents a first clock correction threshold, T3 represents a third clock correction time, the third clock correction time is the closest clock correction time before sending the first signal, T4 represents the first timing, and T5 represents the actual sending time of the terminal device sending the first signal. It should be noted that if the second clock correction time is the closest clock correction time before sending the first signal, the second clock correction time and the third clock correction time are the same time. Optionally, the clock correction time reported by the terminal device to the network device includes the third clock correction time. Alternatively, the network device can also determine the third clock correction time according to T1, T2 and T4.

[0237] Wherein, the first clock correction time T1 and the second clock correction time T2 are reported by the terminal device to the network device, T4 is the sending time (first timing) of the first signal configured by the network device to the terminal device, the third clock correction time T3 can be reported by the terminal device to the network device, or can also be determined by the network device according to T1, T2 and T4, and the above parameters satisfy the following relationship: T2+m(T2-T1)≤T4≤T2+(m+1)(T2-T1) T3=T2+m(T2-T1)

[0238] Or, T1+n(T2-T1)≤T4≤T1+(n+1)(T2-T1) T3=T1+n(T2-T1)

[0239] Wherein, m or n is a positive integer.

[0240] Further, the network device can determine S, T1, T2, T3 and T4 according to the following formula:

[0241] The clock drift rate is

[0242] And the third clock correction time T3, the sending time T4 of the configured first signal, the actual sending time T5 of the first signal and the clock drift rate v satisfy the following relationship:

[0243] Further, the network device can determine the actual sending time T5 of the first signal Wherein

[0244] Or, the network device can determine the clock offset as Wherein

[0245] The network device obtains the time required for the signal to be transmitted from the terminal device to the network device by calculating the time difference between the actual sending time of the first signal and the receiving sensing signal time (or, the time difference between the first timing and the receiving sensing signal time can also be calculated and then the clock offset is subtracted), that is, the time delay measurement result is obtained. Subsequently, using the time delay measurement result and the propagation speed of the sensing signal in the medium, the network device can further deduce the straight-line distance between the terminal device and the network device, or deduce the distance between the terminal device and the network device after the sensing target is reflected or scattered or diffracted, to realize the acquisition of the distance measurement result.

[0246] The second mode: the clock correction time reported by the terminal device to the network device includes at least two clock correction instants, and the two clock correction instants are discontinuous, and the terminal device further reports several intermediate corrections. Let e represent the number of clock correction instants included between the two clock correction instants (the number does not include the two reported clock corrections). As shown in FIG. 13, T1 represents the first clock correction instant, T2 represents the second clock correction instant, the first clock correction instant and the second clock correction instant are two discontinuous clock correction instants, e clock corrections are included between T1 and T2, S represents the first clock correction threshold, T3 represents the third clock correction instant, the third clock correction instant is the most recent clock correction instant before the first signal is sent, T4 represents the first timing, T5 represents the actual sending instant of the first signal sent by the terminal device.

[0247] wherein the first clock correction instant T1 and the second clock correction instant T2 are reported by the terminal device to the network device, T4 is the sending instant (the first timing) of the first signal configured by the network device to the terminal device, the third clock correction instant T3 can be reported by the terminal device to the network device, or determined by the network device according to the first clock correction instant T1, the second clock correction instant T2 and the first timing T4, and the above parameters satisfy the following relationship: T2+m(T2-T1)≤T4≤T2+(m+1)(T2-T1) T3=T2+m(T2-T1)

[0248] or, T1+n(T2-T1)≤T4≤T1+(n+1)(T2-T1) T3=T1+n(T2-T1)

[0249] wherein m or n is a positive integer.

[0250] Further, the network device can determine the clock drift rate v according to S, T1, T2, T3, T4 and e, which satisfies the following relationship:

[0251] T3, T4, T5 and v satisfy the following relationship:

[0252] Further, the network device can determine the actual sending instant of the first signal wherein

[0253] or, the network device can determine the clock offset as wherein

[0254] Similarly, after T5 or the clock offset is determined, the measurement result can be determined based on the same principle as the first mode, and thus the description is omitted.

[0255] The third mode: the clock correction time reported by the terminal device to the network device includes at least one clock correction moment and a clock correction period, as shown in FIG. 14, T represents the clock correction period, T2 represents the reported clock correction moment, S represents the first clock correction threshold, T3 represents the third clock correction moment, the third clock correction moment is the closest clock correction moment before the first signal is sent, T4 represents the first timing, and T5 represents the actual sending moment of the terminal device sending the first signal.

[0256] The above parameters satisfy the following relationship: T2+mT≤T4≤T2+(m+1)T T3=T2+mT

[0257] Wherein, m is a positive integer.

[0258] Further, the network device can determine that the clock drift rate v satisfies the following relationship according to S, T, T2, T3, T4, and e:

[0259] T3, T4, T5, and v satisfy the following relationship:

[0260] Then the network device can determine the actual sending moment of the first signal

[0261] Alternatively, the network device can determine that the clock offset is

[0262] Similarly, after T5 or the clock offset is determined, the measurement result can be determined based on the same principle as the first mode, and details are not repeated.

[0263] It can be seen from the above description of the first mode to the third mode that, in the embodiments of the present application, the sending moment of the first signal can be determined based on the clock correction time and the first clock correction threshold, and then the measurement result is determined according to the sending moment of the first signal and the first signal. Alternatively, in the embodiments of the present application, the network device can also determine the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the clock correction time and the first clock correction threshold; and then determine the measurement result according to the clock offset and the first signal.

[0264] In the embodiments of the present application, a clock correction mechanism is designed on the network device side, and the network device first determines the actual sending moment of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal according to the first signal, the first clock correction threshold, and the clock correction time, and then determines the measurement result based on the actual sending moment of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal. Since the measurement result is determined on the basis of overcoming the influence of the clock offset, the measurement result has high accuracy.

[0265] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, before step S1150, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application can further include:

[0266] S1190, the network device sends first request information to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first request information from the network device. The first request information is used to request the clock correction information.

[0267] In the embodiment of the application, the network device requests the clock correction information by sending specific first request information, and the terminal device sends the clock correction information only after the network device sends the first request information, thereby avoiding the terminal device from blindly sending the clock correction information or sending the clock correction information multiple times, and reducing unnecessary signaling overhead.

