Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus. In the communication method, a first apparatus reflects a first signal on a first time unit on the basis of a first CW and on a second time unit on the basis of a second CW, wherein the frequency of the first CW is different from the frequency of the second CW; and a first time interval between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit is greater than zero. Hence, a time interval is present between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit, and compared with the case that the end time of a first time unit overlaps with or is close to the start time of a second time unit, the difference between a duration (i.e., the duration of the first time unit) in which the first apparatus reflects a signal on the first CW and the duration (i.e., the duration of the second time unit) in which the first apparatus reflects the signal on the second CW can be shortened, thereby increasing a frequency hopping gain.

Description

Communication method and apparatus

[0001] This application claims priority from the Chinese Patent Application No. 202411100496.X filed on August 9, 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 technical field of communication, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0003] With the popularity of internet of things (IoT) communication, more and more IoT devices have been deployed in daily life. Ambient IoT (AIoT) devices are a kind of low-power IoT devices, and the AIoT devices can apply backscatter communications, which is conducive to building a green, energy-saving, low-cost and flexible IoT. Specifically, the AIoT device can transmit a signal in a back reflection manner based on a carrier provided by an external node, where the carrier provided by the external node can be a frequency hopping continuous wave (CW). How the AIoT device reflects the signal based on the frequency hopping CW still needs to be studied. SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus, which can improve frequency hopping gain.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first device, and can also be applied to a chip or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the first device. Hereinafter, the first device will be taken as an example for description. The method comprises: reflecting, by the first device, a first signal based on a first CW in a first time unit and based on a second CW in a second time unit, the frequency of the first CW being different from the frequency of the second CW. Wherein, the first time interval between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit is greater than zero.

[0006] It can be seen that there is a time interval between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit, compared with the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit overlapping or being immediately adjacent, which can shorten the difference between the time length of the first device reflecting the signal on the first CW (i.e. the time length of the first time unit) and the time length of the first device reflecting the signal on the first CW (i.e. the time length of the second time unit), which is conducive to improving the frequency hopping gain.

[0007] In an optional implementation, the first time interval is associated with a first time and a second time, the first time being an earliest start reflection time of the first signal, and the second time being a latest start reflection time of the first signal.

[0008] In an optional implementation, the first time interval is greater than or equal to a time difference between the first time and the second time. This implementation facilitates that the length of the first time unit is equal to the length of the second time unit, and further facilitates to improve the frequency hopping gain.

[0009] In an optional implementation, the first time interval is associated with a second time interval T and a first parameter P, T being a time interval between an end time of the second signal and an expected start reflection time of the first signal, and P being a preset value or being associated with a capability of the first device.

[0010] In an optional implementation, the first time interval X satisfies: X≥(T×P+Q), or X≥(T×P); where Q is an offset value.

[0011] In an optional implementation, the capability of the first device is a sampling frequency offset (SFO) of the first device.

[0012] In an optional implementation, P is greater than or equal to twice the SFO. This implementation facilitates that the length of the first time unit is equal to the length of the second time unit, and further facilitates to improve the frequency hopping gain.

[0013] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: receiving, by the first device, first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate the first time interval.

[0014] In an optional implementation, the length of the first time unit is equal to the length of the second time unit.

[0015] In an optional implementation, the first signal includes a first partial signal and a second partial signal, the first partial signal being the same as the second partial signal. The reflecting, by the first device, the first signal on the first time unit based on the first CW and on the second time unit based on the second CW includes: reflecting, by the first device, the first partial signal on the first time unit based on the first CW, and reflecting, by the first device, the second partial signal on the second time unit based on the second CW.

[0016] In one alternative implementation, the first signal is generated by repeating the transport block K times. Alternatively, the first signal is generated by repeating the bits obtained by adding cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times. Alternatively, the first signal is generated by repeating the encoded code block obtained by encoding the bits obtained by adding cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times. Alternatively, the first signal is generated by repeating each bit of the encoded bits obtained by encoding the bits obtained by adding cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times. Wherein, K is an even number greater than zero.

[0017] It can be seen that the first signal is generated after an even number of repetitions. When the duration of the first time unit is equal to the duration of the second time unit, the first signal can be evenly distributed on the first CW and the second CW to achieve the same first part of the signal reflected by the first CW and the second part of the signal reflected by the second CW. Furthermore, additional performance gains can be obtained through the combination of repetition and frequency hopping.

[0018] In one optional implementation, the first signal includes M reference signals and a channel for carrying data; the channel for carrying data comprises N time periods of equal length in the time domain, where M and N are associated, M is an even number, and N is a positive integer. This method is advantageous in ensuring that each reference signal reflected on the first CW and each reference signal reflected on the second CW is a complete reference signal, thereby improving the performance of channel estimation based on the reference signals.

[0019] In one alternative implementation, M and N satisfy: in, This indicates rounding up to the nearest integer.

[0020] Based on this implementation, by adding one reference signal, each reference signal reflected on the first CW and each reference signal reflected on the second CW are complete reference signals, thereby improving the channel estimation performance based on the reference signal. When N is odd, there is no need to introduce a larger reference signal overhead.

[0021] In one alternative implementation, the first of the M reference signals is reflected... The first reference signal and the second The time interval between each reference signal is equal to the first time interval.

[0022] In one alternative implementation, N is an even number; in the first signal, the th of the M reference signals The first reference signal and the second There is no channel for carrying data between the reference signals.

[0023] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to the second device, and can also be applied to a chip or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the second device. The following describes the second device as an example. The method comprises: receiving, by the second device, a first signal based on a frequency of a first CW in a first time unit and based on a frequency of a second CW in a second time unit; wherein a first time interval between an end time of the first time unit and a start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and the frequency of the first CW is different from the frequency of the second CW.

[0024] It can be seen that there is a time interval between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit, which can shorten the difference between the time length of the signal received by the second device based on the frequency of the first CW (i.e. the time length of the first time unit) and the time length of the signal received based on the frequency of the second CW (i.e. the time length of the second time unit), compared with the case that the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit overlap or are immediately adjacent, which is conducive to improving the frequency hopping gain.

[0025] In an optional implementation, the first time interval is associated with a first time and a second time, the first time being the earliest start receiving time of the first signal, and the second time being the latest start receiving time of the first signal.

[0026] In an optional implementation, the first time interval is greater than or equal to the time difference between the first time and the second time. This implementation is conducive to realizing that the time length of the first time unit is equal to the time length of the second time unit, which is conducive to further improving the frequency hopping gain.

[0027] In an optional implementation, the first time interval is associated with a second time interval T and a first parameter P, T being a time interval between an end time of the second signal and an expected start receiving time of the first signal, and P being a preset value or being associated with the capability of the first device.

[0028] In an optional implementation, the first time interval X satisfies: X≥(T×P+Q), or X≥(T×P); wherein Q is an offset value.

[0029] In an optional implementation, the capability of the first device is the SFO of the first device.

[0030] In an optional implementation, P is greater than or equal to twice the SFO. This implementation is conducive to realizing that the time length of the first time unit is equal to the time length of the second time unit, which is conducive to further improving the frequency hopping gain.

[0031] In an optional implementation, the method further comprises: sending, by the second device, first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate the first time interval.

[0032] In an optional implementation, the time length of the first time unit is equal to the time length of the second time unit.

[0033] In an optional implementation, the first signal comprises a first partial signal and a second partial signal, and the first partial signal is identical to the second partial signal. The second device receives the first signal based on the frequency of the first CW in the first time unit and based on the frequency of the second CW in the second time unit comprises that the second device receives the first partial signal based on the frequency of the first CW in the first time unit and receives the second partial signal based on the frequency of the second CW in the second time unit.

[0034] In an optional implementation, the first signal is generated by repeating a transport block K times. Alternatively, the first signal is generated by repeating bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times. Alternatively, the first signal is generated by repeating encoded code blocks obtained by encoding bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times. Alternatively, the first signal is generated by repeating each bit of encoded bits obtained by encoding bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times. Wherein K is an even number greater than zero.

[0035] It can be seen that the first signal is a signal generated by undergoing even times of repetition, and in the case that the time length of the first time unit is equal to the time length of the second time unit, the first signal can be uniformly distributed on the first CW and the second CW to achieve that the first partial signal received by the second device based on the frequency of the first CW is identical to the second partial signal received based on the frequency of the second CW, and further obtain additional performance gain through the combination of repetition and frequency hopping.

[0036] In an optional implementation, the first signal comprises M reference signals and a channel for carrying data; the channel for carrying data comprises N time periods with the same time length in the time domain, and M is associated with N, M is an even number, and N is a positive integer. This method is beneficial to make each reference signal received by the second device based on the frequency of the first CW and each reference signal received based on the frequency of the second CW be a complete reference signal, so as to improve the performance of channel estimation based on the reference signal by the second device.

[0037] In an optional implementation, M and N satisfy: Wherein, represents rounding up.

[0038] Based on this implementation, by increasing 1 reference signal, each reference signal received based on the frequency of the first CW and each reference signal received based on the frequency of the second CW are complete reference signals, so as to improve the performance of channel estimation based on the reference signal. When N is an odd number, there is no need to introduce greater reference signal overhead.

[0039] In one alternative implementation, the M reference signals are received. The first reference signal and the second The time interval between each reference signal is equal to the first time interval.

[0040] In one alternative implementation, N is an even number; in the first signal, the th of the M reference signals The first reference signal and the second There is no channel for carrying data between the reference signals.

