Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: acquiring first information, wherein the first information may comprise a first time parameter and a time offset parameter, the first time parameter may be used for indicating a reception moment of a sensing signal, and the time offset parameter may be used for indicating an offset of a sending moment of the sensing signal with respect to the reception moment of the sensing signal, or the first time parameter may be used for indicating a sending moment of a sensing signal, and the time offset parameter may be used for indicating an offset of a reception moment of the sensing signal with respect to the sending moment of the sensing signal; and sending and / or receiving the sensing signal on the basis of the first information. In the present application, a time parameter for reception or sending of a sensing signal, and a corresponding time offset parameter are configured, and sending and reception times of the sensing signal over an air interface are configured for a network device, such that the network device can more accurately receive the sensing signal, thereby reducing unnecessary time and resource overhead during reception.

Description

Communication method and apparatus

[0001] The present application claims priority from the Chinese patent application No. 202411269976.9 filed on September 10, 2024, and entitled "Communication method and apparatus", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of wireless communication, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0003] In the current communication system, the functions of a base station can be split to obtain multiple logical units. Different logical units are used to implement different communication protocol functions in the base station. For example, the base station is split into a baseband unit (BBU) and a remote radio unit (RRU) for deployment. Or, the base station is split into a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU) for deployment. The CU can also be referred to as a centralized unit.

[0004] For a sensing communication scenario, if the uplink sensing signal is received according to the transmission timing of the downlink sensing signal, the time window for receiving the sensing signal will be too large, and the buffer capacity of the network device will have higher requirements. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus, so that the network device can more accurately receive the sensing signal and reduce unnecessary time and resource consumption during reception.

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

[0007] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is applied to a first network-side device. The first network-side device can be a network device, a component (e.g., a processor, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system) of the network device, or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the function of the network device. For example, the first network-side device can be a radio unit (RU). The method can include obtaining first information. A sensing signal is transmitted and / or received according to the first information. The first information can include a first time parameter and a time offset parameter. The first time parameter can be used to indicate a time of receiving the sensing signal, and the time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of a time of transmitting the sensing signal relative to the time of receiving the sensing signal. Alternatively, the first time parameter can be used to indicate the time of transmitting the sensing signal, and the time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of the time of receiving the sensing signal relative to the time of transmitting the sensing signal.

[0008] The present application configures a time parameter of receiving or transmitting a sensing signal and a corresponding time offset parameter. The time of transmitting a sensing signal and the time of receiving a sensing signal are configured for a network device. Therefore, the network device can more accurately receive a sensing signal and reduce unnecessary time and resource consumption.

[0009] In a possible design, the first information can be determined according to sensing target location information and quality of service (QoS) requirement information related to a sensing service.

[0010] The present application can determine the first information in combination with the sensing target location information and / or the QoS requirement information related to the sensing service. Therefore, more accurate transmission and reception times can be configured for different sensing signals.

[0011] In a possible design, in a case where the first time parameter is used to indicate the time of receiving the sensing signal, and the time offset parameter is used to indicate the offset of the time of transmitting the sensing signal relative to the time of receiving the sensing signal, transmitting and / or receiving the sensing signal according to the first information can include receiving the sensing signal according to the first time parameter, and / or transmitting the sensing signal according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter.

[0012] The present application can accurately determine the time of transmitting the sensing signal in combination with the time offset parameter in a case where the first time parameter indicates the time of receiving the sensing signal.

[0013] In a possible design, in a case where the first time parameter is used to indicate a time for sending the sensing signal, and the time offset parameter is used to indicate an offset of a time for receiving the sensing signal relative to the time for sending the sensing signal, the sending and / or receiving the sensing signal according to the first information can include: sending the sensing signal according to the first time parameter, and / or receiving the sensing signal according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter.

[0014] The application can accurately determine the time for receiving the sensing signal in a case where the first time parameter is used to indicate the time for sending the sensing signal, in combination with the time offset parameter.

[0015] In a possible design, the first information can include N first time parameters and one time offset parameter. N is a positive integer. The one time offset parameter can have an association relationship with the N first time parameters.

[0016] The application can configure a plurality of first time parameters to share one time offset parameter, thereby reducing signaling overhead while accurately configuring the time for receiving the sensing signal or the time for sending the sensing signal.

[0017] In a possible design, the first information can include N first time parameters and M time offset parameters. M is a positive integer smaller than N. Any one of the M time offset parameters can have an association relationship with part of the N first time parameters.

[0018] The application can configure a plurality of time offset parameters, and each time offset parameter corresponds to one or more first time parameters, thereby ensuring flexible configuration of the time for receiving the sensing signal or the time for sending the sensing signal, and saving a part of signaling overhead.

[0019] In a possible design, the first information can include N first time parameters and N time offset parameters. The N time offset parameters correspond to the N first time parameters in a one-to-one manner.

[0020] The application can configure the first time parameters to correspond to the time offset parameters in a one-to-one manner, thereby more flexibly configuring the time for receiving the sensing signal or the time for sending the sensing signal.

[0021] In a possible design, the first information can further include a cyclic prefix (CP) length parameter. The CP length parameter can be used to indicate a CP length corresponding to the sensing signal. In a case where the first time parameter is used to indicate a time for receiving the sensing signal and the time offset parameter is used to indicate an offset of a time for sending the sensing signal relative to the time for receiving the sensing signal, sending the sensing signal according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter can include: sending the sensing signal according to the first time parameter, the CP length parameter and the time offset parameter. Alternatively, in a case where the first time parameter is used to indicate a time for sending the sensing signal and the time offset parameter is used to indicate an offset of a time for receiving the sensing signal relative to the time for sending the sensing signal, receiving the sensing signal according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter can include: receiving the sensing signal according to the first time parameter, the CP length parameter and the time offset parameter.

[0022] The present application can determine the time for sending the sensing signal or the time for receiving the sensing signal accurately while avoiding interference between symbols in a case where the first time parameter indicates the time for receiving the sensing signal or indicates the time for sending the sensing signal, in combination with the CP length and the time offset parameter.

[0023] In a possible design, the first information can include one CP length parameter. The one CP length parameter can have an association relationship with the N first time parameters.

[0024] The present application can configure multiple first time parameters to share one CP length parameter, accurately configure the time for receiving the sensing signal or the time for sending the sensing signal while avoiding interference between symbols, and reduce signaling overhead.

[0025] In a possible design, the first information can include P CP length parameters. P is a positive integer less than N. Any one of the P CP length parameters has an association relationship with part of the N first time parameters.

[0026] The present application can configure multiple CP length parameters, and each CP length parameter corresponds to one or more first time parameters, accurately configure the time for receiving the sensing signal or the time for sending the sensing signal while flexibly configuring multiple CP lengths, and further save signaling overhead related to CP length configuration.

[0027] In a possible design, the first information can include N CP length parameters. The N CP length parameters correspond to the N first time parameters one by one.

[0028] The application can configure the first time parameter to correspond to the CP length parameter one by one, and can flexibly configure the CP to avoid interference between symbols while accurately configuring the time of receiving the sensing signal or the time of sending the sensing signal.

[0029] In a possible design, the time offset parameter can be represented by any of the following: a first number of frames, subframes, slots or symbols; a first time length, where the first time length can be determined based on a sub-carrier spacing (SCS); a preset time length; a second time length, where the second time length can be determined based on a time length threshold; or a third time length, where the third time length can be determined based on a timing advance (TA).

[0030] The application provides a plurality of ways of indicating the time offset parameter, to accurately indicate the time offset parameter in a suitable way in different scenarios.

[0031] In a possible design, the first time length can be the reciprocal of the SCS. Alternatively, the first time length can be K times the reciprocal of the SCS, where K is an integer.

[0032] The application provides a plurality of ways of determining the time offset parameter based on the sub-carrier spacing, to improve system compatibility.

[0033] In a possible design, the first time parameter can include any of the following: a time domain resource parameter; a first index, where the first index can be used to indicate a frame format, and the frame format can be used to indicate slots used by the sensing signal; a second index, where the second index is used to indicate a slot format, and the slot format can be used to indicate symbols used by the sensing signal; or a bitmap, where a value of a first bit in the bitmap can be used to indicate whether a frame, a subframe, a slot or a symbol corresponding to the first bit is used for the sensing signal, and the first bit can be any bit in the bitmap.