[0268] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application can further include:

[0269] S1100, the network device reports the measurement result to the measurement result demand device; and correspondingly, the measurement result demand device receives the measurement result from the network device.

[0270] For example, the measurement result demand device can be a sensing network element. In other words, after obtaining the measurement result, the network device can report it to the sensing network element.

[0271] In the embodiment of the application, the network device can report the sensing measurement result to the sensing network element in real time, so that the sensing network element can quickly obtain the latest sensing data, thereby quickly responding to and processing the sensing task. This real-time performance is particularly important for sensing application scenarios that require fast response, such as autonomous driving, remote medical treatment, etc.

[0272] For example, the embodiment of the application also provides another communication method, in which the network device and the terminal device interact clock correction information, the clock correction information including a second clock correction threshold and a clock correction time. Specifically, the terminal device provides the second clock correction threshold to the network device, the terminal device performs clock correction according to the second clock correction threshold, and reports the clock correction time to the network device, and the network device determines the clock offset of the terminal device according to the second clock correction threshold and the clock correction time, and further determines the measurement result. FIG. 17 shows a flowchart of another communication method provided by the embodiment of the application. As shown in FIG. 17, the communication method can include the following steps:

[0273] S1710, the terminal device sends a second clock correction threshold to the network device, and correspondingly, the network device receives the second clock correction threshold from the terminal device.

[0274] The second clock correction threshold can be a threshold set by the terminal device itself or a threshold specified by a protocol. Similar to the first clock correction threshold in step S1110, the second clock correction threshold is a kind of clock correction information, and the second clock correction threshold can be used to determine the clock correction time. Specifically, when the terminal device determines that the clock offset reaches the second clock correction threshold, the terminal device starts to perform clock correction and records the corresponding clock correction time.

[0275] S1720, the network device sends a third signal to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the third signal from the network device.

[0276] The third signal is used to measure the clock offset information. The description of the third signal can refer to the description of the signal used to measure the clock offset information in step S750. The signal used to measure the clock offset information carries the timestamp of the network device sending the signal and can be used to measure the clock offset information, such as measuring the clock drift rate or the clock offset.

[0277] S1730, the terminal device determines the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the third signal.

[0278] The determination of the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal has the same principle as the determination of the clock offset of the terminal device sending the sensing signal in step S750. First, a series of local timestamps and corresponding reference timestamps are determined, then the clock drift rate v is estimated based on these measurement values using linear regression or other statistical methods, and finally the clock offset at any time T is calculated using v, for example, the clock offset at the time when the terminal device sends the first signal. The specific process will not be repeated.

[0279] S1740, the terminal device performs clock correction and records the clock correction time when the clock offset is not less than the second clock correction threshold.

[0280] The description of the second clock correction threshold in step S1710 is referred to. When the terminal device determines that the clock offset reaches (for example, is equal to or greater than) the second clock correction threshold, the terminal device starts to perform clock correction and records the corresponding clock correction time. The clock correction time recorded by the terminal device can be at least one clock correction time, and as time develops, the clock correction time recorded by the terminal device may contain more and more clock correction times.

[0281] S1750, the terminal device sends the clock correction time to the network device, and correspondingly, the network device receives the clock correction time from the terminal device.

[0282] The clock correction time is a kind of clock correction information. The clock correction time transmitted in step S1750 can be a subset or a complete set of the clock correction time recorded in step S1740. In one embodiment, the clock correction time transmitted in step S1750 includes at least two clock correction time points. In another embodiment, the clock correction time transmitted in step S1750 includes at least one clock correction time point and a clock correction period. The clock correction time in the two embodiments can be used to determine the measurement result.

[0283] In step S1760, the network device sends the first timing to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first timing from the network device.

[0284] In step S1770, the terminal device sends the first signal to the network device, and correspondingly, the network device receives the first signal from the terminal device.

[0285] The related implementation of steps S1760-S1770 can refer to the related description of steps S1160-S1170 in the embodiment described in FIG. 11, which will not be repeated here.

[0286] In step S1780, the network device determines the measurement result according to the first signal and the clock correction information.

[0287] The measurement result can include a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result. In step S1780, the determination of the measurement result can refer to the three ways in step S1180, and only the first clock correction threshold S in step S1180 is replaced by the second clock correction threshold in the embodiment of the present application, so that the measurement result can be determined. The specific process can refer to the description of step S1180, which will not be repeated.

[0288] In the embodiment of the present application, a clock correction mechanism is designed on the network device side. The network device first determines the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal according to the first signal, the second clock correction threshold, and the clock correction time, and then determines the measurement result based on the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal. Since the measurement result is determined on the basis of overcoming the influence of clock offset, the measurement result has high accuracy.

[0289] In one embodiment, before step S1750, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application can further include: the network device sends first request information to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first request information from the network device. The first request information is used to request the clock correction information.

[0290] In the embodiments of the present application, the network device sends specific first request information to request clock correction information, and the terminal device sends the clock correction information only after the network device sends the first request information, thereby avoiding the terminal device from blindly sending the clock correction information or sending the clock correction information multiple times, and reducing unnecessary signaling overhead.

[0291] In an embodiment, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can further include: the network device reporting the measurement result to the measurement result demand device; and correspondingly, the measurement result demand device receiving the measurement result from the network device.

[0292] For example, the measurement result demand device can be a sensing network element. In other words, the network device can report the measurement result to the sensing network element after obtaining the measurement result.

[0293] In the embodiments of the present application, the network device can report the sensing measurement result to the sensing network element in real time, so that the sensing network element can quickly obtain the latest sensing data, thereby quickly responding to and processing the sensing task. This real-time performance is particularly important for sensing application scenarios that require fast response, such as autonomous driving, remote medical treatment, and the like.

[0294] For example, the embodiments of the present application also provide another communication method, in which the network device and the terminal device interact clock correction information including clock drift rate and clock correction time. Specifically, the terminal device provides the clock drift rate and the clock correction time to the network device. After the terminal device performs clock correction according to a second clock correction threshold set by itself and reports the clock correction time to the network device, the network device determines the clock offset of the terminal device according to the clock drift rate and the clock correction time, and further determines the measurement result. FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of another communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 18, the communication method can include the following steps:

[0295] S184, the terminal device sends the clock correction information to the network device, and correspondingly, the network device receives the clock correction information from the terminal device.