[0041] Thirdly, this application also provides a communication device. This communication device can be a first device, a chip, or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first device, and has the function of implementing some or all of the embodiments described in the first aspect. Alternatively, the communication device can be a second device, or a chip, or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the second device, and has the function of implementing some or all of the embodiments described in the second aspect. The functions can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0042] In one possible design, the communication device may include a processing unit configured to support the communication device in performing the corresponding functions described in the above methods. Optionally, the communication device may also include a communication unit for supporting communication between the communication device and other communication devices. Optionally, the communication device may further include a storage unit coupled to the processing unit and the communication unit, which stores necessary program instructions and data for the communication device. Additionally, the processing unit may be used to control the communication unit to transmit and receive data / signaling.

[0043] In one embodiment, a communication unit is configured to reflect a first signal based on a first CW in a first time unit and based on a second CW in a second time unit; wherein a first time interval between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and the frequency of the first CW is different from the frequency of the second CW.

[0044] In addition, other alternative implementations of the communication device in this regard can be found in the relevant content of the first aspect above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0045] In another implementation, the communication unit is configured to receive the first signal based on a frequency of the first CW in a first time unit and based on a frequency of the second CW in a second time unit, wherein a first time interval between an end time of the first time unit and a start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and the frequency of the first CW is different from the frequency of the second CW.

[0046] In addition, in this aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the related content of the above-mentioned second aspect, which will not be described here in detail.

[0047] For example, the communication unit can be a transceiver or a communication interface, the storage unit can be a memory, and the processing unit can be a processor. The processor is coupled to the memory, and the memory is used to store programs or instructions for the processor. The processor can be used to cause the communication device to perform the method described in the above-mentioned first aspect when the programs or instructions are executed by the processor. The transceiver or communication interface can be used to transceive signals and / or data.

[0048] In one implementation, the transceiver is configured to reflect the first signal based on a first CW in a first time unit and based on a second CW in a second time unit, wherein a first time interval between an end time of the first time unit and a start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and a frequency of the first CW is different from a frequency of the second CW.

[0049] In addition, in this aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the related content of the above-mentioned first aspect, which will not be described here in detail.

[0050] In another implementation, the transceiver is configured to receive the first signal based on a frequency of the first CW in a first time unit and based on a frequency of the second CW in a second time unit, wherein a first time interval between an end time of the first time unit and a start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and the frequency of the first CW is different from the frequency of the second CW.

[0051] In addition, in this aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the related content of the above-mentioned second aspect, which will not be described here in detail.

[0052] In another implementation, the communication device is a chip or a chip system. The processing unit can also be embodied as a processing circuit or a logic circuit; and the transceiving unit can be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or related circuit on the chip or chip system.

[0053] In implementation process, the processor can be configured to perform, for example but not limited to, baseband related processing, and the transceiver or communication interface can be configured to perform, for example but not limited to, radio frequency transceiving. The above-mentioned devices can be respectively arranged on independent chips, or at least partially or entirely arranged on the same chip. For example, the processor can be further divided into an analog baseband processor and a digital baseband processor. The analog baseband processor can be integrated on the same chip as the transceiver (or communication interface), and the digital baseband processor can be arranged on an independent chip. With the continuous development of integrated circuit technology, more and more devices can be integrated on the same chip. For example, the digital baseband processor can be integrated on the same chip as various application processors (such as but not limited to, graphic processors, multimedia processors, etc.). Such a chip can be referred to as a system on a chip (SoC). Whether to arrange the devices independently on different chips or to integrate them on one or more chips often depends on the needs of product design. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation forms of the above-mentioned devices.

[0054] In a fourth aspect, the present application further provides a processor for executing the above-mentioned various methods. In the process of executing these methods, the processes of transmitting and receiving the above-mentioned information in the above-mentioned methods can be understood as the processes of outputting the above-mentioned information by the processor and the processes of inputting the above-mentioned information by the processor. When outputting the above-mentioned information, the processor outputs the above-mentioned information to the transceiver, so as to be transmitted by the transceiver (or communication interface). After being outputted by the processor, the above-mentioned information can need to be processed further, and then reaches the transceiver (or communication interface). Similarly, when the processor receives the inputted above-mentioned information, the transceiver (or communication interface) receives the above-mentioned information and inputs it to the processor. Furthermore, after the transceiver (or communication interface) receives the above-mentioned information, the above-mentioned information can need to be processed further, and then is inputted to the processor.

[0055] For the transmission and reception operations of the processor, if there is no special description, or if it does not contradict the actual role or inherent logic in the related description, it can be more generally understood as the output and reception, input operations of the processor, rather than the transmission and reception operations directly performed by the radio frequency circuit and the antenna.

[0056] In the implementation process, the processor can be a processor specially used for executing the methods, or a processor executing computer instructions in a memory to execute the methods, such as a general-purpose processor. The memory can be a non-transitory memory, such as a read only memory (ROM), which can be integrated on the same chip as the processor, or separately arranged on different chips. The type of the memory and the arrangement manner of the memory and the processor are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0057] In a fifth aspect, the present application further provides a communication system, which comprises an apparatus for executing the method in the first aspect and an apparatus for executing the method in the second aspect. In another possible design, the system can further comprise other devices interacting with the apparatus for executing the method in the first aspect, and / or other devices interacting with the apparatus for executing the method in the second aspect.

[0058] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a computer readable storage medium, which stores a computer program. When the computer program is executed, the method in the first aspect or the second aspect is executed.

[0059] In a seventh aspect, the present application further provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which comprises computer program codes. When the computer program codes are executed, the method in the first aspect or the second aspect is executed.

[0060] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which comprises a processor and an interface. The interface is used to acquire a program or instructions. The processor is used to invoke the program or instructions to realize the functions related to the first aspect or the second aspect. In a possible design, the chip system further comprises a memory. The memory is used to save necessary program instructions and data of the terminal. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can comprise a chip and other discrete devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0061] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an R2D transmission structure provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a D2R transmission structure provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a D2R transmission according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0066] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of another D2R transmission according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0068] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a first time interval according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of reflecting a first signal according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of reflecting a first signal according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0071] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of reflecting a first signal according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0072] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of reflecting a first signal according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0073] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a first signal according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of reflecting a first signal according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0078] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of reflecting a first signal according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0079] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a reference signal according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0080] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0081] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of another communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0082] The embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0083] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems. For example, the global system for mobile communication, the long term evolution (LTE) system, the universal mobile communication system, the fourth generation (4th generation, 4G) mobile communication system, the fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) mobile communication system, the new radio (NR) system, and as the communication technology continues to develop, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to future communication networks, etc. The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to the internet of things (IoT), the ambient IoT (AIoT), the radio frequency identification (RFID) system, etc.

[0084] For example, the embodiments of the present application can be applied to the system architecture as shown in FIG. 1, which includes a network device and an AIoT device. The network device can directly send data, a channel or a signal to the AIoT device, and the AIoT device can also directly send data, a channel or a signal to the network device. For example, the channel sent by the network device to the AIoT device can be a physical reader to device channel (PRDCH) or an ambient physical downlink shared channel (APDSCH). The channel sent by the AIoT device to the network device can be a physical device to reader channel (PDRCH) or an ambient physical uplink shared channel (APUSCH). In the embodiments of the present application, the PRDCH can also be referred to as a downlink / reader-device transmission channel, and the PDRCH can also be referred to as an uplink / device-reader transmission channel.

[0085] Exemplarily, the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to the system architecture as shown in FIG. 2, which includes a network device, an intermediate node, and an AIoT device. The network device can indirectly send data, a channel, or a signal to the AIoT device through the intermediate node, and the AIoT device can also indirectly send data, a channel, or a signal to the network device through the intermediate node. The intermediate node may, for example, be a terminal device. The network device and the terminal device can communicate through an air interface (for example, a Uu interface). The terminal device and the AIoT device can directly transmit data, a channel, or a signal. In addition, the channel sent by the terminal device to the AIoT device may, for example, be a PRDCH or an APDSCH. The channel sent by the AIoT device to the terminal device may, for example, be a PDRCH or an APUSCH.

[0086] The network device, the terminal device, and the AIoT device in the embodiments of the present application are described below.

[0087] 1. Network device

[0088] The network device has a wireless transceiving function, and the network device can receive data, a channel or a signal from a terminal device or an AIoT device, and / or send data, a channel or a signal to the terminal device or the AIoT device. The network device includes but is not limited to: an access network device, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a network device transceiver station (BTS), a home network device (for example, a home evolved Node B, or a home Node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a relay device, a transceiving node, a wireless backhaul node, a transmission and reception point (TRP; or a transmission point, TP), a wireless fidelity (WiFi) access point (AP) (namely, a WiFi AP), a world interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) BS (namely, a WiMAX BS). The access network device can be a base station (BS), which is a device deployed in a wireless access network and can provide wireless communication functions, and can also be referred to as a base station device, for example, an evolved Node B (eNB or e-NodeB) in an LTE system, a Node B (Node B), a base station (gNodeB or gNB) in a 5G system, a base station in a future communication system, etc. The base station can include a BBU and a remote radio unit (RRU). The BBU and the RRU can be placed in different places, for example: RRU pullout, placed in a high traffic area, and the BBU is placed in a central machine room. The BBU and the RRU can also be placed in the same machine room. The BBU and the RRU can also be different components under one rack. The base station can be in the following forms: a macro base station, a micro base station (also known as a small station), a pico base station, a relay station, an access point, a balloon station, etc.