[0034] The application provides a plurality of forms of the first time parameter, to accurately indicate the first time parameter in a suitable form in different scenarios.

[0035] In a possible design, the time domain resource parameter can include: one or more time unit identifiers; or, one or more time unit identifiers, and a first identifier and / or a first periodicity parameter; or, a start time unit identifier and a fourth time length; or, a start time unit identifier and a second periodicity parameter; or, a start time unit identifier, a fourth time length, and a second periodicity parameter. The first identifier can be used to indicate a first time domain resource. The first time domain resource can include time units corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers. The first periodicity parameter can be used to indicate a period corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers. The start time unit identifier can be used to indicate a start position of a second time domain resource. The fourth time length can be a duration of the second time domain resource. The second periodicity parameter can be used to indicate a period corresponding to the second time domain resource.

[0036] The present application provides various manners of indicating a time domain resource parameter, to accurately indicate the time domain resource parameter in different scenarios by using a suitable manner.

[0037] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, which is applied to a second network side device. The second network side device can be a network device, a component (for example, a processor, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system) of the network device, or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the network device. For example, the second network side device can be a DU. The method can include: determining first information, and sending the first information. The first information can include a first time parameter and a time offset parameter. The first time parameter can be used to indicate a time of receiving a sensing signal, and the time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of a time of sending the sensing signal relative to the time of receiving the sensing signal. Alternatively, the first time parameter can be used to indicate the time of sending the sensing signal, and the time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of the time of receiving the sensing signal relative to the time of sending the sensing signal.

[0038] In a possible design, the determining of the first information can include: receiving second information. The second information can include sensing target location information and QoS requirement information related to a sensing service. According to the sensing target location information and the QoS requirement information related to the sensing service, one or more first information is determined.

[0039] In a possible design, the first information can include N first time parameters and one time offset parameter. N is a positive integer. The one time offset parameter and the N first time parameters can have an association relationship.

[0040] In a possible design, the first information can include N first time parameters and M time offset parameters. M is a positive integer smaller than N. Any one of the M time offset parameters can have a correlation relationship with part of the N first time parameters.

[0041] In a possible design, the first information can include N first time parameters and N time offset parameters. The N time offset parameters correspond to the N first time parameters one by one.

[0042] In a possible design, the first information can further include a CP length parameter. The CP length parameter can be used to indicate a CP length corresponding to the sensing signal.

[0043] In a possible design, the first information can include one CP length parameter. The one CP length parameter can have a correlation relationship with the N first time parameters.

[0044] In a possible design, the first information can include P CP length parameters. P is a positive integer smaller than N. Any one of the P CP length parameters can have a correlation relationship with part of the N first time parameters.

[0045] In a possible design, the first information can include N CP length parameters. The N CP length parameters correspond to the N first time parameters one by one.

[0046] In a possible design, the time offset parameter can be represented in any of the following manners: a first quantity of frames, subframes, slots, or symbols; a first time length, where the first time length can be determined based on an SCS; a preset time length; a second time length, where the second time length can be determined based on a time length threshold; or a third time length, where the third time length can be determined based on a TA.

[0047] In a possible design, the first time length can be a reciprocal of an SCS. Alternatively, the first time length can be K times a reciprocal of an SCS. K is an integer.

[0048] In a possible design, the first time parameter can include any of the following parameters: a time domain resource parameter; a first index, where the first index can be used to indicate a frame format, and the frame format can be used to indicate a slot used by the sensing signal; a second index, where the second index can be used to indicate a slot format, and the slot format can be used to indicate a symbol used by the sensing signal; or a bitmap, where a value of a first bit in the bitmap can be used to indicate whether a frame, a subframe, a slot, or a symbol corresponding to the first bit is used for the sensing signal, and the first bit can be any bit in the bitmap.

[0049] In a possible design, the time domain resource parameter can include: one or more time unit identifiers; or, one or more time unit identifiers, and a first identifier and / or a first period parameter; or, a start time unit identifier and a fourth time length; or, a start time unit identifier and a second period parameter; or, a start time unit identifier, a fourth time length, and a second period parameter. The first identifier can be used to indicate a first time domain resource. The first time domain resource can include time units corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers. The first period parameter can be used to indicate a period corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers. The start time unit identifier can be used to indicate a start position of a second time domain resource. The fourth time length can be a duration of the second time domain resource. The second period parameter can be used to indicate a period corresponding to the second time domain resource.

[0050] In a third aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus can be a first network-side device (e.g., a network device implementing a function of the first network-side device), a communication module in the network device, or a chip responsible for communication in the network device, such as a modem chip (also referred to as a baseband chip), a system on chip (SoC) including a modem module, or a system in package (SIP) chip. The communication apparatus can also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the function of the first network-side device.

[0051] The communication apparatus can include a processing unit configured to obtain first information. The processing unit is further configured to control a transceiver to transmit and / or receive a sensing signal according to the first information. The first information can include a first time parameter and a time offset parameter. The first time parameter can be used to indicate a time of receiving the sensing signal, and the time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of a time of transmitting the sensing signal relative to the time of receiving the sensing signal. Alternatively, the first time parameter can be used to indicate the time of transmitting the sensing signal, and the time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of the time of receiving the sensing signal relative to the time of transmitting the sensing signal.

[0052] In a possible design, the first information can be determined based on sensing target location information and QoS requirement information related to the sensing service.

[0053] In a possible design, in a case where the first time parameter is used to indicate the time of receiving the sensing signal, and the time offset parameter is used to indicate the offset of the time of transmitting the sensing signal relative to the time of receiving the sensing signal, the processing unit is further configured to control the transceiver to receive the sensing signal according to the first time parameter, and / or control the transceiver to transmit the sensing signal according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter.

[0054] In a possible design, in a case where the first time parameter is used to indicate a time instant at which the sensing signal is sent, and the time offset parameter is used to indicate an offset of a time instant at which the sensing signal is received relative to the time instant at which the sensing signal is sent, the processing unit is further configured to: control, according to the first time parameter, the transceiver to send the sensing signal, and / or control, according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter, the transceiver to receive the sensing signal.

[0055] In a possible design, the first information can include N first time parameters and one time offset parameter. N is a positive integer. The one time offset parameter can have an association relationship with the N first time parameters.

[0056] In a possible design, the first information can include N first time parameters and M time offset parameters. M is a positive integer smaller than N. Any one of the M time offset parameters can have an association relationship with part of the N first time parameters.

[0057] In a possible design, the first information can include N first time parameters and N time offset parameters. The N time offset parameters correspond to the N first time parameters one by one.

[0058] In a possible design, the first information can further include a CP length parameter. The CP length parameter can be used to indicate a CP length corresponding to the sensing signal. In a case where the first time parameter is used to indicate a time instant at which the sensing signal is received, and the time offset parameter is used to indicate an offset of a time instant at which the sensing signal is sent relative to the time instant at which the sensing signal is received, the processing unit is further configured to: control, according to the first time parameter, the CP length parameter, and the time offset parameter, the transceiver to send the sensing signal. Alternatively, in a case where the first time parameter is used to indicate a time instant at which the sensing signal is sent, and the time offset parameter is used to indicate an offset of a time instant at which the sensing signal is received relative to the time instant at which the sensing signal is sent, the processing unit is further configured to: control, according to the first time parameter, the CP length parameter, and the time offset parameter, the transceiver to receive the sensing signal.

[0059] In a possible design, the first information can include one CP length parameter. The one CP length parameter can have an association relationship with the N first time parameters.

[0060] In a possible design, the first information can include P CP length parameters. P is a positive integer smaller than N. Any one of the P CP length parameters can have an association relationship with part of the N first time parameters.

[0061] In a possible design, the first information can include N CP length parameters. The N CP length parameters can be one-to-one corresponding to the N first time parameters.

[0062] In a possible design, the time offset parameter can be represented by any one of the following: a first number of frames, subframes, slots or symbols; a first time length, where the first time length can be determined based on an SCS; a preset time length; a second time length, where the second time length can be determined based on a time length threshold; or a third time length, where the third time length can be determined based on a TA.