[0296] The clock correction information includes the clock drift rate and the clock correction time.

[0297] In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device can calculate the clock drift rate of itself according to the received signal (for example, the third signal in the above embodiments) for measuring the clock offset information. In the embodiments of the present application, the determination manner of the clock drift rate is flexible and various, which can select the clock drift rate measured and recorded in the closest historical record, or can determine the latest clock drift rate in real time according to the signal for measuring the clock offset information transmitted by the network device in real time, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0298] The clock correction time is a kind of clock correction information. The clock correction time includes at least one clock correction time point. The terminal device can determine the clock offset according to the received signal (for example, the third signal in the above embodiment) for measuring the clock offset information, and perform clock correction and record the clock correction time in the case that the clock offset is not less than the second clock correction threshold set by itself.

[0299] Optionally, in the case that the clock correction time includes one clock correction time point, the clock correction time point is the third clock correction time T3 before the first signal is sent. In the case that the clock correction time includes at least two clock correction time points, the at least two clock correction time points can include T3 or not. It can be understood that in the case that the clock correction time includes one clock correction time point, the amount of data required for the terminal device to send the clock correction information to the network device is smaller.

[0300] S185, the network device sends the first timing to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first timing from the network device.

[0301] S186, the terminal device sends the first signal to the network device, and correspondingly, the network device receives the first signal from the terminal device.

[0302] The related implementation of steps S185-S186 can refer to the related description of steps S1160-S1170 in the embodiment described in FIG. 11, and will not be repeated here.

[0303] S187, the network device determines the measurement result according to the first signal and the clock correction information.

[0304] The measurement result can include the time delay measurement result and / or the distance measurement result, which can refer to the description of step S740. The following describes how the network device determines the measurement result.

[0305] T3 represents the third clock correction time, which is the latest clock correction time before the first signal is sent. T4 represents the first timing, T5 represents the actual sending time of the terminal device sending the first signal, and the clock drift rate is v. It should be noted that if the second clock correction time is the latest clock correction time before the first signal is sent, the second clock correction time and the third clock correction time are the same time. Optionally, the terminal device reports the third clock correction time in the clock correction time to the network device.

[0306] The same as the principles of the mode one to the mode three of the step S1180, the difference is that the clock drift rate v does not need to be calculated again in the S187. If the T3 is included in the clock correction information, the network device can determine the actual sending time of the first signal Alternatively, the network device can determine the clock offset as

[0307] If the T3 is not included in the clock correction information, but the T1 and the T2 are included, the T3 can be determined by any one of the following two relationships: T2+m(T2-T1)≤T4≤T2+(m+1)(T2-T1) T3=T2+m(T2-T1)

[0308] Alternatively, T1+n(T2-T1)≤T4≤T1+(n+1)(T2-T1) T3=T1+n(T2-T1)

[0309] After the T3 is determined, the actual sending time T5 of the first signal and the clock offset T4-T5 can be determined.

[0310] Then, the network device calculates the time difference between the actual sending time of the first signal and the receiving time of the sensing signal (or, the time difference between the first timing and the receiving time of the sensing signal is calculated and then the clock offset is subtracted), to obtain the time required for the signal to be transmitted from the terminal device to the network device, that is, the time delay measurement result. Subsequently, by using the time delay measurement result and the propagation speed of the sensing signal in the medium, the network device can further deduce the straight-line distance between the terminal device and the network device, or deduce the distance between the terminal device and the network device after the sensing target is reflected or scattered or diffracted, to obtain the distance measurement result.

[0311] In the embodiment of the application, the clock correction mechanism is designed at the network device side. The network device determines the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal according to the first signal, the clock drift rate, and the clock correction time, and then determines the measurement result based on the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal. Since the measurement result is determined on the basis of overcoming the influence of the clock offset, the measurement result has high accuracy.

[0312] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application can further include:

[0313] S181, the network device sends a third signal to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the third signal from the network device.

[0314] The third signal carries a timestamp of the network device sending the signal, and can be used to measure the clock offset information, such as measuring the clock drift rate, the clock offset, and the like.

[0315] S182, the terminal device determines the clock offset and the clock drift rate of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the third signal.

[0316] The terminal device determines the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal in the same way as the determination of the clock offset of the terminal device sending the sensing signal in step S750. First, a series of local timestamps and corresponding reference timestamps are determined, then the clock drift rate v is estimated based on the measurement values using linear regression or other statistical methods, and finally the clock offset at any time T, such as the clock offset at the time of the terminal device sending the first signal, is calculated using v. The specific process is not repeated.

[0317] S183, the terminal device performs clock correction and records the clock correction time when the clock offset is not less than the second clock correction threshold.

[0318] When the terminal device determines that the clock offset reaches (for example, is equal to or greater than) the second clock correction threshold, the terminal device starts to perform clock correction and records the corresponding clock correction time. The recorded clock correction time can be at least one clock correction time, and as time goes on, the recorded clock correction time may contain more and more clock correction times.

[0319] In the embodiments of the present application, based on the signal for measuring the clock offset information sent by the network device, the terminal device can determine the clock offset and the clock drift rate between the terminal device and the network device, which helps the terminal device to start clock correction in time and record the clock correction time. After the terminal device provides the clock correction time and the clock drift rate to the network device, the network device can also determine the sending time or the clock offset of the subsequent signal, and further determine the measurement result with high accuracy.

[0320] In one embodiment, before step S184, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can further include: the network device sends first request information to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first request information from the network device. The first request information is used to request the clock correction information.

[0321] In the embodiments of the present application, the network device sends specific first request information to request clock correction information, and the terminal device sends the clock correction information only after the network device sends the first request information, thereby avoiding the terminal device from blindly sending the clock correction information or sending the clock correction information multiple times, and reducing unnecessary signaling overhead.

[0322] In an embodiment, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can further include: the network device reporting the measurement result to the measurement result demand device; and correspondingly, the measurement result demand device receiving the measurement result from the network device.

[0323] For example, the measurement result demand device can be a sensing network element. In other words, after obtaining the measurement result, the network device can report it to the sensing network element.

[0324] In the embodiments of the present application, the network device can report the sensing measurement result to the sensing network element in real time, so that the sensing network element can quickly obtain the latest sensing data, thereby quickly responding to and processing the sensing task. This real-time performance is particularly important for sensing application scenarios that require fast response, such as autonomous driving, remote medical treatment, etc.