[0089] Optionally, in some deployments of the access network device, the access network device can include a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), etc. The functions of part of the protocol layers of the access network device are placed in the CU for centralized control, and the rest or all of the protocol layers are distributed in the DU and controlled by the CU. In some other deployments of the access network device, the CU can also be divided into a CU-control plane (CP) and a CU-user plane (UP), etc. In some other deployments of the access network device, the network device can also be an open radio access network (ORAN / O-RAN) architecture. When the access network device is an ORAN architecture, the access network device can be a functional entity or a module in the ORAN, etc. For example, the access network device can be a combination of one or more of a CU, a DU, or a radio unit (RU). In the ORAN system, the CU can also be referred to as an open (O)-CU, the DU can also be referred to as an O-DU, the CU-CP can also be referred to as an O-CU-CP, the CU-UP can also be referred to as an O-CU-UP, etc. The deployment modes of the access network device listed here are only examples, and as the standard technology evolves, there can be other deployment forms of the access network device, which are not limited by the embodiments of the present application.

[0090] 2. Terminal device

[0091] A terminal device is an entity that receives or actively transmits signals. The terminal device can be used to send data, channels, or signals to a network device, and / or receive data, channels, or signals from the network device. The terminal device can also be used to receive data, channels, or signals from an AIoT device, and transmit control information and data to the AIoT device. The terminal device can also be referred to as a user equipment (UE), a terminal, an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile station (MS), a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a user agent, or a user device. The terminal device in the embodiments of the present application can be a handheld device, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a computing device, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem with wireless communication function. The terminal device can be a terminal with a function of connecting to a cellular base station. For example, the terminal device can be a cellular phone, a smart phone, a Pad, a wireless data card, a personal digital assistant (PDA) computer, a tablet computer, a wireless modem, a handset, a laptop computer, a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, etc. The terminal device can also be a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical treatment, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, a vehicle, a vehicle-mounted terminal, a wireless communication device in smart factory, etc.

[0092] 3. An AIoT device (AIoT device)

[0093] The AIoT device can be configured to transmit data, channels or signals to a network device or a terminal device, and / or receive data, channels or signals from a network device or a terminal device. The AIoT device includes, but is not limited to, a smart speaker, a train detector, a gas station, an inventory tag, and the like. The AIoT device can also be referred to as an AIoT terminal.

[0094] The types of AIoT devices can include a first type of device, a second type of device, and a third type of device.

[0095] The first type of device includes the following features: no support for uplink amplification and downlink amplification; for uplink transmission, data, channels or signals are transmitted in a backscattering manner based on a carrier provided by an external node. Optionally, the peak power consumption of the first type of device is approximately equal to 1 microwatt (uw). Optionally, the initial SFO of the first type of device is a maximum of 10 a parts per million (PPM), a is 5 or 4 or 3 or 2.

[0096] The second type of device includes the following features: support for uplink amplification or downlink amplification; for uplink transmission, data, channels or signals are transmitted in a backscattering manner based on a carrier provided by an external node. Optionally, the peak power consumption of the second type of device is less than or equal to a few hundred microwatts. Optionally, the initial SFO of the second type of device is a maximum of 10 b PPM, b is 5 or 4 or 3 or 2.

[0097] The third type of device includes the following features: support for uplink amplification or downlink amplification; for uplink transmission, data, channels or signals are transmitted based on an internally generated carrier. Optionally, the peak power consumption of the third type of device is less than or equal to a few hundred microwatts. Optionally, the initial SFO of the third type of device is a maximum of 10 c PPM, c is 5 or 4 or 3 or 2.

[0098] In the embodiments of the present application, the SFO can also be understood as a sampling clock deviation.

[0099] In addition, the AIoT device can have at least one of the following features:

[0100] (1) The maximum bandwidth of the AIoT device can be less than the bandwidth of an NR terminal, i.e., 100 mega Hertz (MHz). The maximum bandwidth of the AIoT device can also be less than the bandwidth of a reduced capability (RedCap) device, i.e., 20 MHz. For example, the maximum bandwidth of the AIoT device is R resource blocks (RBs) or 1.44 MHz or 1.5 MHz or 2.88 MHz or 3 MHz, etc. Wherein, R is any one of the values from 1 to 16.

[0101] (2) The number of antennas supported by the AIoT device is one transmitting and one receiving, or one transmitting and two receiving.

[0102] (3) The PRDCH is not aligned with the start and / or boundary of slots, frames, etc. of NR. The PRDCH is aligned with the start and / or end boundary of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol of NR.

[0103] (4) The transmission of the PRDCH adopts an OFDM waveform.

[0104] (5) The PDRCH is not aligned with the start and / or end boundary of slots, frames, OFDM symbols, etc. of NR.

[0105] (6) The transmission of the PDRCH adopts a single-carrier waveform.

[0106] (7) The modulation mode supported by the AIoT device is at least one of binary on-off keying (OOK), frequency-shift keying (FSK), binary phase shift keying (BPSK), and minimum shift keying (MSK). The FSK can be binary frequency-shift keying (BFSK or 2FSK) or OOK-FSK.

[0107] The related concepts involved in the embodiments of the present application are described below.

[0108] 1. RFID

[0109] RFID technology is a non-contact automatic identification technology. The RFID system includes a reader and a tag. The types of tags include passive tags, semi-passive tags, and active tags. The RFID system can apply a backscatter technology, which enables the tag to use the signal sent by the external node to provide energy for the tag, and after receiving the signal, carries information by changing the phase or amplitude of the backscatter signal.

[0110] For example, for a passive tag, the energy for its operation can be provided by the reader, for example, part of the energy of the continuous wave (CW) transmitted by the reader is used for the internal processing such as coding, modulation, etc. of the tag, in addition, the continuous wave transmitted by the reader also serves as a carrier for carrying the uplink information of the tag. For a semi-passive tag, it can include a battery inside, and the tag can be powered by the battery to perform internal processing such as coding, modulation, etc., but still needs the continuous wave transmitted by the reader as a carrier for carrying the uplink information of the tag. It can be seen that both the passive tag and the semi-passive tag transmit information in a backscattering manner based on the CW transmitted by the external node.

[0111] In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, the tag can also be referred to as an AIoT device or an AIoT terminal. For the convenience of description, hereinafter, the AIoT device is taken as an example for description.

[0112] 2. R2D transmission structure, D2R transmission structure

[0113] The data transmission format of the reader to tag (R2D) can be as shown in FIG. 3. In combination with FIG. 3, the structure of one R2D transmission includes a preamble signal, a physical channel for carrying data, and a postamble signal. The preamble signal can be, for example, a preamble. The physical channel for carrying data can be, for example, PRDCH or APDSCH; the physical channel for carrying data in FIG. 3 is taken as PRDCH for illustration, and PRDCH in FIG. 3 can also be replaced by APDSCH. The postamble signal can be, for example, a postamble.

[0114] The data transmission format of the tag to reader (D2R) can be as shown in FIG. 4. In combination with FIG. 4, the structure of one D2R transmission includes a preamble signal, a physical channel for carrying data, and a postamble signal. The preamble signal can be, for example, a preamble. The physical channel for carrying data can be, for example, PDRCH or APUSCH; the physical channel for carrying data in FIG. 4 is taken as PDRCH for illustration, and PDRCH in FIG. 4 can also be replaced by APUSCH. The postamble signal can be, for example, a postamble.

[0115] 3. D2R transmission

[0116] In a case where the AIoT device performs D2R transmission in a backscattering manner based on the CW sent by the external node, if the external node does not send the CW in frequency hopping, the D2R transmission performed by the AIoT device is non-frequency hopping transmission; if the external node sends the CW in frequency hopping, the D2R transmission performed by the AIoT device is also frequency hopping transmission. Wherein, the CW frequency hopping is beneficial to obtain frequency diversity gain. The following will describe the D2R transmission in the case where the AIoT device does not support scheduling delay and the case where the AIoT device supports scheduling delay respectively.

[0117] Case 1: The AIoT device does not support scheduling delay. In this case, the AIoT device can determine the starting time of the D2R transmission based on a scheduling range, which includes the earliest starting time and the latest starting time of the D2R transmission. It can be seen that the starting time of the D2R transmission has a certain dynamic range.

[0118] For example, in combination with FIG. 5, the earliest starting time of the D2R transmission is the end time of the R2D transmission delayed by T R2D_min , and the earliest starting time of the D2R transmission is the end time of the R2D transmission delayed by T R2D_max .

[0119] As shown in (A) part of FIG. 5, in a case where the CW does not hop frequency, assuming that the frequency of the CW is f1 (i.e., CW in f1), the AIoT device starts continuous D2R transmission based on the CW with frequency f1 at the time delayed by T R2D_min from the end time of the R2D transmission, and starts continuous D2R transmission based on the CW with frequency f1 at the time delayed by T R2D_max from the end time of the R2D transmission. As shown in (B) part of FIG. 5, in a case where the CW hops frequency, the AIoT device performs D2R transmission based on the CW with frequency f1 (i.e., CW in f1) until the D2R frequency hopping transmission switching point; the AIoT device starts D2R transmission based on the CW with frequency f2 (i.e., CW in f2) at the D2R frequency hopping transmission switching point. Wherein, the D2R frequency hopping transmission switching point is the time when the frequency of the CW is switched from f1 to f2.