[0063] In a possible design, the first time length can be a reciprocal of an SCS. Alternatively, the first time length can be K times a reciprocal of an SCS, where K is an integer.

[0064] In a possible design, the first time parameter can include any one of the following: a time domain resource parameter; a first index, where the first index can be used to indicate a frame format, and the frame format can be used to indicate slots used by the sensing signal; a second index, where the second index can be used to indicate a slot format, and the slot format can be used to indicate symbols used by the sensing signal; or a bitmap, where a value of a first bit in the bitmap can be used to indicate whether a frame, a subframe, a slot or a symbol corresponding to the first bit is used by the sensing signal, and the first bit can be any bit in the bitmap.

[0065] In a possible design, the time domain resource parameter can include: one or more time unit identifiers; or one or more time unit identifiers, and a first identifier and / or a first periodicity parameter; or a start time unit identifier and a fourth time length; or a start time unit identifier and a second periodicity parameter; or a start time unit identifier, a fourth time length and a second periodicity parameter. The first identifier can be used to indicate a first time domain resource. The first time domain resource can include time units corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers. The first periodicity parameter can be used to indicate a period corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers. The start time unit identifier can be used to indicate a start position of a second time domain resource. The fourth time length can be a duration of the second time domain resource. The second periodicity parameter can be used to indicate a period corresponding to the second time domain resource.

[0066] In a fourth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which can be a second network side device (e.g., a network equipment implementing the corresponding function of the second network side device), a communication module in the network equipment implementing the corresponding function of the second network side device, or a chip responsible for the communication function in the network equipment implementing the corresponding function of the second network side device, such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip containing a modem module. It can also be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the function of the second network side device. The communication apparatus can include: a processing unit configured to determine first information. A transceiver configured to transmit the first information. The first information can include a first time parameter and a time offset parameter. The first time parameter can be used to indicate a time of receiving a sensing signal, and the time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of a time of transmitting the sensing signal relative to the time of receiving the sensing signal. Alternatively, the first time parameter can be used to indicate the time of transmitting the sensing signal, and the time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of the time of receiving the sensing signal relative to the time of transmitting the sensing signal.

[0067] In a possible design, the transceiver is further configured to receive second information. The second information can include sensing target location information and QoS requirement information related to the sensing service. The processing unit is further configured to determine one or more first information according to the sensing target location information and the QoS requirement information related to the sensing service.

[0068] In a possible design, the first information can include N first time parameters and one time offset parameter. N is a positive integer. The one time offset parameter and the N first time parameters can have an association relationship.

[0069] In a possible design, the first information can include N first time parameters and M time offset parameters. M is a positive integer smaller than N. Any one of the M time offset parameters and part of the N first time parameters can have an association relationship.

[0070] In a possible design, the first information can include N first time parameters and N time offset parameters. The N time offset parameters and the N first time parameters can have a one-to-one correspondence.

[0071] In a possible design, the first information can further include a CP length parameter. The CP length parameter can be used to indicate a CP length corresponding to the sensing signal.

[0072] In a possible design, the first information can include one CP length parameter. The one CP length parameter and the N first time parameters can have an association relationship.

[0073] In a possible design, the first information can include P CP length parameters. P is a positive integer smaller than N. Any one of the P CP length parameters has an association relationship with part of the N first time parameters.

[0074] In a possible design, the first information can include N CP length parameters. The N CP length parameters correspond to the N first time parameters one by one.

[0075] In a possible design, the time offset parameter can be represented in any of the following manners: a first quantity of frames, subframes, slots, or symbols; a first time length, where the first time length can be determined based on the SCS; a preset time length; a second time length, where the second time length can be determined based on a time length threshold; or a third time length, where the third time length can be determined based on the TA.

[0076] In a possible design, the first time length can be the reciprocal of the SCS. Alternatively, the first time length can be K times the reciprocal of the SCS. K is an integer.

[0077] In a possible design, the first time parameter can include any of the following parameters: a time domain resource parameter; a first index, where the first index can be used to indicate a frame format, and the frame format can be used to indicate slots used by the sensing signal; a second index, where the second index can be used to indicate a slot format, and the slot format can be used to indicate symbols used by the sensing signal; or a bitmap, where a value of a first bit in the bitmap can be used to indicate whether a frame, a subframe, a slot, or a symbol corresponding to the first bit is used by the sensing signal, and the first bit can be any bit in the bitmap.

[0078] In a possible design, the time domain resource parameter can include: one or more time unit identifiers; or one or more time unit identifiers, and a first identifier and / or a first periodicity parameter; or a start time unit identifier and a fourth time length; or a start time unit identifier and a second periodicity parameter; or a start time unit identifier, a fourth time length, and a second periodicity parameter. The first identifier can be used to indicate a first time domain resource. The first time domain resource can include time units corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers. The first periodicity parameter can be used to indicate a period corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers. The start time unit identifier can be used to indicate a start position of a second time domain resource. The fourth time length can be a duration of the second time domain resource. The second periodicity parameter can be used to indicate a period corresponding to the second time domain resource.

[0079] In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus can be a first network-side device (e.g., a network equipment implementing the corresponding functions of the first network-side device), a communication module in the network equipment implementing the corresponding functions of the first network-side device, or a chip responsible for communication functions in the network equipment implementing the corresponding functions of the first network-side device, such as a modem chip (also referred to as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip containing a modem module. The communication apparatus can also be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first network-side device.

[0080] The communication apparatus can include a processor configured to cause the apparatus to perform the method of the first aspect and various possible implementations of the first aspect by executing computer programs (or computer-executable instructions) stored in a memory and / or by logic circuits.

[0081] In a possible implementation, the apparatus further includes a memory.

[0082] In a possible implementation, the processor and the memory are integrated together.

[0083] In another possible implementation, the memory is located outside the communication apparatus.

[0084] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus further includes a communication interface configured to enable the communication apparatus to communicate with other devices, such as transmitting or receiving data and / or signals. The communication interface can be a transceiver, a circuit, a bus, a module, or other types of communication interfaces.

[0085] In a sixth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus can be a second network-side device (e.g., a network equipment implementing the corresponding functions of the second network-side device), a communication module in the network equipment implementing the corresponding functions of the second network-side device, or a chip responsible for communication functions in the network equipment implementing the corresponding functions of the second network-side device, such as a modem chip (also referred to as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip containing a modem module. The communication apparatus can also be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the second network-side device. The communication apparatus can include a processor configured to determine first information. The communication apparatus can also include a transceiver configured to transmit the first information. The first information can include a first time parameter and a time offset parameter. The first time parameter can be used to indicate a time of receiving a sensing signal, and the time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of a time of transmitting the sensing signal relative to the time of receiving the sensing signal. Alternatively, the first time parameter can be used to indicate the time of transmitting the sensing signal, and the time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of the time of receiving the sensing signal relative to the time of transmitting the sensing signal.

[0086] The communication apparatus can comprise a processor configured to cause the apparatus to perform the method according to the second aspect and any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0087] In a possible implementation, the apparatus further comprises a memory.

[0088] In a possible implementation, the processor and the memory are integrated.

[0089] In another possible implementation, the memory is located outside the communication apparatus.

[0090] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus further comprises a communication interface configured to enable the communication apparatus to communicate with other devices, such as transmitting or receiving data and / or signals. For example, the communication interface can be a transceiver, a circuit, a bus, a module, or other types of communication interface.

[0091] In a seventh aspect, a communication system is provided. The system comprises a first network-side apparatus configured to perform the method according to the first aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect, and a second network-side apparatus configured to perform the method according to the second aspect and any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0092] In an eighth aspect, a chip is provided. The chip comprises an interface circuit and one or more processors. The one or more processors are coupled with a memory. The memory is configured to store part or all of the computer program or instructions necessary to implement the functions of the first aspect and the second aspect. The one or more processors are configured to execute the computer program or instructions, which when executed cause the communication apparatus to perform the method according to any possible implementation of the first aspect and the second aspect. The interface circuit is configured to enable communication within the communication apparatus and / or between the communication apparatus and other devices or components.