[0325] From the above introduction of each embodiment, it can be seen that the present application starts from ensuring the timing accuracy of the signal sent by the terminal device, or starts from eliminating the influence of clock offset when determining the measurement result at the network device side, and designs a scheme in which the terminal device sends the sensing signal based on the second timing adjusted based on the first timing and the clock offset on the basis of the first timing indicated by the network device. It also designs a scheme in which the network device determines the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the first signal, the clock correction threshold (or the clock drift rate), and the clock correction time at the network device side, and then determines the measurement result based on the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal. Since the measurement result is determined on the basis of overcoming the influence of the clock offset, the determined measurement result has high accuracy.

[0326] The foregoing introduces that in the embodiments of the present application, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to some communication systems. In order to describe the specific application and practice of the embodiments of the present application in different communication systems, the implementation process of the communication method thereof will be described from the perspective of the execution flow. For the specific description of each step, since the corresponding description has been made in the foregoing embodiments, it will not be repeated here, and the specific content can be referred to the foregoing.

[0327] Specifically, the foregoing introduces three communication systems: a sensing network system, an O-RAN system, and a chip. The three systems can be used to implement the communication methods described in FIGS. 7-10 and 11-19. The following describes the implementation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 18 in the three systems.

[0328] In an implementation, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is applied to the sensing network system shown in FIG. 4, where the measurement result requirement device is a sensing network element. The sensing network element can be an LMF-supported sensing network element in the scenario shown in FIG. 4-a or a sensing network element dedicated to sensing in the scenario shown in FIG. 4-b. The following describes the communication method of the embodiment shown in FIG. 20 in the sensing network system, taking the network device as a base station and the terminal device as a UE as an example. As shown in FIG. 20, the communication method includes:

[0329] S201, the base station sends a third signal to the UE, and correspondingly, the UE receives the third signal from the base station.

[0330] The third signal is used to measure the clock offset information, and the related description can refer to the description of step S201, which will not be repeated here.

[0331] S202, the UE determines the clock offset amount and the clock drift rate of the UE sending the first signal based on the third signal.

[0332] The description of how the UE determines the clock offset amount and the clock drift rate of the UE sending the first signal can refer to the description of step S202, which will not be repeated here.

[0333] S203, the UE performs clock correction and records the clock correction time when the clock offset amount is not less than a second clock correction threshold.

[0334] When the UE determines that the clock offset amount reaches (for example, is equal to or greater than) the second clock correction threshold, the UE starts to perform clock correction and records the corresponding clock correction time. The specific description can refer to the description of S203, which will not be repeated here.

[0335] S204, the UE sends clock correction information to the base station, and correspondingly, the base station receives the clock correction information from the UE.

[0336] The clock correction information includes the clock drift rate and the clock correction time. The specific description can refer to the description of S204, which will not be repeated here.

[0337] S205, the base station sends a first timing to the UE, and correspondingly, the UE receives the first timing from the base station.

[0338] The first timing is a signal transmission reference time set by the base station for the UE. For a specific description, refer to the description of S205, which will not be repeated here.

[0339] S206, the UE sends a first signal to the base station, and correspondingly, the base station receives the first signal from the UE.

[0340] The first signal can be used to determine a measurement result. For example, the first signal can be a sensing signal or a positioning signal. For a specific description, refer to the description of S206, which will not be repeated here.

[0341] S207, the base station determines a measurement result according to the first signal and the clock correction information.

[0342] The measurement result can include a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result. For a specific description of how to determine the measurement result, refer to the description of S207, which will not be repeated here.

[0343] S209, the base station reports the measurement result to a sensing network element; correspondingly, the sensing network element receives the measurement result from the base station.

[0344] After obtaining the measurement result, the base station can report it to the sensing network element.

[0345] In the base station side in the embodiments of the present application, a clock correction mechanism is designed, and the base station first determines the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the UE sending the first signal according to the first signal, the clock drift rate, and the clock correction time, and then determines the measurement result based on the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the UE sending the first signal. Since the measurement result is determined on the basis of overcoming the influence of clock offset, the measurement result has high accuracy. Moreover, the base station can report the sensing measurement result to the sensing network element in real time, so that the sensing network element can quickly obtain the latest sensing data, thereby quickly responding to and processing sensing tasks. This real-time performance is particularly important for sensing application scenarios that require fast response, such as autonomous driving and remote medical treatment.

[0346] In an embodiment, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application is applied to the O-RAN system shown in FIG. 5. In the O-RAN system, the measurement result requirement device can be a sensing network element or a positioning network element, etc. The network device is divided into O-DU and O-CU. The O-DU is responsible for determining the measurement result, and the O-CU is responsible for reporting the measurement result to the sensing network element. The terminal device is configured to send clock correction information and a first signal to the network device. The clock correction information includes a clock correction time, and the first signal is a sensing signal or a positioning signal.

[0347] The network device is configured to receive the clock correction information and the first signal, and determine a measurement result according to the first signal and the clock correction information, wherein the measurement result includes a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result. The following takes the measurement result requirement device as a sensing network element and the terminal device as a UE as an example to introduce the communication method of the embodiment shown in FIG. 20 in the sensing network system. As shown in FIG. 21, the communication method includes the following steps.

[0348] S211, the O-DU sends a third signal to the UE, and correspondingly, the UE receives the third signal from the O-DU.

[0349] The third signal is used to measure the clock offset information, and the related description can be referred to the description of step S201, which will not be repeated here.

[0350] S212, the UE determines the clock offset amount and the clock drift rate of the UE sending the first signal based on the third signal.

[0351] The description of how the UE determines the clock offset amount and the clock drift rate of the UE sending the first signal can be referred to the description of step S202, which will not be repeated here.

[0352] S213, the UE performs clock correction and records the clock correction time when the clock offset amount is not less than a second clock correction threshold.

[0353] When the UE determines that the clock offset amount reaches (for example, is equal to or greater than) the second clock correction threshold, the UE starts to perform clock correction and records the corresponding clock correction time. The specific description can be referred to the description of S203, which will not be repeated here.

[0354] S214, the UE sends clock correction information to the O-DU, and correspondingly, the O-DU receives the clock correction information from the UE.

[0355] The clock correction information includes the clock drift rate and the clock correction time. The specific description can be referred to the description of S204, which will not be repeated here.