[0120] It can be seen that, in a case where the CW hops frequency, the end time of the D2R transmission based on the CW with frequency f1 overlaps or is immediately adjacent to the starting time of the D2R transmission based on the CW with frequency f2, which may cause more than half of the D2R transmission to be located on the same frequency carrier, weakening the frequency hopping gain.

[0121] For example, in combination with (B) in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the D2R frequency hopping transmission switching point satisfies: in the case that the starting time of the D2R transmission is the latest starting time, the duration of the D2R transmission based on the CW with the frequency f1 is the same as the duration of the D2R transmission based on the CW with the frequency f2, that is, in the case that the starting time of the D2R transmission is the latest starting time, the D2R frequency hopping transmission switching point is the same as the middle position of the D2R transmission in the time domain, which is conducive to making half of the D2R transmission performed on the carrier with the same frequency. However, if the starting time of the D2R transmission is earlier than the latest starting time, the duration of the D2R transmission based on the CW with the frequency f1 is greater than the duration of the D2R transmission based on the CW with the frequency f2, which will make more than half of the D2R transmission located on the carrier with the same frequency, and will weaken the frequency hopping gain.

[0122] Case 2: The AIoT device supports delay scheduling. In this case, the network device or the intermediate node can specify a desired starting time of the D2R transmission to the AIoT device, but the sampling frequency offset (SFO) of the AIoT device can cause the starting time of the D2R transmission determined by the AIoT device to deviate from the desired starting time.

[0123] For example, in combination with FIG. 6, the desired starting time of the D2R transmission is the end time of the R2D transmission delayed by T R2D The starting time of the D2R transmission determined by the AIoT device can be exactly the desired starting time, or can be earlier than the desired starting time, or can be later than the desired starting time.

[0124] As shown in (A) in FIG. 6, in the case that the CW does not hop, it is assumed that the frequency of the CW is f1 (i.e., CW in f1), and the AIoT device performs continuous D2R transmission based on the CW with the frequency f1 from the determined starting time of the D2R transmission. As shown in (B) in FIG. 6, in the case that the CW hops, the AIoT device performs D2R transmission based on the CW with the frequency f1 (i.e., CW in f1) from the determined starting time of the D2R transmission until the D2R frequency hopping transmission switching point; the AIoT device performs D2R transmission based on the CW with the frequency f2 (i.e., CW in f2) from the D2R frequency hopping transmission switching point. The D2R frequency hopping transmission switching point is the time when the frequency of the CW is switched from f1 to f2.

[0125] It can be seen that, in the case of CW frequency hopping, the end time of the D2R transmission of the AIoT device based on the CW with the frequency f1 overlaps or is immediately adjacent to the start time of the D2R transmission based on the CW with the frequency f2, which can cause more than half of the D2R transmissions to be located on the carrier with the same frequency, weakening the frequency hopping gain.

[0126] For example, in combination with part (B) in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the D2R frequency hopping transmission switching point satisfies: in the case that the start time of the D2R transmission is exactly the expected start time, the duration of the D2R transmission of the AIoT device based on the CW with the frequency f1 is the same as the duration of the D2R transmission based on the CW with the frequency f2, that is, in the case that the start time of the D2R transmission is exactly the expected start time, the D2R frequency hopping transmission switching point is the same as the middle position of the D2R transmission in the time domain, which is conducive to causing half of the D2R transmissions to be performed on the carrier with the same frequency.

[0127] However, if the start time of the D2R transmission determined by the AIoT device is earlier than the expected start time, the duration of the D2R transmission of the AIoT device based on the CW with the frequency f1 is greater than the duration of the D2R transmission based on the CW with the frequency f2, which can cause more than half of the D2R transmissions to be located on the carrier with the same frequency, weakening the frequency hopping gain. Similarly, if the start time of the D2R transmission determined by the AIoT device is later than the expected start time, the duration of the D2R transmission of the AIoT device based on the CW with the frequency f1 is less than the duration of the D2R transmission based on the CW with the frequency f2, which can cause more than half of the D2R transmissions to be located on the carrier with the same frequency, weakening the frequency hopping gain.

[0128] The embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can improve the frequency hopping gain.

[0129] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments of the present application take the first device and the second device as the execution subject to illustrate the corresponding method. For example, when the embodiments of the present application are applied to the system architecture shown in FIG. 1, the first device can be the AIoT device in FIG. 1, and the second device can be the network device in FIG. 1. For another example, when the embodiments of the present application are applied to the system architecture shown in FIG. 2, the first device can be the AIoT device in FIG. 2, and the second device can be the intermediate node in FIG. 2. However, the present application does not limit the execution subject of the method. For example, the device in the method can also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor supporting the device to implement the corresponding method, and can also be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the device.

[0130] Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication method includes the following steps.

[0131] S101, the first device reflects the first signal based on the first CW in a first time unit and based on the second CW in a second time unit; correspondingly, the second device receives the first signal based on the frequency of the first CW in the first time unit and based on the frequency of the second CW in the second time unit. Wherein, a first time interval between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and the frequency of the first CW is different from the frequency of the second CW.

[0132] It can be understood that the first time interval between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, that is, there is a time interval (gap) between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit, rather than overlapping or immediately. For example, if the time period #1 is t0-t1, and the time period #2 is t1-t2, it means that the end time of the time period #1 overlaps or immediately with the start time of the time period #2. For another example, in combination with FIG. 8, the first time unit is t0-t1, the second time unit is t2-t3, the first time interval is the time interval between t1 and t2, the time interval between t1 and t2 is greater than zero, and t1 and t2 are not overlapping or immediately. In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, the "start time" can also be understood as the start time or the start time point. Similarly, the "end time" can also be understood as the end time or the end time point.

[0133] The first time interval is exemplarily described as follows, such as the following optional embodiment 1.1 and embodiment 1.2.

[0134] In the embodiment 1.1, the first time interval is associated with the first time and the second time. Wherein, the first time is the earliest start reflection time of the first signal, and the second time is the latest start reflection time of the first signal, that is, the actual start reflection time of the first signal is not earlier than the first time and not later than the second time. In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, the "start reflection time" can also be understood as the start reflection time or the start reflection time point.

[0135] In an optional manner, the first time interval is greater than or equal to the time difference between the first time and the second time. Wherein, the time difference between the first time and the second time can be represented as: the value obtained by subtracting the first time from the second time; or, it can also be represented as the absolute value of the value obtained by subtracting the second time from the first time.

[0136] Optionally, the first time is determined based on a third time interval, and the second time is determined based on a fourth time interval; the third time interval is a time interval between an end time of the second signal and an earliest start reflection time of the first signal, and the fourth time interval is a time interval between the end time of the second signal and a latest start reflection time of the first signal. It can be seen that the first device can determine the first time based on the end time of the second signal and the third time interval, and determine the second time based on the end time of the second signal and the fourth time interval. In addition, the third time interval and the fourth time interval can be indicated by the second device to the first device, or can be predefined, and no limitation is made in this regard.

[0137] Therefore, the first time interval is greater than or equal to a time difference between the first time and the second time, which can also be expressed as: the first time interval X, the third time interval T min , and the fourth time interval T max satisfy formula (1) or formula (2). X≥(T max -T min ) (1) X≥|T min -T max | (2)

[0138] For example, T min , T max , and X can be as shown in Table 1. In Table 1, RTcal is an R2D reference time, which can be represented by a high level or low level duration of a square wave. Tpri is a time unit of D2R transmission, which can also be represented by a chip length, is an inverse of a D2R double sideband transmission bandwidth, or is a D2R double sideband transmission bandwidth multiplied by an inverse of a line code repetition number. Wherein, T min and T max are in units of microseconds (μs).

[0139] Table 1

[0140] Exemplarily, the communication method implemented based on the embodiment 1.1 is exemplarily described below in combination with FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. In FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the earliest start reflection time of the first signal is a time delayed by T min from the end time of the second signal, and the latest start reflection time of the first signal is a time delayed by T max from the end time of the second signal.

[0141] Assume the following scenario: the first CW is a CW with a frequency of f1, the second CW is a CW with a frequency of f2, and the switching time (may also be referred to as: switching moment or switching time point) of the frequency of the CW from f1 to f2 satisfies: the time length of the time period from the latest starting reflection time of the first signal to the switching time of the frequency of the CW is equal to half of the total reflection time length of the first signal, and the total reflection time length of the first signal is equal to the sum of the time length of the first time unit and the time length of the second time unit.

[0142] Case 1: X = (T max -T min ), or X = |T min -T max |.

[0143] In combination with (A) part shown in FIG. 9, assume that the actual starting reflection time of the first signal is the earliest starting reflection time of the first signal, that is, the starting time of the first time unit is the earliest starting reflection time of the first signal, and that the time length of the first time unit is set to be half of the total reflection time length of the first signal. Then, the first device reflects based on the CW with the frequency of f1 (that is, the first CW) on the first time unit, stops reflecting at the end of the first time unit, and waits for a period of time with the time length of X before the switching time of the frequency of the CW, that is, the starting time of the second time unit is just the switching time of the frequency of the CW, so that the first device reflects based on the CW with the frequency of f2 (that is, the second CW) on the second time unit. Since the time length of the first time unit is half of the total reflection time length of the first signal, the time length of the second time unit is also half of the total reflection time length of the first signal. It can be seen that the time length of the first time unit is equal to the time length of the second time unit.