[0093] In a ninth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions. When the computer instructions are run on a computer, the computer is caused to perform the communication method according to any aspect described above.

[0094] In a tenth aspect, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product comprises computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, the computer is caused to perform the communication method according to any aspect described above.

[0095] The method in any of the above second aspect to the tenth aspect has the corresponding beneficial effects, which can refer to the description of the beneficial effects of the methods in the first aspect, and the present application will not repeat them here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0096] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applied;

[0097] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a function split of a communication protocol between a BBU and a RRU according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0098] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a radio access network according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0099] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another architecture of a radio access network according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0100] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a function split of an access network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0101] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a sensing scenario according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0102] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another sensing scenario according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0103] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of uplink and downlink latency according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0104] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a communication scenario according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0105] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0106] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0107] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a time domain for transmitting and receiving sensing signals according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0108] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of another time domain for transmitting and receiving sensing signals according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0109] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0110] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of another communication scenario according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0111] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0112] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0113] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0114] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided by embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0115] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system 1000 provided by embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 1000 includes a radio access network (RAN) 100, wherein the RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (e.g., 110a and 110b in FIG. 1, collectively referred to as 110), and can further include at least one terminal (e.g., 120a-120j in FIG. 1, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 can further include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in FIG. 1). The terminals 120 are connected to the RAN nodes 110 in a wireless manner. Terminals and terminals, and RAN nodes and RAN nodes can be connected to each other in a wired or wireless manner. The communication system 1000 can further include a core network 200. The RAN nodes 110 are connected to the core network 200 in a wireless or wired manner. The core network devices in the core network 200 and the RAN nodes 110 in the RAN 100 can be independent and different physical devices, or can be the same physical device integrated with the logical functions of the core network devices and the logical functions of the RAN nodes. The communication system 1000 can further include the Internet 300.

[0116] The RAN 100 can be an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) system, a new radio (NR) system, a future communication network, and a future wireless access system defined in the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP). The RAN 100 can further include two or more different wireless access systems described above. The RAN 100 can also be an open RAN (O-RAN).

[0117] A RAN node, also referred to as a radio access network device, a RAN entity, or an access node, is configured to help a terminal to access a communication system through wireless means. In one application scenario, the RAN node can be a base station (BS), an evolved Node B (eNodeB / eNB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system, a future base station in a future communication network, or a base station in a future mobile communication system. The RAN node can be a macro base station (e.g., 110a in FIG. 1), a micro base station or an indoor station (e.g., 110b in FIG. 1), a relay node, or a donor node.

[0118] In another application scenario, a terminal can access a communication system through wireless means with the help of cooperation among a plurality of RAN nodes, each of which implements part of functionalities of a base station. For example, the RAN node can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a radio unit (RU). The RU can also be referred to as a radio frequency unit. The CU here implements functionalities of a radio resource control protocol and a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of a base station, and can further implement functionalities of a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP). The DU implements functionalities of a radio link control layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer of a base station, and can further implement functionalities of part of a physical layer or the whole physical layer. Details of the protocol layers described above can be referred to relevant technical specifications of the 3GPP. The RU can be configured to implement functionalities of transceiving radio frequency signals. The CU and the DU can be two independent RAN nodes, or can be integrated in the same RAN node, e.g., in a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device, e.g., in a remote radio unit (RRU) or an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU can be further divided into two types of RAN nodes, i.e., a CU-control plane and a CU-user plane.

[0119] The RAN node can have different names in different systems, for example, in an open radio access network (O-RAN) system, the CU can be referred to as an open CU (O-CU), the DU can be referred to as an open DU (O-DU), and the RU can be referred to as an open RU (O-RU). The RAN node in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module. For example, the RAN node can be a server loaded with a corresponding software module. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form of the RAN node. For ease of description, a base station is described as an example of the RAN node in the following.

[0120] A terminal is a device with wireless transceiving function, which can send a signal to a base station or receive a signal from a base station. The terminal can also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. The terminal can be widely applied in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, remote medical treatment, smart power grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiving function, wearable device, vehicle, airplane, ship, robot, mechanical arm, smart home device, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form of the terminal.

[0121] In some examples, the core network 200 can include an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity, a session management function (SMF) entity, a user plane function (UPF) entity, a sensing service control function (SSCF), a sensing data processing function (SDPF), a unified data management (UDM), etc. any core network device.

[0122] The base station and the terminal can be fixed in position or mobile. The base station and the terminal can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on water; can also be deployed on an airplane, balloon and artificial satellite. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the application scenarios of the base station and the terminal.

[0123] The roles of the base station and the terminal can be relative, for example, the helicopter or the unmanned aerial vehicle 120i in FIG. 1 can be configured as a mobile base station, and for those terminals 120j that access the wireless access network 100 through 120i, the terminal 120i is a base station; but for the base station 110a, 120i is a terminal, that is, 110a and 120i communicate with each other through a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, 110a and 120i can also communicate with each other through a base station-to-base station interface protocol, and in this case, 120i is also a base station relative to 110a. Therefore, the base station and the terminal can be collectively referred to as a communication device, 110a and 110b in FIG. 1 can be referred to as a communication device with a base station function, and 120a-120j in FIG. 1 can be referred to as a communication device with a terminal function.

[0124] The base station and the terminal, the base station and the base station, and the terminal and the terminal can communicate through a licensed frequency spectrum, or through an unlicensed frequency spectrum, or through both the licensed frequency spectrum and the unlicensed frequency spectrum; can communicate through a frequency spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), or through a frequency spectrum above 6 GHz, or through both the frequency spectrum below 6 GHz and the frequency spectrum above 6 GHz. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the frequency spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0125] In embodiments of the present application, the functions of the base station can also be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the base station, or by a control subsystem containing base station functions. The control subsystem containing base station functions herein can be a control center in the above-mentioned application scenarios such as smart grid, industrial control, intelligent transportation and smart city. The functions of the terminal can also be performed by a module (such as a chip or a modem) in the terminal, or by a device containing terminal functions.

[0126] In a wireless communication system, communication devices can utilize air interface resources for wireless communication. The communication devices can include network devices and terminal devices, and the network devices can also be referred to as base station devices, i.e., the wireless access network devices mentioned above. The air interface resources can include at least one of time domain resources, frequency domain resources, code resources and spatial resources. The communication devices can also be referred to as communication devices.

[0127] The scheme provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to wireless communication between communication devices. The wireless communication can include wireless communication between a network device and a terminal, wireless communication between network devices, and wireless communication between terminals. In the embodiments of the present application, the term "wireless communication" can also be referred to as "communication", and the term "communication" can also be described as "data transmission", "information transmission" or "transmission".

[0128] In a global system for mobile communications (GSM), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), long term evolution (LTE) and a 5G system, a base station can be divided into two functional entities, BBU and RRU, for deployment in a bottom split manner. The bottom split manner can be a split manner of a physical layer and a radio frequency part. It can be understood that "split" and "divide" can be used interchangeably in the embodiments of the present application. The BBU is connected to one or more RRUs through optical fibers, metal wiring or microwave links. The BBU mainly completes the upper layer centralized processing of baseband signals. The RRU mainly completes the reception and transmission of baseband signals, as well as the functions of modulation and demodulation of radio frequency signals, data processing, power amplification and the like. The RRU is closer to the antenna and has smaller feeder loss. In some cases, the RRU can also be referred to as RU or AAU. The interface between the BBU and the RRU can be referred to as a front-haul interface or a bottom split interface.

[0129] Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic diagram of a communication protocol function division between a BBU and a RRU is shown. In the related art, an interface between a BBU and a RRU can use a common public radio interface (CPRI) protocol to communicate with each other. The CPRI protocol defines a key communication interface specification between a radio equipment control (REC) and a radio equipment (RE) in a wireless communication network. For example, the REC can be considered as the aforementioned BBU, and the radio equipment can be considered as the aforementioned RRU. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the CPRI interface divides radio frequency (RF) layer functions to the RRU 1, and divides physical (PHY) layer and above protocol layer functions to the BBU 1. The PHY layer can be further divided into a PHY high layer (High PHY) and a PHY low layer (Low PHY). The PHY layer above protocol layer functions can include a radio resource control (RRC) layer, an SDAP layer, a PDCP layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, and a MAC layer.