[0356] S215, the O-DU sends a first timing to the UE, and correspondingly, the UE receives the first timing from the O-DU.

[0357] The first timing is a signal sending reference time set by the O-DU for the UE. The specific description can be referred to the description of S205, which will not be repeated here.

[0358] S216, the UE sends the first signal to the O-DU, and correspondingly, the O-DU receives the first signal from the UE.

[0359] The first signal can be used to determine the measurement result. For example, the first signal can be a sensing signal, a positioning signal, or the like. For details, refer to the description of S206, which will not be repeated here.

[0360] S217, the O-DU determines the measurement result according to the first signal and the clock correction information.

[0361] The measurement result can include a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result. For details of how to determine the measurement result, refer to the description of S207, which will not be repeated here.

[0362] S218, the O-DU sends the measurement result to the O-CU; correspondingly, the O-CU receives the measurement result from the O-DU.

[0363] S219, the O-CU reports the measurement result to the sensing network element; correspondingly, the sensing network element receives the measurement result from the O-CU.

[0364] After obtaining the measurement result, the O-CU can report it to the sensing network element.

[0365] In the embodiment of the present application, a clock correction mechanism is designed on the O-DU side. The O-DU first determines the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the UE sending the first signal according to the first signal, the clock drift rate, and the clock correction time, and then determines the measurement result based on the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the UE sending the first signal. Since the measurement result is determined based on overcoming the influence of clock offset, the measurement result has high accuracy. Moreover, the O-DU can report the sensing measurement result to the sensing network element through the O-CU in real time, so that the sensing network element can quickly obtain the latest sensing data, thereby quickly responding to and processing the sensing task. This real-time performance is particularly important for sensing application scenarios that require fast response, such as autonomous driving, remote medical care, etc.

[0366] In an embodiment, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is applied to the communication system of the network device based on the chip shown in FIG. 6. In the sensing network system, the measurement result requirement device can be a sensing network element or a positioning network element, etc. The network device includes a CU, a DU, and a RU. The CU is responsible for reporting the measurement result to the measurement result requirement device, the DU is responsible for determining the measurement result, and the RU is responsible for signal transmission between the DU and the terminal device. Hereinafter, taking the terminal device as the UE and the measurement result requirement device as the sensing network element as an example, the communication method of the embodiment shown in FIG. 20 in the sensing network system is introduced. As shown in FIG. 22, the communication method includes:

[0367] S221, the DU sends a third signal to the UE through the RU, and correspondingly, the UE receives the third signal from the DU.

[0368] The third signal is used to measure the clock offset information, and the related description can refer to the description of step S201, which will not be repeated.

[0369] In a possible implementation, the DU determines and generates the third signal, and then sends the baseband signal to the RU through the front-haul link. After receiving the baseband signal corresponding to the third signal, the RU performs up-conversion to obtain the radio frequency signal and sends the radio frequency signal to the UE.

[0370] S222, the UE determines the clock offset and the clock drift rate of the UE sending the first signal based on the third signal.

[0371] The description of how the UE determines the clock offset and the clock drift rate of the UE sending the first signal can refer to the description of step S202, which will not be repeated.

[0372] S223, the UE performs clock correction and records the clock correction time when the clock offset is not less than the second clock correction threshold.

[0373] When the UE determines that the clock offset reaches (for example, is equal to or greater than) the second clock correction threshold, the UE starts to perform clock correction and records the corresponding clock correction time. The specific description can refer to the description of S203, which will not be repeated.

[0374] S224, the UE sends the clock correction information to the DU, and correspondingly, the DU receives the clock correction information from the UE.

[0375] The clock correction information includes the clock drift rate and the clock correction time. The specific description can refer to the description of S204, which will not be repeated.

[0376] S225, the DU sends the first timing to the UE through the RU, and correspondingly, the UE receives the first timing from the DU through the RU.

[0377] The first timing is the signal sending reference time set by the DU for the UE. The specific description can refer to the description of S205, which will not be repeated.

[0378] S226, the UE sends the first signal to the DU through the RU, and correspondingly, the DU receives the first signal from the UE through the RU.

[0379] The radio frequency unit RU receives the first signal sent by the UE, performs down-conversion on the first signal, and sends the first signal to the DU. In this way, the DU receives the first signal from the UE through the RU. The first signal can be used to determine the measurement result. For example, the first signal can be a sensing signal, a positioning signal, etc. The specific description can refer to the description of S206, which will not be repeated.

[0380] S227, the DU determines the measurement result according to the first signal and the clock correction information.

[0381] The measurement result can include a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result. For how to determine the measurement result, refer to the description of S207, which will not be repeated here.

[0382] S228, the DU sends the measurement result to the CU; correspondingly, the CU receives the measurement result from the DU.

[0383] S229, the CU reports the measurement result to the perception network element; correspondingly, the perception network element receives the measurement result from the CU.

[0384] After obtaining the measurement result, the CU can report it to the perception network element.

[0385] In the embodiment of the present application, a clock correction mechanism is designed at the DU side. The DU first determines the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the UE sending the first signal according to the first signal, the clock drift rate, and the clock correction time, and then determines the measurement result based on the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the UE sending the first signal. Since the measurement result is determined on the basis of overcoming the influence of clock offset, the accuracy of the determined measurement result is higher. Moreover, the DU can report the perception measurement result to the perception network element through the CU in real time, so that the perception network element can quickly obtain the latest perception data, thereby quickly responding to and processing the perception task. This real-time performance is particularly important for perception application scenarios that require fast response, such as autonomous driving, remote medical care, etc.

[0386] The above mainly introduces the scheme provided by the embodiment of the present application from the perspective of the execution logic of each step. It can be understood that each node, for example, a network device, contains a hardware structure and / or a software module corresponding to the execution of each function in order to implement the above functions. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that the algorithm steps of each example described in combination with the embodiments disclosed in the present text can be realized in the form of hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0387] The embodiments of the present application can divide the network device into functional modules according to the above method examples. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional module. It should be noted that the division of the modules in the embodiments of the present application is illustrative, and is only a logical functional division. Actual implementation can have another division manner.