[0144] In combination with (B) part shown in FIG. 9, assume that the actual starting reflection time of the first signal is the latest starting reflection time of the first signal, that is, the starting time of the first time unit is the latest starting reflection time of the first signal, and that the time length of the first time unit is set to be half of the total reflection time length of the first signal. Then, the end time of the first time unit is just the switching time of the frequency of the CW, so that the first device can reflect based on the CW with the frequency of f1 (that is, the first CW) on the first time unit. The first device stops reflecting at the end of the first time unit, waits for a period of time with the time length of X, and then starts reflecting based on the CW with the frequency of f2 (that is, the second CW), that is, the starting time of the second time unit is the switching time of the frequency of the CW delayed by X, so that the first device reflects based on the CW with the frequency of f2 (that is, the second CW) on the second time unit. Since the time length of the first time unit is half of the total reflection time length of the first signal, the time length of the second time unit is also half of the total reflection time length of the first signal. It can be seen that the time length of the first time unit is equal to the time length of the second time unit.

[0145] As can be seen, the method provided in the embodiments of this application is in the case of X = (T max -T min ), or, X = |T min -T max In the case of |, the duration of the first time unit based on the first CW reflected signal can be made equal to the duration of the second time unit based on the second CW reflected signal.

[0146] Case 2: X>(T) max -T min ), or, X>|T min -T max |

[0147] Referring to part (A) of Figure 10, assuming the actual start time of the first signal's reflection is the earliest start time of the first signal, i.e., the start time of the first time unit is the earliest start time of the first signal's reflection, the duration of the first time unit is set to half of the total reflection duration of the first signal. Then, the first device reflects based on a CW (i.e., the first CW) with frequency f1 throughout the first time unit. The first device stops reflecting at the end of the first time unit and waits for a period of time X, after which the time is later than the CW frequency switching time. In other words, the start time of the second time unit is later than the CW frequency switching time, causing the first device to reflect based on a CW (i.e., the second CW) with frequency f2 throughout the second time unit. Since the duration of the first time unit is half of the total reflection duration of the first signal, the duration of the second time unit is also half of the total reflection duration of the first signal. Therefore, the duration of the first time unit is equal to the duration of the second time unit.

[0148] Referring to part (B) of Figure 10, assuming that the actual start reflection time of the first signal is the latest start reflection time of the first signal, that is, the start time of the first time unit is the latest start reflection time of the first signal, the duration of the first time unit is set to half of the total reflection duration of the first signal. This scenario is similar to part (B) of Figure 9, which can make the duration of the first time unit equal to the duration of the second time unit, and will not be elaborated further.

[0149] As can be seen, the method provided in the embodiments of this application is in X>(T max -T min ), or, X>|T min -T max In the case of |, the duration of the first time unit based on the first CW reflected signal can be made equal to the duration of the second time unit based on the second CW reflected signal.

[0150] In addition, the above-described embodiment 1.1 can be applied to a scenario where the first device is an AIoT device and the AIoT device does not support delay scheduling. In this scenario, the first signal is a D2R transmission signal, the second signal is an R2D transmission signal, the third time interval T min is T R2D_min , the fourth time interval T max is T R2D_max , and the CW frequency switching time is a D2R frequency hopping transmission switching point. For details of the AIoT device not supporting delay scheduling, reference can be made to the foregoing description.

[0151] In embodiment 1.2, the first time interval is associated with the second time interval T and the first parameter P. T is a time interval between an end time of the second signal and an expected start reflection time of the first signal, and P is a preset value or is associated with a capability of the first device. In addition, T may, for example, be indicated by the second device to the first device, or may, for example, be predefined, without limitation.

[0152] In an optional manner, the first time interval X, the second time interval T and the first parameter P satisfy formula (3) or formula (4). X≥(T×P+Q) (3) X≥(T×P) (4)

[0153] In formula (3), Q is an offset value, which may, for example, be equal to 0 or may, for example, not be equal to 0.

[0154] Optionally, the capability of the first device is an SFO of the first device. P is associated with the SFO of the first device. Optionally, P is greater than or equal to twice the SFO. For example, the SFO is 10 4 PPM or 10 5 PPM. For another example, the SFO of the first device is related to a type of the first device. For example, when the first device is a first type of device, the SFO can be 10 4 PPM, and when the first device is a second type of device, the SFO can be 10 5 PPM.

[0155] For example, the communication method implemented based on embodiment 1.2 is described below with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. In FIGS. 11 and 12, the expected start reflection time of the first signal is T later than the end time of the second signal. The SFO of the first device can cause the first device to determine a start reflection time of the first signal that deviates from the expected start reflection time of the first signal. That is, the actual start reflection time of the first signal can be earlier than the expected start reflection time of the first signal, can be later than the expected start reflection time of the first signal, or can be exactly the expected start reflection time of the first signal.

[0156] Suppose the following scenario: the first CW is a CW with a frequency of f1, the second CW is a CW with a frequency of f2, and the switching time (may also be referred to as: switching moment or switching time point) of the frequency of the CW from f1 to f2 satisfies: the time period from the expected starting reflection time of the first signal delayed by T x SFO to the CW frequency switching time is equal to half of the total reflection time of the first signal, and the total reflection time of the first signal is equal to the sum of the length of the first time unit and the length of the second time unit.

[0157] Case 1: X = T x 2 x SFO.

[0158] In combination with (A) part shown in FIG. 11, suppose that the actual starting reflection time of the first signal is the expected starting reflection time delayed by T x SFO, that is, the starting time of the first time unit is the expected starting reflection time delayed by T x SFO, and the length of the first time unit is set to be half of the total reflection time of the first signal. Then, the ending time of the first time unit is exactly the CW frequency switching time, so that the first device reflects based on the CW with the frequency of f1 (that is, the first CW) throughout the first time unit. The first device stops reflecting at the end of the first time unit and waits for a period of time with a length of X, and the time after the waiting is later than the CW frequency switching time, that is, the starting time of the second time unit is later than the CW frequency switching time, so that the first device reflects based on the CW with the frequency of f2 (that is, the second CW) throughout the second time unit. Since the length of the first time unit is half of the total reflection time of the first signal, the length of the second time unit is half of the total reflection time of the first signal. It can be seen that the length of the first time unit is equal to the length of the second time unit.

[0159] In combination with (B) part shown in FIG. 11, suppose that the actual starting reflection time of the first signal is the expected starting reflection time advanced by T x SFO, that is, the starting time of the first time unit is the expected starting reflection time advanced by T x SFO, and the length of the first time unit is set to be half of the total reflection time of the first signal. Then, the first device reflects based on the CW with the frequency of f1 (that is, the first CW) throughout the first time unit, stops reflecting at the end of the first time unit, and waits for a period of time with a length of X, which is exactly the CW frequency switching time, that is, the starting time of the second time unit is exactly the CW frequency switching time, so that the first device can reflect based on the CW with the frequency of f2 (that is, the second CW) throughout the second time unit. Since the length of the first time unit is half of the total reflection time of the first signal, the length of the second time unit is half of the total reflection time of the first signal. It can be seen that the length of the first time unit is equal to the length of the second time unit.

[0160] It can be seen that the method provided in the embodiment of the present application can make the time length of the first CW reflection signal, i.e., the time length of the first time unit, equal to the time length of the second CW reflection signal, i.e., the time length of the second time unit, in the case of X>T×2×SFO.

[0161] Case 2: X>T×2×SFO.

[0162] In combination with (A) part shown in FIG. 12, it is assumed that the actual starting reflection time of the first signal is T×SFO later than the expected starting reflection time of the first signal, i.e., the starting time of the first time unit is T×SFO later than the expected starting reflection time of the first signal, and the time length of the first time unit is set as half of the total reflection time length of the first signal. This scenario is similar to (A) part in FIG. 11, which can make the time length of the first time unit equal to the time length of the second time unit, and details are not repeated.

[0163] In combination with (B) part shown in FIG. 12, it is assumed that the actual starting reflection time of the first signal is T×SFO earlier than the expected starting reflection time of the first signal, i.e., the starting time of the first time unit is T×SFO earlier than the expected starting reflection time of the first signal, and the time length of the first time unit is set as half of the total reflection time length of the first signal. Then, the first device reflects based on the CW with the frequency f1 (i.e., the first CW) on the first time unit, stops reflecting at the end of the first time unit and waits for a period of time with the time length X after the CW frequency switching time, that is, the starting time of the second time unit is later than the CW frequency switching time, so that the first device can reflect based on the CW with the frequency f2 (i.e., the second CW) on the second time unit. Since the time length of the first time unit is half of the total reflection time length of the first signal, the time length of the second time unit is half of the total reflection time length of the first signal. It can be seen that the time length of the first time unit is equal to the time length of the second time unit.

[0164] It can be seen that the method provided in the embodiment of the present application can make the time length of the first CW reflection signal, i.e., the time length of the first time unit, equal to the time length of the second CW reflection signal, i.e., the time length of the second time unit, in the case of X>T×2×SFO.

[0165] In addition, the above-described embodiment 1.2 can be applied to a scenario in which the first device is an AIoT device and the AIoT device supports delay scheduling, and in this scenario, the first signal is a D2R transmission signal, the second signal is an R2D transmission signal, and the second time interval T is T R2D, the CW frequency switching time is the D2R frequency hopping transmission switching point, and specific descriptions about the AIoT device supporting delay scheduling can refer to the foregoing descriptions, which will not be described herein.