[0130] Since the amount of data transmitted between the PHY layer of the BBU and the RF layer of the RRU is directly related to the size of the antenna array. The splitting manner specified in the CPRI protocol can cause the amount of data on the fronthaul interface to be too large, and cannot support a large-scale antenna array scenario. For example, assuming that a 9.8 gigabits per second (Gbps) optical fiber is used on the fronthaul interface of the CPRI protocol to carry 2 4 transmit and 4 receive (4T4R) antennas, and a cell with a wireless bandwidth of 20 megahertz (MHz). Then for a cell with 64 antennas and a bandwidth of 100 MHz, about 32 9.8 Gbps optical fibers need to be deployed on the CPRI interface.

[0131] In some scenarios, an evolution of the CPRI protocol is proposed, namely an enhanced CPRI protocol, denoted as eCPRI. Still referring to FIG. 2, the eCPRI protocol makes a finer division of the communication protocol of the wireless network, such as dividing the PHY layer into a PHY high layer and a PHY low layer. The PHY low layer is deployed in the RRU, and the PHY high layer is deployed into the BBU. And the interface specification between the BBU and the RRU, i.e., between the PHY high layer and the PHY low layer, is re-formulated. The eCPRI protocol converts the interface between the BBU and the RRU from the interface between the RF layer and the PHY layer as specified in the CPRI protocol into an interface between the PHY high layer and the PHY low layer, so that the original fiber communication between the RF layer and the PHY layer is converted into communication within a board or a field programmable gate array (FPGA) chip inside the RRU. And the data dimension of the communication between the PHY high layer of the BBU and the PHY low layer of the RRU is reduced, and is no longer directly related to the size of the antenna array on the RRU.

[0132] The splitting manner adopted by the above CPRI interface or eCPRI interface enables the BBU to process the baseband signal in a highly centralized manner, so that the computing resources can be deployed in a centralized manner, resulting in high resource utilization and low deployment cost. However, the above-mentioned splitting manner requires a large bandwidth of the fronthaul link and has a high deployment cost of optical fiber.

[0133] Referring to FIG. 3, a new RAN architecture that can be applied in a communication system is proposed. In this architecture, the functions of the base station are re-divided into an RU function, a radio network area (RNA) function, and an RNA automation function. Among them, the RNA function and the RU function communicate through a low layer split (LLS) interface, and the RU function and the terminal can establish a RAN-UE interface to communicate. The RNA function and the core network (CN) can communicate through a RAN-CN interface. The RAN automation function can manage the RU function and the RNA function through a network function (NF) management interface. The RAN automation function can be controlled through network management. In this architecture, the RU function can be regarded as the aforementioned RRU or AAU, and the RNA function can be regarded as the aforementioned BBU.

[0134] In the related art, in order to reduce the pressure of the underlying split mode on the bandwidth of the fronthaul link and the deployment cost, 3GPP proposes a base station function division mode. For example, for gNB in 5G, a high layer split mode is adopted to split the base station into two function entities such as CU and DU. The midhaul link between CU and DU has lower network bandwidth demand, and the radio access network shown in FIG. 4 is divided into CU and DU. For example, the access network device can be a gNB, which can be composed of CU and DU. Of course, the DU can include one or more, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. The gNB and the core network element of the 5G core network (5G core network, 5GC) can communicate through the next generation (next generation, NG) interface. Different gNBs can communicate through the Xn interface, for example, through the Xn-control (control, C) interface. The CU and different DUs can communicate through the F1 interface.

[0135] Among them, for the function split between CU and DU in the access network device, a static split mode is adopted, and fixed division is performed according to the protocol stack function granularity. As shown in FIG. 5, the RLC layer, the MAC layer and the PHY layer and the like protocol stack can be located in the DU of the access network device. Among them, the MAC layer can also be referred to as the medium access control, the medium access control, and the like, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. The RRC layer, the SDAP layer and the PDCP layer and the like protocol stack can be located in the CU of the access network device. Among them, RRC realizes air interface radio resource and air interface connection control, which belongs to the control plane (control plane, CP) protocol; SDAP performs mapping between quality of service flow (quality of service flow, QoS-flow) and data radio bearer (data radio bearer, DRB), which belongs to the user plane (user plane, UP) protocol. QoS-flow represents a service data flow with specific quality of service (quality of service, QoS) requirements.

[0136] As can be seen from FIG. 5, for the DU, the control plane protocol stack or the user plane protocol stack involves RLC, MAC and PHY. For the CU, PDCP is applicable to the control plane protocol stack and the user plane protocol stack, RRC corresponds to the control plane protocol stack, and SDAP corresponds to the user plane protocol stack. For performing the control plane protocol stack function, the CU and the DU can communicate through the F1-C interface; for performing the user plane protocol stack function, the CU and the DU can communicate through the F1-user (U) interface. On the basis of separation of the CU and the DU, the CU of the access network device can further be separated into a CP unit and a UP unit. The CP of the CU of the access network device can be denoted as gNB-CU-CP, and the UP of the CU of the access network device can be denoted as gNB-CU-UP. The PDCP layer protocol exists on both the gNB-CU-CP unit and the gNB-CU-UP unit, while the RRC layer is located above the PDCP layer in the gNB-CU-CP unit, and the SDAP layer is located above the PDCP layer in the gNB-CU-UP unit.

[0137] The RLC layer can provide transparent data transmission and non-deterministic mode and deterministic mode data transmission. The MAC layer is mainly responsible for controlling the physical medium connected to the physical layer. The PHY layer is responsible for transmitting bits or bit groups on the physical medium, including encoding the transmitted information and decoding the received information.

[0138] In a communication and perception integrated (or communication, perception integrated, communication perception integrated, communication perception integrated, etc.) scenario, a device A can transmit a communication signal or a perception signal. For the perception signal, there are two cases of self-transmission and self-reception, and self-transmission and other-reception. For example, a device B can receive a perception signal transmitted by the device A, or the device B can receive a back wave signal of the perception signal transmitted by the device A to perceive and identify possible objects in the surrounding environment. As shown in FIG. 6, taking a gNB1 transmitting a perception signal as an example, a terminal or a gNB2 can receive the perception signal. Alternatively, the device A can receive a back wave of the perception signal transmitted by itself and perform signal processing on the back wave to perceive and identify possible objects in the surrounding environment. As shown in FIG. 7, taking a gNB3 transmitting a perception signal as an example, the gNB3 can still receive the perception signal. It can be understood that FIGS. 6 and 7 only show the case of the network device transmitting the perception signal, and in other examples, a terminal can also transmit the perception signal. The network device can receive the perception signal transmitted by the terminal, or the network device can receive a back wave signal of the perception signal transmitted by the terminal.

[0139] For a communication signal, the RU can transmit and / or receive the communication signal according to the configuration of the uplink and downlink resources in a specific frame structure, respectively, and based on the configuration. For example, the RU can be instructed to transmit the downlink sensing signal and / or receive the uplink sensing signal (or the echo signal of the sensing signal) on the time-frequency resources indicated by the frame identifier, the subframe identifier, the slot identifier, the symbol identifier, the resource block (RB) identifier, and the like. For example, the frame structure can represent the time domain resource position used by the RU to transmit the signal over the air interface. One frame structure can be composed of multiple subframes, slots, and / or symbols. Assuming that the RU is configured in units of subframes, uplink subframes, downlink subframes, and special subframes can be set. Among them, the special subframe can be a partial subframe that can be dynamically configured as an uplink subframe or a downlink subframe according to actual conditions. Of course, in other examples, resource configuration can also be performed using symbols, frames, slots, and the like, and the specific configuration can be set according to actual conditions, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0140] Referring to FIG. 8, the access network device can include a DU and an RU, for example. Of course, it can also include a CU, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. There is a communication delay, such as T12 and T34, between the front link of the DU and the RU. And the delay fluctuates. In addition, the RU internally processes data and also has a certain delay, such as T2a and Ta3. The delay may also fluctuate. As shown in FIG. 8, the position of the data sent by the DU is R1, and the position of the data received by the RU is R2. The transmission delay of the data sent by the DU to the RU can be denoted as T12. Similarly, the position of the data sent by the RU is R3, and the position of the data received by the DU is R4. The transmission delay of the data sent by the RU to the DU can be denoted as T34. Because the above-mentioned delay fluctuates, the data on the front link between the RU and the DU cannot be received at a fixed time. Therefore, in related technologies, the delay management model of the front interface is proposed in the O-RAN and eCPRI 2.0 protocols. So that the DU and the RU can accurately receive the data sent on the front interface.