[0388] In a specific implementation, each network element shown in the present application can adopt the constituent structure shown in FIG. 23 or include the components shown in FIG. 23. FIG. 23 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application. When the communication apparatus has the function of the terminal device described in the embodiments of the present application, the communication apparatus can be a terminal device or a chip or a system on chip in the terminal device. When the communication apparatus has the function of the network device described in the embodiments of the present application, the communication apparatus can be a network device or a chip or a system on chip in the network device.

[0389] For example, FIG. 23 shows a possible structural schematic diagram of a communication apparatus. It can be understood that the communication apparatus 700 includes means in the form of, for example, modules, units, elements, circuits, or interfaces, and the like, which are appropriately configured together to perform the present solution. The communication apparatus 700 can be the terminal device or the network device described in the above method embodiments, or can be a component (for example, a chip) of these devices, to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. The communication apparatus 700 includes one or more processors 701. The processor 701 can be a general purpose processor or a special purpose processor and the like. For example, it can be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication apparatus, execute software programs, and process data of the software programs.

[0390] Optionally, in one design, the processor 701 can include a program 703 (which can also be referred to as code or instructions at times) that can be run on the processor 701, so that the communication apparatus 700 performs the methods described in the above embodiments. In another possible design, the communication apparatus 700 includes a circuit (not shown in FIG. 23) for implementing the signal processing functions in the above embodiments.

[0391] Optionally, the communication apparatus 700 can include one or more memories 702 having a program 704 (which can also be referred to as code or instructions at times) stored thereon, which can be run on the processor 701, so that the communication apparatus 700 performs the methods described in the above method embodiments.

[0392] Optionally, the processor 701 and / or the memory 702 can include an AI module 707, 708 for implementing AI-related functions. The AI module can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. For example, the AI module can include a RIC module. For example, the AI module can be a near-real-time RIC or a non-real-time RIC.

[0393] Optionally, the processor 701 and / or the memory 702 can also store data. The processor and the memory can be separately arranged or integrated together.

[0394] Optionally, the communication apparatus 700 can also include a transceiver 705 and / or an antenna 706. The processor 701 can also be referred to as a processing unit, which controls the communication apparatus. The transceiver 705 can also be referred to as a transceiving unit, a transceiver, a transceiving circuit, or a transceiver, which is used to realize the transceiving function of the communication apparatus through the antenna 706.

[0395] FIG. 24 shows a structural diagram of a communication apparatus 24 applied to a terminal device. The modules in the apparatus shown in FIG. 24 have functions of implementing the corresponding steps in the above method embodiments and can achieve their corresponding technical effects. For the beneficial effects of the steps implemented by the modules, reference can be made to the descriptions of the corresponding steps in the above method embodiments, which will not be repeated here. 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. The communication apparatus can be a terminal device or a chip or system on chip in a terminal device. For example, the communication apparatus includes:

[0396] The transceiving module 241 is configured to receive a first timing of a signal transmission reference moment set by a network device for a terminal device; the processing module 242 is configured to determine a second timing according to the first timing and a clock offset of the terminal device for transmitting a sensing signal; and the transceiving module 241 is configured to transmit the sensing signal according to the second timing.

[0397] In an embodiment, the first timing is carried in a timing advance command. Optionally, the transceiving module 241 can also be configured to transmit a communication signal according to the first timing.

[0398] In this embodiment, the network device configures a first timing, and the terminal device can adopt different timing calculation methods when transmitting a communication signal or a sensing signal. The indication overhead of the network device can be reduced.

[0399] In an embodiment, the first timing is carried in configuration information of the sensing signal.

[0400] In this embodiment, the terminal device maintains two sets of timing, i.e., the timing of the sensing signal and the timing of the communication signal are decoupled, or can also be explained as, the timing of the sensing signal and the timing of the communication signal are independently configured. In this way, the coupling degree of the parts of the system is reduced, making the system more flexible. This design allows independent adjustment and optimization of the timing of the sensing signal without affecting the timing of the communication signal.

[0401] Alternatively, the transceiver module 241 and the processing module 242 can also be used to implement the following scheme:

[0402] The transceiver module 241 is configured to transmit clock correction information including a clock correction time, and transmit a first signal for determining a measurement result, the measurement result being determined based on the first signal and the clock correction information, the first signal being a sensing signal or a positioning signal, and the measurement result including a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result.

[0403] In an embodiment, the transceiver module 241 is further configured to receive first information indicating a first clock correction threshold, the first clock correction threshold being used to determine the clock correction time.

[0404] In this embodiment, the network device first indicates the first clock correction threshold to the terminal device through the first information, so that the terminal device performs clock correction based on the first clock threshold. Further, the first clock correction threshold can also be used by the network device to determine the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal in combination with the first signal and the clock correction time, and then determine the measurement result based on the actual sending time of the first signal or the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal.

[0405] Optionally, the transceiver module 241 can also be configured to receive a signal for measuring clock offset information, wherein the signal for measuring clock offset information is used to measure the clock offset information; and the processing module 242 is configured to determine the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the signal for measuring clock offset information, and perform clock correction and record the clock correction time in a case that the clock offset is not less than the first clock correction threshold.

[0406] In an embodiment, the clock correction information further includes a clock drift rate.

[0407] In an embodiment, the clock correction information further includes a second clock correction threshold.

[0408] In this embodiment, the transceiver module 241 can also be configured to receive a signal for measuring clock offset information, where the signal for measuring clock offset information is used to measure the clock offset information; and the processing module 242 is configured to determine, based on the signal for measuring clock offset information, the clock offset amount at which the terminal device transmits the first signal, and perform clock correction and record the clock correction time in a case where the clock offset amount is not less than a preset second clock correction threshold.

[0409] In an embodiment, the transceiver module 241 can also be configured to receive first request information, where the first request information is used to request the clock correction information.

[0410] In an embodiment, the clock correction time includes at least two clock correction time points, or the clock correction time includes at least one clock correction time point and a clock correction period.

[0411] FIG. 25 shows a structural diagram of a communication apparatus 25 applied to a network device. The modules in the apparatus shown in FIG. 25 have functions of implementing corresponding steps in the above method embodiments and can achieve their corresponding technical effects. For the beneficial effects of the steps implemented by the modules, reference can be made to the descriptions of the corresponding steps in the above method embodiments, which will not be repeated here. 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. The communication apparatus can be a network device or a chip or system on chip in a network device. For example, the communication apparatus includes:

[0412] The transceiver module 251 is configured to transmit a first timing to a terminal device and receive a sensing signal from the terminal device. The processing module 252 is configured to determine a measurement result based on the sensing signal.