[0166] The first time interval is described above, and the first signal is described below.

[0167] In an optional implementation, the first signal includes a first partial signal and a second partial signal. The first device reflects the first signal based on the first CW in the first time unit and based on the second CW in the second time unit, including: the first device reflects the first partial signal based on the first CW in the first time unit and reflects the second partial signal based on the second CW in the second time unit. Correspondingly, the second device receives the first signal based on the frequency of the first CW in the first time unit and based on the frequency of the second CW in the second time unit, including: the second device receives the first partial signal based on the frequency of the first CW in the first time unit and receives the second partial signal based on the frequency of the second CW in the second time unit.

[0168] In the embodiments of the present application, the first device reflects the first signal based on the first CW in the first time unit and based on the second CW in the second time unit, which can also be understood as: the first device reflects the first CW in the first time unit and reflects the second CW in the second time unit, and the total reflected signal is the first signal. Similarly, the first device reflects the first partial signal based on the first CW in the first time unit, which can also be understood as: the first device reflects the first CW in the first time unit, and the reflected signal is the first partial signal. The first device reflects the second partial signal based on the second CW in the second time unit, which can also be understood as: the first device reflects the second CW in the second time unit, and the reflected signal is the second partial signal.

[0169] The CW can be generated and transmitted by an external node different from the first device, and the external node can be the second device or other devices / devices, and no limitation is made to this. It can be seen that the first device reflects the first CW transmitted by the external node in the first time unit and reflects the second CW transmitted by the external node in the second time unit, and the total reflected signal is the first signal. In addition, the CW can be an unmodulated single-tone signal.

[0170] In an optional embodiment, the length of the first time unit is equal to the length of the second time unit. That is, the first device distributes the first part of the signal based on the first CW reflection signal and the second part of the signal based on the second CW reflection signal in the same length of time. Optionally, the "length of the first time unit is equal to the length of the second time unit" can be implemented based on the above-mentioned embodiment 1.1 or embodiment 1.2, and specific descriptions can be referred to the related descriptions in the above-mentioned embodiment 1.1 and embodiment 1.2, which will not be described herein again.

[0171] In an optional embodiment, the first part of the signal is the same as the second part of the signal.

[0172] Optionally, the first signal is generated by repeating a transport block (TB) K times. Alternatively, the first signal is generated by repeating bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times.

[0173] Alternatively, the first signal is generated by repeating a coded code block obtained by encoding bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times. For example, K = 2, the coded code block obtained by encoding the bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block is 1001, and the coded code block is repeated twice to obtain 10011001.

[0174] Alternatively, the first signal is generated by repeating each bit of a coded bit obtained by encoding bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times. For example, K = 2, the coded code block obtained by encoding the bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block is 1001, and the coded code block includes four coded bits, i.e., 1, 0, 0, and 1. Each bit of the four coded bits is repeated twice to obtain 11000011.

[0175] wherein K is an even number greater than zero, for example, K is 2 or 4.

[0176] It can be seen that the first signal is a signal generated by undergoing an even number of repetitions. In the case where the length of the first time unit is equal to the length of the second time unit, the first signal can be uniformly distributed on the first CW and the second CW to achieve that the first device distributes the first part of the signal based on the first CW reflection and the second part of the signal based on the second CW reflection. Further, additional performance gain can be obtained by combining repetition and frequency hopping. Therefore, when the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application is applied to the scenario of D2R transmission of AIoT devices, the D2R transmission of the AIoT devices can be uniformly distributed on two different frequency carriers, and further gain can be improved.

[0177] In an optional embodiment, the first device performs step S101 upon receiving first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate the first time interval. It can be understood in connection with FIG. 13 that the second device indicates the first device to reflect the signal in the manner of existing time interval by sending the first indication information to the first device. After receiving the first indication information, the first device reflects the first signal based on the first CW in the first time unit and based on the second CW in the second time unit; wherein the first time interval between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and the frequency of the first CW is different from the frequency of the second CW.

[0178] In another optional embodiment, the first device performs step S101 upon receiving second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate the first device to reflect the signal in the CWs of at least two frequencies. It can be understood in connection with FIG. 14 that the second device indicates the first device to perform frequency hopping to reflect the signal by sending the second indication information to the first device. After receiving the second indication information, the first device reflects the first signal based on the first CW in the first time unit and based on the second CW in the second time unit; wherein the first time interval between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and the frequency of the first CW is different from the frequency of the second CW.

[0179] In summary, the first device reflects the first signal based on the first CW in the first time unit and based on the second CW in the second time unit, and the frequency of the first CW is different from the frequency of the second CW. The first time interval between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit is greater than zero. It can be seen that there is a time interval between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit, which can shorten the difference between the time length of the first device reflecting the signal in the first CW (i.e. the time length of the first time unit) and the time length of the first device reflecting the signal in the first CW (i.e. the time length of the second time unit), and is beneficial to improve the frequency hopping gain.

[0180] In addition, in order to unify the design, save the cost and indication overhead, the embodiment of the application further provides another communication method, which is similar to the communication method shown in FIG. 7, except that the frequency of the first CW is the same as the frequency of the second CW in the communication method. Specifically, the communication method comprises: the first device reflects the first signal based on the first CW in the first time unit and based on the second CW in the second time unit; and correspondingly, the second device receives the first signal. The first time interval between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and the frequency of the first CW is the same as the frequency of the second CW.

[0181] The communication method can further include the other embodiments of the communication method shown in FIG. 7, except that the feature that "the frequency of the first CW is the same as the frequency of the second CW" is different from the feature that "the frequency of the first CW is different from the frequency of the second CW" in the communication method shown in FIG. 7. For details, refer to the relevant descriptions in the communication method shown in FIG. 7, which will not be repeated here.

[0182] FIG. 15 is a flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication method includes the following steps.

[0183] In S201, the first device reflects the first signal based on the first CW and the second CW, and the second device receives the first signal. The first signal includes M reference signals and a channel for carrying data. The channel for carrying data includes N time periods with the same time length in the time domain. The channel for carrying data can be divided into N segments in the time domain. M is associated with N, M is an even number, and N is a positive integer. The frequency of the first CW is different from the frequency of the second CW.

[0184] The reference signal in the first signal can be a midamble, for example. The channel for carrying data in the first signal can be a PDRCH or an APUSCH, for example. No limitation is made in this regard.

[0185] In an optional embodiment, M and N satisfy: wherein, represents rounding up. For example, M and N can be as shown in Table 2.

[0186] Table 2

[0187] For example, as shown in FIG. 16, when the channel for carrying data in the first signal includes 2 time periods with the same time length in the time domain, the number of reference signals in the first signal is equal to 2. When the channel for carrying data in the first signal includes 3 time periods with the same time length in the time domain, the number of reference signals in the first signal is equal to 2. When the channel for carrying data in the first signal includes 4 time periods with the same time length in the time domain, the number of reference signals in the first signal is equal to 4. When the channel for carrying data in the first signal includes 5 time periods with the same time length in the time domain, the number of reference signals in the first signal is equal to 4.

[0188] In an optional embodiment, when N is an even number, in the first signal, the (2i-1)th reference signal and the (2i)th reference signal in the M reference signals are located in the same time period. ​There is no channel for carrying data between the M reference signals. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, when the channel for carrying data in the first signal includes 2 time periods with the same time length in the time domain, the first signal includes 2 reference signals, and there is no channel for carrying data between the 1st reference signal and the 2nd reference signal in the first signal. When the channel for carrying data in the first signal includes 4 time periods with the same time length in the time domain, the first signal includes 4 reference signals, and there is no channel for carrying data between the 2nd reference signal and the 3rd reference signal in the first signal.

[0189] In an optional embodiment, the first device reflects a fifth time interval between the 1st reference signal and the 2nd reference signal in the M reference signals. In an optional embodiment, the fifth time interval is greater than zero.

[0190] In an optional embodiment, the fifth time interval is associated with a first time and a second time, the first time being an earliest starting reflection time of the first signal, and the second time being a latest starting reflection time of the first signal. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment 1.1 of the method described in FIG. 7, and the description of the embodiment 1.1 of the method described in FIG. 7 can be referred to.

[0191] In another optional embodiment, the fifth time interval is associated with a second time interval T and a first parameter P, T being a time interval between an ending time of the second signal and an expected starting reflection time of the first signal, and P being a preset value or a parameter associated with the capability of the first device. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment 1.2 of the method described in FIG. 7, and the description of the embodiment 1.2 of the method described in FIG. 7 can be referred to.

[0192] In an optional embodiment, the communication method described in FIG. 15 can be applied to the communication method described in FIG. 7, i.e., the first device reflects the first signal based on a first CW in a first time unit and based on a second CW in a second time unit, and the second device receives the first signal. A first time interval between an ending time of the first time unit and a starting time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and a frequency of the first CW is different from a frequency of the second CW. The first signal includes M reference signals and a channel for carrying data, the channel for carrying data includes N time periods with the same time length in the time domain, M is associated with N, M is an even number, and N is a positive integer.