[0141] The above-mentioned time delay management model usually takes the antenna interface Ra position of the RU as the reference point, respectively takes the air interface receiving time of the uplink signal at the Ra as the reference time of the uplink signal processing, and takes the air interface sending time of the downlink signal at the Ra as the reference time of the downlink signal processing. The time when the data reaches other positions such as R1, R2, R3 and R4 can be the time corresponding to the time at the Ra. T1a represents the time interval from when the DU sends data at R1 to when the data (for example, the downlink signal obtained after the RU internally processes the data) is sent to the air interface at the Ra. T1a can be equal to the sum of T12 and T2a. T2a can be considered as the time interval from when the RU receives data at R2 to when the RU internally processes the data and sends the processed downlink signal at the Ra. Similarly, Ta3 is considered as the time interval from when the RU receives the uplink signal at the Ra to when the RU internally processes the uplink signal and sends the processed data at R3. Ta4 is similar to T1a, and Ta4 can be equal to the sum of Ta3 and T34. That is, Ta4 represents the time interval from when the RU receives the uplink signal at the Ra to when the DU receives the data obtained after the uplink signal is internally processed by the RU at R4.

[0142] Referring to Table 1, the possible parameters corresponding to each time delay in the uplink and downlink are given.

[0143] Table 1

[0144] Table 1 takes the O-DU, O-RU in the O-RAN scenario and the eCPRI protocol as an example. In other examples, it can also be applicable to non-O-RAN scenarios such as DUs, RUs, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not limited herein.

[0145] The above configuration is generally configured for a communication signal. In the process of sending the communication signal, the time for sending the downlink communication signal on the air interface and the time for receiving the uplink communication signal from the air interface can be configured in the above manner. However, in the sensing scenario, the uplink sensing signal can be an echo signal of the downlink sensing signal. The network device cannot accurately control when the echo signal is received, and therefore cannot independently configure the time domain resource for receiving the uplink sensing signal as for the communication signal. In some examples, if the uplink sensing signal is received according to the time domain resource for sending the downlink sensing signal, the time window for receiving can be too large. It can be understood that the time domain resource is generally understood to be the same, and is not necessarily the time domain resource for sending the downlink sensing signal. For example, the RU sends the downlink sensing signal in symbol #3, and the RU can complete the reception of the uplink sensing signal in the next symbol #3. Therefore, between the symbol #3 in which the RU sends the downlink sensing signal and the symbol #3 in which the RU receives the uplink sensing signal, the uplink receiving window can be considered. The window is too large, which can increase the required buffer requirement of the RU. Further, it can also cause the time window for sending the front haul link of the RU to be too large, and increase the buffer requirement of the RU as the sending side in the front haul link.

[0146] If the echo signal of the sensing signal needs a longer time to reach the RU, the uplink sensing signal is received according to the time domain resource for sending the downlink sensing signal, and the RU cannot accurately receive the uplink sensing signal, which affects the subsequent sensing result.

[0147] Therefore, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which configures a time parameter for receiving or sending a sensing signal and a corresponding time offset parameter. The network device is configured to send the sensing signal on the air interface and receive the sensing signal. Therefore, the network device can more accurately receive the sensing signal and reduce unnecessary time and resource overhead in the receiving process.

[0148] The communication method and device will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It can be understood that the first logical unit and the second logical unit are taken as an example of the execution subject of the interaction in the embodiment of the present application, but the present application is not limited to the execution subject of the interaction. For example, the first logical unit and the second logical unit can be a network device. The method executed by the network device in the present application can also be implemented by a module (such as a circuit, a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.) in the network device, or a logical node, a logical module or software capable of implementing all or part of the function of the network device.

[0149] In the embodiment of the present application, the term "wireless communication" can also be referred to as "communication", and the term "communication" can also be described as "data transmission", "information transmission" or "transmission".

[0150] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a communication scenario according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0151] As shown in FIG. 9, the access network device can be divided into multiple logical units such as RU 210, DU 220 and CU 230. Of course, the access network device can include one or more RUs 210, one or more DUs 220 and one or more CUs 230. Among them, the CU 230 is connected with the 5GC 240, used to realize the communication with the core network device. In the embodiments of the present application, the core network device can also be referred to as a core network network element.

[0152] Among them, the 5GC 240 can be connected with multiple CUs 230, one CU 230 can also be connected with multiple DUs 220, and one DU 220 can also be connected with multiple RUs 210.

[0153] The access network device can be a gNB. The access network device provides NR user plane and control plane protocol endpoints to the terminal, and communicates with the 5GC 240 through the NG interface. The access network device is used to provide the function of wireless network connection between the terminal and the core network.

[0154] The CU 230 can host the RRC layer, SDAP layer and PDCP layer protocols of the access network device and control the operation of one or more DUs. The CU 230 communicates with the DU 220 through the F1 interface.

[0155] The DU 220 can host the RLC layer, MAC layer and PHY layer of the access network device, and its operation is controlled by the CU 230. One DU 220 can support one or more cells, and one cell supports one DU 220.

[0156] The RU 210 can be referred to as a radio unit, a radio frequency unit, or a radio frequency remote unit, etc. It mainly completes the functions of receiving and transmitting baseband signals, and modulating and demodulating radio frequency signals, data processing, power amplification, etc. The RU can be deployed close to the antenna, with small feeder loss.

[0157] The 5GC 240 can include one or more of any possible core network network elements such as AMF entity, SMF entity, UPF entity, UDM entity, etc. The 5GC and the RAN together constitute the 5G network, providing a service channel for users to connect to the data network, server. Of course, the 5GC 240 can also be replaced by the core network in the future communication system, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit it here.

[0158] The RAN is configured to provide radio network connectivity between the UE and the core network. The RAN can include an access network device, such as a gNB. In some cases, the access network device can refer to the entire RAN. The deployment form of the RAN can include a centralized RAN (CRAN) and a distributed RAN (DRAN). Among them, the CRAN adopts a BBU and RRU separation architecture, each BBU is located in the central machine room to form a BBU pool. The BBU communicates with the RRU through the front network. The DRAN adopts a BBU and RRU distributed deployment, each BBU is separately deployed in a cabinet, and the RRU can be deployed together with the BBU in the cabinet, or the RRU is deployed close to the antenna on the tower.

[0159] In some examples, the RUs 210, the DUs 220, and the CUs 230 can be deployed on the same physical device, or can be separately deployed on different physical devices. Alternatively, part of the logic units in the RUs 210, the DUs 220, and the CUs 230 are deployed on the same physical device, and part of the logic units are deployed on different physical devices, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0160] It can be understood that the access network device can also include a case of being split into two logical units, for example, the CU 230 and the DU 220 are deployed on the same physical device, and the CU 230 and the DU 220 can be regarded as one logical unit. Alternatively, the DU 220 and the RU 210 are deployed on the same physical device, and the DU 220 and the RU 210 can be regarded as one logical unit.

[0161] Of course, the present application is not limited to the network architecture of 5G, and the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to LTE networks and future possible network architectures such as future communication networks. It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application can be applicable to any network architecture with communication connection capability.

[0162] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0163] As shown in FIG. 10, the embodiments of the present application can be applicable to the network architecture. The network architecture can include a first core network element and a second core network element in the core network. For example, the first core network element can be configured to be responsible for processing of a sensing service. For example, the first core network element can be configured to have functions such as initiation of the sensing service, basic configuration of the sensing service, collection and processing of sensing data, and opening of a sensing service function. The first core network element can be referred to as a sensing function (SF) element. Alternatively, the first core network element can also be referred to as a sensing function node, a sensing service function server, and the like, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. The second core network element can be an AMF.