[0413] In an embodiment, the transceiver module 251 is further configured to transmit, to the terminal device, a signal for measuring clock offset information.

[0414] In an embodiment, the transceiver module 251 is further configured to receive a communication signal from the terminal device.

[0415] In an embodiment, the transceiver module 251 is further configured to report the measurement result to a measurement result demand device.

[0416] Alternatively, the transceiver module 251 and the processing module 252 can also be configured to implement the following solutions:

[0417] The transceiver module 251 is configured to receive clock correction information including a clock correction time and receive a first signal which can be a sensing signal or a positioning signal. The processing module 252 is configured to determine a measurement result based on the first signal and the clock correction information, where the measurement result can include a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result.

[0418] In an embodiment, the transceiver 251 is further configured to report the measurement result to the measurement result demand device.

[0419] In an embodiment, the transceiver 251 is further configured to send first information indicating a first clock correction threshold, the first clock correction threshold being used to determine the clock correction time. The processor 252 is specifically configured to: determine a sending time of the first signal based on the clock correction time and the first clock correction threshold; and determine the measurement result according to the sending time of the first signal and the first signal. Alternatively, the processor 252 is specifically configured to: determine a clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the clock correction time and the first clock correction threshold; and determine the measurement result according to the clock offset and the first signal.

[0420] In an embodiment, the clock correction information further includes a clock drift rate. The processor 252 is specifically configured to: determine the sending time of the first signal based on the clock correction time and the clock drift rate; determine the measurement result according to the sending time of the first signal and the first signal; or, determine the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the clock correction time and the clock drift rate; and determine the measurement result according to the clock offset and the first signal.

[0421] In an embodiment, the clock correction information further includes a second clock correction threshold. The processor 252 is specifically configured to: determine the sending time of the first signal based on the clock correction time and the second clock correction threshold; determine the measurement result according to the sending time of the first signal and the first signal; or, determine the clock offset of the terminal device sending the first signal based on the clock correction time and the second clock correction threshold; and determine the measurement result according to the clock offset and the first signal.

[0422] In an embodiment, the transceiver 251 is further configured to send a signal for measuring clock offset information, wherein the signal for measuring clock offset information is used to determine the clock correction time.

[0423] In an embodiment, the transceiver 251 is further configured to send first request information, the first request information being used to request the clock correction information.

[0424] In an embodiment, the clock correction time includes at least two clock correction times, or the clock correction time includes at least one clock correction time and a clock correction period.

[0425] Embodiments of the present application also provide a communication system, which is a communication system corresponding to a high-speed private network information transmission scenario of a neighboring cell. The communication system can include a terminal device and a network device. The terminal device can have the functions of the communication device 24 described above, and the network device can have the functions of the communication device 25 described above.

[0426] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer readable storage medium. All or part of the processes in the above method embodiments can be instructed by a computer program to relevant hardware to complete, and the program can be stored in the computer readable storage medium. When the program is executed, the program can include the processes of the above method embodiments. The computer readable storage medium can be an internal storage unit of the terminal device, such as a data sending terminal and / or a data receiving terminal, for example, a hard disk or a memory of the terminal device. The computer readable storage medium can also be an external storage device of the terminal device, such as a plug-in hard disk, a smart media card (SMC), a secure digital (SD) card, a flash card, and the like. Further, the computer readable storage medium can include both the internal storage unit and the external storage device of the terminal device. The computer readable storage medium is used to store the computer program and other programs and data required by the terminal device. The computer readable storage medium can also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or will be output.

[0427] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer instruction. All or part of the processes in the above method embodiments can be instructed by the computer instruction to relevant hardware (such as a computer, a processor, a network device, and a terminal, etc.) to complete. The program can be stored in the computer readable storage medium.

[0428] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product containing instructions, which, when run on a communication device, enable the communication device to perform the method described in the embodiments of the present application.

[0429] The embodiments of the present application further provide a chip system. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices, without limitation. The chip system includes a processor and a transceiver. All or part of the processes in the above method embodiments can be completed by the chip system, for example, the chip system can be used to implement the functions performed by the terminal device or the network device in the above method embodiments.

[0430] In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, and the memory is used to store program instructions and / or data. When the chip system is running, the processor executes the program instructions stored in the memory, so that the chip system performs the functions performed by the terminal device or the network device in the above method embodiments.

[0431] In the embodiments of the present application, the processor can be a general processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, and can implement or execute the disclosed methods, steps and logic block diagrams in the embodiments of the present application. The general processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the method disclosed in combination with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as hardware processor execution or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor.

[0432] In the embodiments of the present application, the memory can be a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), and can also be a volatile memory such as a RAM. The memory can be any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and capable of being accessed by a computer, but is not limited to this. The memory in the embodiments of the present application can also be a circuit or any other device capable of realizing a storage function, used for storing instructions and / or data.

[0433] It should be noted that the terms "first" and "second" and the like in the specification, claims and drawings of the present application are used to distinguish different objects, and are not used to describe a specific order. In addition, the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product or device including a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but can optionally include steps or units not listed or can optionally include other steps or units inherent to the process, method, product or device.

[0434] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, "at least one" refers to one or more, "multiple" refers to two or more, "at least two" refers to two or three and three or more, and "and / or" is used to describe the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A, only B, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects before and after it. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions means any combination of these items, including any combination of single item or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, and c can be single or multiple. It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, "B corresponding to A" means that B is associated with A. For example, B can be determined according to A. It should also be understood that determining B according to A does not mean that B is determined only according to A, but B can also be determined according to A and / or other information. In addition, "connection" appearing in the embodiments of the present application means direct connection or indirect connection and various connection manners to achieve communication between devices, which is not limited by the embodiments of the present application.

[0435] Unless otherwise specified, "transmit" and "transmission" appearing in the embodiments of the present application mean bidirectional transmission, including sending and / or receiving actions. Specifically, "transmit" in the embodiments of the present application includes data sending, data receiving, or data sending and data receiving. Or, the data transmission here includes uplink and / or downlink data transmission. The data can include channels and / or signals, uplink data transmission is uplink channel and / or uplink signal transmission, and downlink data transmission is downlink channel and / or downlink signal transmission. "Network" and "system" appearing in the embodiments of the present application express the same concept, and the communication system is a communication network.