[0193] In this scenario, optionally, the fifth time interval is equal to the first time interval, i.e., the first device reflects a fifth time interval between the 1st reference signal and the 2nd reference signal in the M reference signals. ​​ The time interval between the first reference signal and the second reference signal is equal to the first time interval. Specifically, the time interval between the end time of the first reference signal and the start time of the second reference signal in the first signal is equal to the first time interval. The time interval between the first reference signal and the second reference signal is equal to the first time interval. Specifically, the time interval between the end time of the first reference signal and the start time of the second reference signal in the first signal is equal to the first time interval. The time interval between the first reference signal and the second reference signal is equal to the first time interval. Specifically, the time interval between the end time of the first reference signal and the start time of the second reference signal in the first signal is equal to the first time interval.

[0194] For example, taking the scenario shown in FIG. 9 as an example, if the first signal is as shown in the distribution when N equals 2 and M equals 2 in FIG. 16, then the case that the first device reflects the first signal can be as shown in FIG. 17. For another example, taking the scenario shown in FIG. 11 as an example, if the first signal is as shown in the distribution when N equals 2 and M equals 2 in FIG. 16, then the case that the first device reflects the first signal can be as shown in FIG. 18. In FIGS. 17 and 18, the reflection time of the first reference signal in the first signal is located in the first time unit, the reflection time of the second reference signal in the first signal is located in the second time unit, and the time interval between the end time of the first reference signal and the start time of the second reference signal is equal to the time interval between the end time of the first time unit and the start time of the second time unit.

[0195] In summary, in the communication method, the first device reflects the first signal based on the first CW and the second CW, and the frequency of the first CW is different from the frequency of the second CW. The first signal includes M reference signals and a channel for carrying data, the channel for carrying data includes N time periods with the same time length in the time domain, M is associated with N, M is an even number, and N is a positive integer. It can be seen that the number M of the reference signals in the first signal is an even number and is associated with the number N of the time periods with the same time length included by the channel for carrying data in the time domain, which is beneficial to making each reference signal reflected on the first CW be a complete reference signal and each reference signal reflected on the second CW be a complete reference signal, so as to improve the channel estimation performance based on the reference signal.

[0196] In another embodiment, for the first device supporting delay scheduling, in the case that the SFO of the first device is small, the first device can adaptively adjust the insertion pattern of the reference signal (for example, midamble) in the first signal. For example, one reference signal located in the middle position of the first signal is spliced by two same short sequences.

[0197] For example, taking the PDRCH as an example, which is a channel in the first signal used to carry data, in combination with FIG. 19, when the PDRCH includes two time periods with the same time length in the time domain, that is, the PDRCH is equally divided into two segments in the time domain, a reference signal is inserted between the two segments of the PDRCH, the reference signal is spliced by two short sequences, each of the two short sequences is a complete sequence, and the two short sequences can be transmitted at different frequencies, so that the short sequence transmitted at each frequency can be used for channel estimation, thereby reducing the performance loss caused by the truncation of a reference signal at different frequencies. Moreover, in this way, the entire reference signal does not need to be transmitted multiple times, reducing the overhead.

[0198] To implement the functions in the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application, the network element / device can include hardware structures and / or software modules to implement the above functions in the form of hardware structure, software module, or hardware structure plus software module. Whether a certain function is implemented in the form of hardware structure, software module, or hardware structure plus software module depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0199] As shown in FIG. 20, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus 2000. The communication apparatus 2000 can be a first apparatus, and can also be a component (for example, an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.) of the first apparatus. Alternatively, the communication apparatus 2000 can be a second apparatus, and can also be a component (for example, an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.) of the second apparatus. The communication apparatus 2000 can also be other communication units used to implement the method in the method embodiments of the present application. The communication apparatus 2000 can include a processing unit 2001. Optionally, the communication apparatus 2000 can also include a communication unit 2002, and the processing unit 2001 is configured to control the communication unit 2002 to perform data / signaling transceiving, and the communication unit 2002 can also be referred to as a transceiving unit. Optionally, the communication unit 2002 can include a sending unit and a receiving unit, the sending unit can be used to send data / signaling, and the receiving unit can be used to receive data / signaling. Optionally, the communication apparatus 2000 can also include a storage unit 2003, which can be used to store information and / or data and / or instructions, etc., and the storage unit 2003 can interact with the processing unit 2001 and can also interact with the communication unit 2002.

[0200] In a possible design, for the case that the communication apparatus 2000 is used to implement the functions of the first apparatus in the above method embodiments:

[0201] The communication unit 2002 is configured to reflect the first signal based on the first CW in a first time unit and based on the second CW in a second time unit, wherein a first time interval between an end time of the first time unit and a start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and a frequency of the first CW is different from a frequency of the second CW.

[0202] In another possible design, the communication apparatus 2000 is configured to implement the function of the second device in the above-described method embodiments.

[0203] The communication unit 2002 is configured to reflect the first signal based on the first CW in a first time unit and based on the second CW in a second time unit, wherein a first time interval between an end time of the first time unit and a start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and a frequency of the first CW is different from a frequency of the second CW.

[0204] In addition, the processing unit 2001 in the communication apparatus 2000 can be configured to process the transport block. For example, the processing unit 2001 is configured to repeat the transport block K times to generate the first signal, or configured to repeat the bits obtained by adding the cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times to generate the first signal, or configured to repeat the coded bits obtained by encoding the bits obtained by adding the cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times to generate the first signal, or configured to repeat each bit of the coded bits obtained by encoding the bits obtained by adding the cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times to generate the first signal. Details can be referred to the related description in the above-described method embodiments, and thus will not be repeated here.

[0205] The embodiments of the present application and the above-described method embodiments are based on the same concept and bring the same technical effects. Details of the specific principles can be referred to the description of the above-described embodiments, and thus will not be repeated here.

[0206] The embodiments of the present application also provide a communication apparatus 2100, as shown in FIG. 21. The communication apparatus 2100 can be the first device, or can be a chip, a chip system, or a processor, etc. that supports the first device to implement the above-described method. Alternatively, the communication apparatus 2100 can be the second device, or can be a chip, a chip system, or a processor, etc. that supports the second device to implement the above-described method. The apparatus can be configured to implement the method described in the above-described method embodiments, and details can be referred to the above-described method embodiments.

[0207] The communication device 2100 can include one or more processors 2101. The processor 2101 can be configured to implement part or all of the methods described in the above embodiments of the method by logical circuits or by running computer programs. The processor 2101 can be a general-purpose processor, a special-purpose processor, or any other processor. For example, it can be a baseband processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor can be configured to process communication protocols and communication data, and the CPU can be configured to control the communication device, execute software programs, and process data of the software programs, where the communication device can be a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal, a terminal chip, a distributed unit (DU), a central unit (CU), or the like.

[0208] For example, the processor 2101 can be configured to process the transport block. For example, the processor 2101 can be configured to repeat the transport block K times to generate the first signal, or to repeat the bits obtained by adding the cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times to generate the first signal, or to repeat the coded bits obtained by encoding the bits obtained by adding the cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times to generate the first signal, or to repeat each bit of the coded bits obtained by encoding the bits obtained by adding the cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times to generate the first signal. Details can be referred to the related description in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be described here.

[0209] Optionally, the communication device 2100 can include one or more memories 2102, which can store instructions 2104. The instructions can be run on the processor 2101, so that the communication device 2100 performs the methods described in the foregoing method embodiments. Optionally, the memory 2102 can also store data. The processor 2101 and the memory 2102 can be separately arranged, or can be integrated together.

[0210] The memory 2102 can include, but is not limited to, a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), a random access memory (RAM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), a ROM, or a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), and the like.

[0211] Optionally, the communication apparatus 2100 further includes a transceiver 2105, an antenna 2106. The transceiver 2105 can be referred to as a transceiving unit, a transceiver, or a transceiving circuit, etc., for realizing transceiving functions. The transceiver 2105 can include a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver can be referred to as a receiver, or a receiving circuit, etc., for realizing receiving functions; the transmitter can be referred to as a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc., for realizing transmitting functions.

[0212] In a possible design of the communication apparatus 2100 for implementing functions of the first device in the above method embodiments:

[0213] the transceiver 2105 is configured to reflect the first signal based on the first CW in a first time unit and based on the second CW in a second time unit; and a first time interval between an end time of the first time unit and a start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and a frequency of the first CW is different from a frequency of the second CW.

[0214] In another possible design of the communication apparatus 2100 for implementing functions of the second device in the above method embodiments:

[0215] the transceiver 2105 is configured to receive the first signal based on a frequency of the first CW in a first time unit and based on a frequency of the second CW in a second time unit; and a first time interval between an end time of the first time unit and a start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and a frequency of the first CW is different from a frequency of the second CW.

[0216] In another possible design, the processor 2101 can include a transceiver for realizing receiving and transmitting functions. For example, the transceiver can be a transceiving circuit, or an interface, or an interface circuit. The transceiving circuit, the interface, or the interface circuit for realizing receiving and transmitting functions can be separate, or can be integrated together. The transceiving circuit, the interface, or the interface circuit can be used for reading and writing of codes / data, or the transceiving circuit, the interface, or the interface circuit can be used for transmission or delivery of signals.

[0217] In yet another possible design, the processor 2101 can store instructions 2103, and the instructions 2103, when running on the processor 2101, can cause the communication apparatus 2100 to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments. The instructions 2103 can be fixed in the processor 2101, and in this case, the processor 2101 can be implemented by hardware.