[0164] The network architecture can further include a first network-side device, a second network-side device, a third network-side device and a fourth network-side device located in the access network. For example, the first network-side device can be the aforementioned RU, or gNB-RU, or RAN-RU. The second network-side device can be the aforementioned DU, or gNB-DU, or RAN-DU. The third network-side device can be the aforementioned CU, or gNB-CU, or RAN-CU. Of course, the division manner of BBU and RRU shown in the foregoing examples can also be referred to, such as the first network-side device and the third network-side device being integrated together. Or the division manner of CU and DU, i.e., the first network-side device and the second network-side device being integrated together. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0165] In some examples, the fourth network-side device can be an access network device or a logical unit for providing services. For example, the fourth network-side device is configured to implement a processing function for sensing services or sensing signals, such as implementing channel estimation of sensing signals, angle-velocity-range (RVA) spectrum estimation of sensing signals, etc. The fourth network-side device can be referred to as a service unit (SU), or SU node, sensing service node, sensing service function entity, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the name of the fourth network-side device.

[0166] As can be seen from FIG. 10, the fourth network-side device and the first network-side device have a communication interface for transmitting signals, which can be referred to as an S1 interface. The fourth network-side device and the first core network element have a data plane and / or a control plane interface. In some examples, the fourth network-side device and the second network-side device can also have a communication interface for transmitting signals, which can be referred to as an S2 interface. The fourth network-side device and the third network-side device can also have a communication interface for transmitting signals. The third network-side device and the second core network element can have a data plane and / or a control plane interface.

[0167] In some examples, the first network-side device and the second network-side device can communicate through LLS. The first network-side device and the third network-side device can have an F1 interface.

[0168] In the embodiments of the present application, the network-side device can also be referred to as a logical unit, a function entity, a logical entity, a network-side device, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0169] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0170] The communication process can be applied to, but not limited to, the communication scenarios shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 9. And can be applied to the network architecture shown in FIG. 10. The method can be applied to LTE, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE TDD, 5G system or NR system, subsequent evolution of communication system (such as future communication system), V2X, etc., vehicle to network (V2N), vehicle to vehicle (V2V), vehicle to infrastructure (V2I), vehicle to pedestrian (V2P), etc., inter-vehicle communication long term evolution (LTE-V), Internet of vehicles, MTC, IoT, inter-machine communication long term evolution (LTE-M), machine to machine (M2M), D2D, etc. Wireless communication scenarios. The first network side device, the second network side device, the third network side device and the fourth network side device involved in the embodiments of the present application can be an access network device. Among them, the first network side device, the second network side device, the third network side device and / or the fourth network side device can be deployed on the same access network device, or can be deployed on different access network devices, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit them. The first core network element and / or the second core network element can be deployed on the same core network device, or can be deployed on different core network devices, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit them.

[0171] Next, the first network side device is taken as RU, the second network side device is taken as DU, the third network side device is taken as CU, the fourth network side device is taken as SU, the first core network element is taken as SF, and the second core network element is taken as AMF. The embodiments of the present application will be described.

[0172] The method can include the following steps:

[0173] S101, the second network side device determines the first information.

[0174] For example, the first information can comprise a first time parameter and a time offset parameter. The first time parameter can be used to indicate a time instant of receiving the perception signal, e.g., the time instant of receiving the perception signal can be referred to as a second time instant. The time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of a time instant of transmitting the perception signal relative to the time instant of receiving the perception signal. For example, the time instant of transmitting the perception signal can be referred to as a first time instant, and the time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of the first time instant relative to the second time instant. Alternatively, the first time parameter can be used to indicate the time instant of transmitting the perception signal, i.e., the first time instant. The time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of the time instant of receiving the perception signal relative to the time instant of transmitting the perception signal. In this case, the time offset parameter can be used to indicate an offset of the second time instant relative to the first time instant.

[0175] It can be understood that the time instant of transmitting / receiving a signal in the embodiments of the present application can also be referred to as the time of transmitting / receiving a signal.

[0176] In the embodiments of the present application, the time offset parameter can also be referred to as an offset or a time offset, etc.

[0177] In some examples, receiving the perception signal can be considered as receiving an uplink perception signal. The uplink perception signal can be a echoed signal of the perception signal.

[0178] In some embodiments, the third network side device can send second information to the second network side device. Accordingly, the second network side device can receive the second information from the third network side device. For example, the second information can comprise perception target location information and quality of service (QoS) requirement information related to the perception service. The QoS requirement information can also be referred to as QoS demand information, perception QoS demand, perception QoS requirement, etc., which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application. The perception target location information can be used to indicate a location of a perception target corresponding to a certain perception service, such as an area identifier, a cell identifier, coordinates, latitude and longitude, etc. The QoS requirement information related to the perception service can comprise resolution, accuracy and / or latency requirements, etc.

[0179] In the embodiments of the present application, the identifier can be an identifier (ID) or an index.

[0180] In other examples, the second information can further include sensing resource information, such as a communication resource for transmitting the sensing signal. For example, the sensing resource information can include one or more of a time domain resource, a frequency domain resource, a power domain resource, a space domain resource, and a code domain resource. For example, the second information can indicate that the RU transmits the sensing signal on the corresponding resource, and / or receives the sensing signal. For another example, in a sensing scenario, if the sensing target is a terminal, the second information can further include timing advance (TA) information. The TA information can be considered as a time that the terminal needs to advance to transmit the uplink signal in order to ensure that the network device receives the uplink signal at a correct time. Details of the TA information, determination, and configuration manner can be referred to related technologies, and will not be described herein.

[0181] The second network side device can determine one or more first information according to the second information. For example, the second network side device can determine one or more first information according to the sensing target location information and / or the QoS requirement information related to the sensing service. For example, the second network side device can determine the first information corresponding to different distances according to the distance between the sensing target location and the device itself; and / or, the second network side device can determine the first information corresponding to different QoS requirements according to different QoS requirement information. It can be understood that, for the sensing target location information and the QoS requirement information related to the sensing service, there are location 1, location 2, QoS requirement 1, and QoS requirement 2. Then there can be four different combination modes, and the second network side device determines the corresponding first information for each combination mode.

[0182] For another example, the second network side device can determine one or more first information according to one or more of the sensing target location information, the QoS requirement information related to the sensing service, the sensing resource information, and the TA information. For example, the second network side device can determine the first information corresponding to different sensing resources according to different sensing resource information. For another example, the second network side device can determine the first information corresponding to different TAs according to different TA information. Similarly, the second network side device determines the first information according to one or more of the sensing target location information, the QoS requirement information related to the sensing service, the sensing resource information, and the TA information. Then the one or more can be combined in any manner, and the first information corresponding to each combination mode is determined.

[0183] For example, the first information determined in the above example includes a first time parameter and a time offset parameter, that is, each combination can correspond to a first time information and a time offset parameter. Alternatively, different combinations can correspond to the same first time information, but each combination corresponds to a different time offset parameter. Embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0184] It can be understood that although the second information includes the sensing resource information, for the case that the sensing resource information includes time domain resources, the time domain resources can be considered as a relatively broad time domain resource. For example, for a sensing signal, the second information can indicate the time domain resources used by the sensing signal, and the first information can be to determine the time domain resources of each sensing symbol in the sensing signal. Alternatively, the second information can indicate the total time domain resources of multiple sensing signals. Embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0185] Embodiments of the present application can determine the first information in combination with the sensing target position information and / or the QoS requirement information related to the sensing service. Thus, more accurate sending and receiving time can be configured for different sensing signals.

[0186] In some examples, the sensing signal can include multiple sensing symbols, such as N sensing symbols. N is a positive integer. Then, the one or more first information can be one first information. That is, the N sensing symbols share the one first information. Alternatively, the one or more first information can be M first information. M is a positive integer less than N. Then, it means that the N sensing symbols share the M first information. For example, the N sensing symbols are divided into M groups, and each group of sensing symbols shares one first information. The first information used by different groups of sensing symbols is different. The number of sensing symbols included in different groups can be the same or different, and embodiments of the present application do not limit this. Alternatively, the one or more first information can be N first information. That is, each sensing symbol uses one first information.