[0436] Through the description of the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, only the division of the above functional modules is taken as an example for illustration, and in actual application, the above functions can be completed by different functional modules according to needs, that is, the internal structure of the device is divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0437] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and method can be implemented by other manners. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative, for example, the division of the modules or units is merely a logical function division, and actual implementation can have another division manner, for example, a plurality of units or components can be combined or integrated into another apparatus, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the units or components shown or discussed can be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, apparatuses or units, and can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0438] The units described as separate components can or can not be physically separated, and the components shown as units can be one physical unit or a plurality of physical units, that is, can be located in one place, or can be distributed to a plurality of different places. Part or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the embodiment scheme.

[0439] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit can be physically present separately, or two or more units can be integrated in one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional unit. When the integrated unit is realized in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application essentially or say the part that contributes to the prior art or the whole or part of the technical solutions can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes a plurality of instructions for causing an apparatus, such as a single-chip microcomputer, a chip, or a processor, to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The foregoing storage medium includes: a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and various storage medium that can store program codes.

[0440] The above is merely a specific implementation manner of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto, any change or replacement within the technical scope disclosed in the present application should be covered in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: Comprising: receiving a first timing; determining a second timing according to the first timing and a clock offset amount at which a terminal device transmits a sensing signal; transmitting the sensing signal according to the second timing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first timing is carried in a timing advance command.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, The method further comprises: transmitting a communication signal according to the first timing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first timing is carried in configuration information of the sensing signal.

5. A communication method characterized by comprising: Comprising: transmitting clock correction information and a first signal, wherein the clock correction information comprises a clock correction time, the first signal is a sensing signal or a positioning signal, the first signal and the clock correction information are used to determine a measurement result, and the measurement result comprises a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving first information, wherein the first information is used to indicate a first clock correction threshold value, and the first clock correction threshold value is used to determine the clock correction time.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving a third signal, wherein the third signal is used to measure clock offset information; determining a clock offset amount at which a terminal device transmits the first signal based on the third signal; in a case where the clock offset amount is not less than the first clock correction threshold value, performing clock correction and recording the clock correction time.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein, The clock correction information further comprises a clock drift rate.

9. The method according to claim 5 or 8, characterized in that, The clock correction information further comprises a second clock correction threshold value.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving a third signal, wherein the third signal is used to measure clock offset information; determining a clock offset amount at which a terminal device transmits the first signal based on the third signal; in a case where the clock offset amount is not less than a preset second clock correction threshold value, performing clock correction and recording the clock correction time.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, The third signal is further used to measure the clock drift rate.

12. The method according to any one of claims 5-11, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving first request information, wherein the first request information is used to request the clock correction information.

13. The method according to any one of claims 5-12, characterized in that, The clock correction time comprises at least two clock correction time points, or the clock correction time comprises at least one clock correction time point and a clock correction period.

14. A communication method, comprising: Comprising: receiving clock correction information, wherein the clock correction information comprises a clock correction time; receiving a first signal, wherein the first signal is a sensing signal or a positioning signal; determining a measurement result according to the first signal and the clock correction information, wherein the measurement result comprises a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The method further comprises: reporting the measurement result.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: transmitting first information, wherein the first information is used to indicate a first clock correction threshold value, and the first clock correction threshold value is used to determine the clock correction time.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, The determination of the measurement result according to the first signal and the clock correction information comprises: determining a transmission time point of the first signal based on the clock correction time and the first clock correction threshold value; and determining the measurement result according to the transmission time point of the first signal and the first signal. Alternatively, the clock offset of the terminal device for sending the first signal is determined based on the clock correction time and the first clock correction threshold; and the measurement result is determined based on the clock offset and the first signal.

18. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein, The clock correction information further comprises a clock drift rate.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, The determining the measurement result based on the first signal and the clock correction information comprises: The sending time of the first signal is determined based on the clock correction time and the clock drift rate; and the measurement result is determined based on the sending time of the first signal and the first signal. Alternatively, the clock offset of the terminal device for sending the first signal is determined based on the clock correction time and the clock drift rate; and the measurement result is determined based on the clock offset and the first signal.

20. The method of claim 14, 15, or 18, wherein, The clock correction information further comprises a second clock correction threshold.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, The determining the measurement result based on the first signal and the clock correction information comprises: The sending time of the first signal is determined based on the clock correction time and the second clock correction threshold; and the measurement result is determined based on the sending time of the first signal and the first signal. Alternatively, the clock offset of the terminal device for sending the first signal is determined based on the clock correction time and the second clock correction threshold; and the measurement result is determined based on the clock offset and the first signal.

22. The method according to any one of claims 14-21, characterized by, The method further comprises: sending a third signal, wherein the third signal is used for determining the clock correction time.

23. The method according to any one of claims 14-22, characterized by, The method further comprises: sending first request information, wherein the first request information is used for requesting the clock correction information.

24. The method according to any one of claims 14-23, characterized by, The clock correction time comprises at least two clock correction times, or the clock correction time comprises at least one clock correction time and a clock correction period.

25. A communication system, characterized by comprise: a network device and a terminal device; the network device, configured to send first timing to the terminal device; the terminal device, configured to receive the first timing, and determine second timing based on the first timing and clock offset of the terminal device for sending a sensing signal, and then send the sensing signal to the network device based on the second timing; the network device, further configured to receive the sensing signal.

26. A communication system, characterized by comprise: a network device and a terminal device; the terminal device, configured to send clock correction information and a first signal to the network device, wherein the clock correction information comprises clock correction time, and the first signal is a sensing signal or a positioning signal; the network device, configured to receive the clock correction information and the first signal, and determine a measurement result based on the first signal and the clock correction information, wherein the measurement result comprises a time delay measurement result and / or a distance measurement result.

27. A communications device, characterized by The apparatus comprises a module for performing the method of any one of claims 1-4; or a module for performing the method of any one of claims 5-13; or a module for performing the method of any one of claims 14-24.

28. A communications device, characterized by The communication device comprises a processor and a transceiver, and the processor and the transceiver are configured to support the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 1-24.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium stores computer instructions that, when executed, cause the method of any of claims 1-24 to be performed.

30. A computer program product comprising instructions, wherein: When executed on a computer, cause the method of any of claims 1-24 to be performed.

Images