[0218] In yet another possible design, the communication device 2100 can include circuitry that can implement the functions of transmitting or receiving or communicating in the foregoing method embodiments. The processor and the transceiver described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented on an integrated circuit (IC), an analog IC, a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), a mixed-signal IC, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a printed circuit board (PCB), an electronic device, etc. The processor and the transceiver can also be manufactured using various IC process technologies, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS), positive channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS), bipolar junction transistor (BJT), bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), silicon germanium (SiGe), gallium arsenide (GaAs), etc.

[0219] Those skilled in the art can also understand that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps listed in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. Whether the functions are implemented by hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design requirements of the overall system. Those skilled in the art can implement the functions described in various ways for a specific application, but such implementation should not be understood as beyond the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application.

[0220] The embodiments of the present application and the above-described method embodiments are based on the same concept and have the same technical effects. For specific principles, please refer to the description in the above method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0221] The present application also provides a computer readable storage medium for storing computer software instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0222] The present application also provides a computer program product for storing computer software instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0223] The application also provides a computer program which, when running on a computer, implements the functions of any of the method embodiments described above.

[0224] The application also provides a chip, which comprises a processor. The processor is configured to execute codes or instructions to implement the functions of any of the method embodiments described above. Optionally, the chip further comprises an interface, and the processor is coupled to the interface, and the interface is configured to receive or output signals.

[0225] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product comprises one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center through wired (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. integrated with one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media (such as floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), optical media (such as high-density digital video disc (digital video disc, DVD)), or semiconductor media (such as SSD), etc.

[0226] The above is only a specific implementation of the application, but the protection scope of the application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical scope disclosed in the application, which should be covered within the protection scope of the application. Therefore, the protection scope of the application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

[0227] In addition, in the application, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be mutually referred to, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship, unless otherwise specified and logically conflicted.

[0228] It can be understood that some optional features in some of the embodiments of the present application can be independent of other features in some scenarios, and can be combined with other features in some scenarios, without limitation.

[0229] It can be understood that the solutions in the embodiments of the present application can be used in combination, and the explanations or descriptions of various terms appearing in the embodiments, similar operations or steps can be mutually referred to or explained in various embodiments, which are not limited in the present application.

[0230] In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. The "and / or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B, which can represent the following cases: A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the textual description of the present application, the character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the front and rear associated objects. "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 and c can represent: a, or b, or c, or a and b, or a and c, or b and c, or a, b and c. Where a, b and c can be single or multiple.

[0231] In the present application, "first", "second", and various numerical designations indicate differentiation for the sake of description, and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. For example, different messages are distinguished, rather than being used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the objects thus described can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances in order to describe solutions other than the embodiments of the present application.

[0232] In the present application, 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 that includes a series of steps or units does not have to be limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but can include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0233] In the present application, "for indicating" can include "for directly indicating" and "for indirectly indicating". When describing that certain indication information is used to indicate A, it can include that the indication information directly indicates A or indirectly indicates A, and it does not mean that A must be carried in the indication information.

[0234] In this application, "sending information to XX (device / network element)" can be understood as that the destination of the information is the device / network element. It can include directly or indirectly sending information to the device / network element. "Receiving information from XX (device / network element), or receiving information from XX (device / network element)" can be understood as that the source of the information is the device / network element, and it can include directly or indirectly receiving information from the device / network element. The information between the source and the destination of the information sending can be processed as necessary, for example, format change, etc., but the destination can understand the valid information from the source.

[0235] In this application, the words "exemplary" or "for example" are used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the exemplary or for example embodiments are presented so as to enable a clear and concise disclosure of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a first device, and the method comprises: reflecting a first signal based on a first continuous wave (CW) in a first time unit and based on a second CW in a second time unit; wherein a first time interval between an end time of the first time unit and a start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and a frequency of the first CW is different from a frequency of the second CW.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: the first time interval is associated with a first time and a second time, the first time being an earliest start reflection time of the first signal, and the second time being a latest start reflection time of the first signal.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein: the first time interval is greater than or equal to a time difference between the first time and the second time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein: the first time interval is associated with a second time interval T and a first parameter P, the T being a time interval between an end time of a second signal and a start reflection time of the first signal expected, and the P being a preset value or being associated with a capability of the first device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein: the first time interval X satisfies: X≥(T×P+Q), or X≥(T×P); wherein the Q is an offset value.

6. The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein: the capability of the first device is a sampling frequency offset (SFO) of the first device.

7. The method of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein: the P is greater than or equal to twice of the SFO.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate the first time interval.

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: a time length of the first time unit is equal to a time length of the second time unit.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: the first signal comprises a first partial signal and a second partial signal, the first partial signal being the same as the second partial signal; the reflecting the first signal based on the first CW in the first time unit and based on the second CW in the second time unit comprises: reflecting the first partial signal based on the first CW in the first time unit, and reflecting the second partial signal based on the second CW in the second time unit.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: the first signal is generated by repeating a transport block K times; or the first signal is generated by repeating bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times; or the first signal is generated by repeating an encoded code block obtained by encoding bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times; or the first signal is generated by repeating each bit of an encoded bit obtained by encoding bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times; wherein the K is an even number greater than zero.

12. The method of any of claims 1-11, wherein the first signal comprises M reference signals and a channel for carrying data; and wherein the channel for carrying data comprises N time periods of equal length in time domain, and the M is associated with the N, the M is even, and the N is a positive integer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the represents a ceiling function.

14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein a time interval between two reference signals is equal to the first time interval; and wherein the N is even; and wherein there is no channel for carrying data between two reference signals.

15. The method of any of claims 1-14, wherein the method is applied to a second device, and the method comprises: receiving a first signal based on a frequency of a first continuous wave (CW) in a first time unit and based on a frequency of a second CW in a second time unit; wherein a first time interval between an end time of the first time unit and a start time of the second time unit is greater than zero, and the frequency of the first CW is different from the frequency of the second CW. M, N satisfy: wherein the 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first time interval is associated with a first time and a second time, the first time is an earliest start receiving time of the first signal, and the second time is a latest start receiving time of the first signal.

18. The method of claim 16 or 17, wherein the first time interval is greater than or equal to a time difference between the first time and the second time. reflecting a first one of the M reference signals a first reference signal and a second reference signal 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first time interval is associated with a second time interval T and a first parameter P, the T is a time interval between an end time of a second signal and an expected start receiving time of the first signal, and the P is a preset value or is associated with a capability of the first device.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that, 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first time interval X satisfies: X ≥ (T × P + Q), or X ≥ (T × P); wherein the Q is an offset value. In the first signal, the first one of the M reference signals is transmitted in a first time period and the second one of the M reference signals is transmitted in a second time period. a first reference signal and a second reference signal 21. The method of claim 19 or 20, wherein the capability of the first device is a sampling frequency offset (SFO) of the first device.

16. A method of communication, comprising:

22. The method of any of claims 19-21, wherein the P is greater than or equal to twice of the SFO.

23. The method of any of claims 19-22, further comprising: transmitting first indication information, the first indication information indicating the first time interval.

24. The method of any of claims 16-23, wherein a length of the first time unit is equal to a length of the second time unit.

25. The method of any of claims 16-24, wherein the first signal comprises a first part signal and a second part signal, and the first part signal is the same as the second part signal; and wherein the receiving the first signal based on the frequency of the first CW in the first time unit and based on the frequency of the second CW in the second time unit comprises: receiving the first part signal based on the frequency of the first CW in the first time unit and based on the frequency of the second CW in the second time unit; and receiving the second part signal based on the frequency of the first CW in the first time unit and based on the frequency of the second CW in the second time unit. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 23. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 22, characterized in that, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The first part of the signal is received based on a frequency of the first CW in the first time unit, and the second part of the signal is received based on a frequency of the second CW in the second time unit.

26. The method of any one of claims 16-25, wherein, the first signal is generated by repeating a transport block K times; or the first signal is generated by repeating bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times; or the first signal is generated by repeating encoded code blocks obtained by encoding bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times; or the first signal is generated by repeating each bit of encoded bits obtained by encoding bits obtained by adding a cyclic redundancy code to the transport block K times; wherein the K is an even number greater than zero.

27. The method of any one of claims 16-26, wherein, the first signal comprises M reference signals and a channel for carrying data; the channel for carrying data comprises N time periods of the same length in time domain, the M is associated with the N, the M is an even number, and the N is a positive integer.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein, M, N satisfy: wherein the represents a ceiling function.

29. The method of claim 27 or 28, wherein, receiving a first reference signal of the M reference signals a first reference signal and a second reference signal a time interval between two reference signals is equal to the first time interval.

30. The method of any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein, the N is an even number; In the first signal, the first one of the M reference signals is transmitted in a first time period and the second one of the M reference signals is transmitted in a second time period. a first reference signal and a second reference signal there is no channel for carrying data between two reference signals.

31. A communication system, characterized by the system comprises a first device and a second device; the first device is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1-15; and the second device is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 16-30.

32. A communications device, characterized by the device comprises a module or a unit for implementing the method of any one of claims 1-15, or a module or a unit for implementing the method of any one of claims 16-30.

33. A communications device, characterized by comprises at least one processor; the processor is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 1-15, or to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 16-30.

34. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, the computer readable storage medium stores a computer program which, when executed, implements the method of any one of claims 1-15, or the method of any one of claims 16-30.

35. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising: the computer program code, when executed, implements the method of any one of claims 1-15, or the method of any one of claims 16-30.

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