[0187] S102, the second network side device sends the first information to the first network side device. Correspondingly, the first network side device receives the first information from the second network side device.

[0188] In some examples, the first information can also be pre-stored in the first network side device, and the first network side device can directly obtain the pre-stored first information. In this case, S101 need not be performed. Therefore, S101 can be considered as an optional step.

[0189] S103, the first network side device sends and / or receives the sensing signal according to the first information.

[0190] For example, the first network side device can obtain the first information according to the first information received in S101, or obtain the first information stored in advance. The sensing signal is sent at a first time, and / or the sensing signal is received at a second time. The first time can be considered as the time when the first network side device sends the sensing signal. The second time can be considered as the time when the first network side device receives the sensing signal (or the echo signal of the sensing signal).

[0191] In some examples, if the first time parameter is used to indicate the time when the sensing signal is sent, the time offset parameter is used to indicate the offset of the time when the sensing signal is received relative to the time when the sensing signal is sent. Then the first network side device can send the sensing signal according to the first time parameter, such as the first time parameter indicating the first time, so that the first network side device sends the sensing signal at the first time. And / or, the first network side device can receive the sensing signal according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter. Such as the first time parameter indicating the first time, the second time is determined by the first time and the offset relative to the first time. So that the first network side device receives the sensing signal at the second time. For example, the second time can be the first time plus the offset relative to the first time, to obtain the second time.

[0192] In other examples, if the first time parameter is used to indicate the time when the sensing signal is received, the time offset parameter is used to indicate the offset of the time when the sensing signal is sent relative to the time when the sensing signal is received. Then the first network side device can send the sensing signal according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter. Such as the first time parameter indicating the second time, the first time is determined by the second time and the offset relative to the second time. So that the first network side device sends the sensing signal at the first time. For example, the first time can be the second time minus the offset relative to the second time, to obtain the first time. And / or, the first network side device can receive the sensing signal according to the first time parameter. Such as the first time parameter indicating the second time, so that the first network side device receives the sensing signal at the second time.

[0193] The embodiments of the present application can accurately determine the time when the sensing signal is sent or the time when the sensing signal is received in combination with the time offset parameter, in the case that the first time parameter indicates the time when the sensing signal is received or indicates the time when the sensing signal is sent.

[0194] The embodiments of the present application configure the time parameter of receiving the sensing signal or sending the sensing signal, and the corresponding time offset parameter. The time of sending the sensing signal and the time of receiving the sensing signal by the network device are configured. So that the network device can more accurately receive the sensing signal, and reduce unnecessary time and resource overhead when receiving.

[0195] In the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, there can be different combinations of the first time parameter and the time offset parameter included in the first information, and the following will describe in more details the scenarios corresponding to different combinations of the first time parameter and the time offset parameter.

[0196] Case 1: The first information includes N first time parameters and one time offset parameter.

[0197] In this case, the one time offset parameter has a correlation with the N first time parameters. That is, different first time parameters share the same one time offset parameter. Assuming that each first time parameter is used to indicate a first time of a sensing symbol, then the second time of each sensing symbol can be determined by the first time parameter corresponding to the sensing symbol and the same time offset parameter. Assuming that there are 10 sensing symbols, the first time parameter is used to indicate the first time, and the first information can include 10 first time parameters and 1 time offset parameter. The 10 first time parameters can include first time parameter 1, first time parameter 2, …, and first time parameter 10. Then, for the sensing symbol 1, the first network side device can determine the first time corresponding to the sensing symbol 1 by the first time parameter 1, and determine the second time corresponding to the sensing symbol 1 by the first time parameter 1 and the time offset parameter. Similarly, the first network side device can determine the first time corresponding to the sensing symbol 2 by the first time parameter 2, and determine the second time corresponding to the sensing symbol 2 by the first time parameter 2 and the time offset parameter. In this way, the first time and the second time corresponding to the 10 sensing symbols are determined respectively. Of course, for the first time parameter used to indicate the second time, a similar way can be used to determine the first time, which will not be described herein again.

[0198] The embodiments of the present application can configure multiple first time parameters to share one time offset parameter, which can reduce the signaling overhead while accurately configuring the time of receiving the sensing signal or the time of sending the sensing signal.

[0199] Case 2: The first information includes N first time parameters and M time offset parameters.

[0200] In this case, any one of the M time offset parameters has an association relationship with part of the N first time parameters. That is, each time offset parameter corresponds to part of the N first time parameters. It can be considered that the N first time parameters are divided into M groups, each group includes one or more first time parameters, and each group corresponds to a time offset parameter, that is, the one or more first time parameters in the group correspond to the time offset parameter of the group. Assuming that each first time parameter is used to indicate the first time of a perception symbol, the second time of each perception symbol can be determined through the first time parameter corresponding to the perception symbol and the time offset parameter corresponding to the first time parameter. Assuming that there are 10 perception symbols, the first time parameter is used to indicate the first time, and the first information can include 10 first time parameters and 5 time offset parameters. The 10 first time parameters can include first time parameter 1, first time parameter 2, …, and first time parameter 10. The 5 time offset parameters can include time offset parameter 1, time offset parameter 2, …, and time offset parameter 5. Assuming that every two first time parameters correspond to a time offset parameter. For example, first time parameter 1 and first time parameter 2 correspond to time offset parameter 1, first time parameter 3 and first time parameter 4 correspond to time offset parameter 2, and so on. Then for the perception symbol 1, the first network side device can determine the first time corresponding to the perception symbol 1 through the first time parameter 1, and determine the second time corresponding to the perception symbol 1 through the first time parameter 1 and the time offset parameter 1. Similarly, the first network side device can determine the first time corresponding to the perception symbol 2 through the first time parameter 2, and determine the second time corresponding to the perception symbol 2 through the first time parameter 2 and the time offset parameter 1. Then for the perception symbol 3, the first network side device can determine the first time corresponding to the perception symbol 3 through the first time parameter 3, and determine the second time corresponding to the perception symbol 3 through the first time parameter 3 and the time offset parameter 2. Similarly, the first network side device can determine the first time corresponding to the perception symbol 4 through the first time parameter 4, and determine the second time corresponding to the perception symbol 4 through the first time parameter 4 and the time offset parameter 2. Similarly, the first time corresponding to each of the 10 perception symbols and the second time corresponding to each of the 10 perception symbols are determined. Of course, for the first time parameter used to indicate the second time, a similar way can be used to determine the first time, and the embodiments of the present application will not be described here.

[0201] The embodiments of the present application configure multiple time offset parameters, and each time offset parameter corresponds to one or more first time parameters, which not only ensures flexible configuration of the time of receiving the perception signal or the time of sending the perception signal, but also saves part of the signaling overhead.

[0202] Case 3: the first information includes N first time parameters and N time offset parameters.

[0203] In this case, the N time offset parameters correspond to the N first time parameters one by one. That is, each first time parameter corresponds to a time offset parameter. The time offset parameters corresponding to different first time parameters can be the same or different, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. In this case, each first time parameter is independently configured with a time offset parameter belonging to the first time parameter. Assuming that each first time parameter is used to indicate a first time of a sensing symbol, the second time of each sensing symbol can be determined by the first time parameter corresponding to the sensing symbol and the time offset parameter corresponding to the sensing symbol. Assuming that there are 10 sensing symbols, the first time parameter is used to indicate the first time, and the first information can include 10 first time parameters and 10 time offset parameters. The 10 first time parameters can include first time parameter 1, first time parameter 2, …, and first time parameter 10. The 10 time offset parameters can include time offset parameter 1, time offset parameter 2, …, and time offset parameter 10. Then, for sensing symbol 1, the first network side device can determine the first time corresponding to sensing symbol 1 by first time parameter 1, and determine the second time corresponding to sensing symbol 1 by first time parameter 1 and time offset parameter 1. Similarly, the first network side device can determine the first time corresponding to sensing symbol 2 by first time parameter 2, and determine the second time corresponding to sensing symbol 2 by first time parameter 2 and time offset parameter 2. In this way, the first time and the second time corresponding to each of the 10 sensing symbols are determined respectively. Of course, for the first time parameter used to indicate the second time, a similar way can be used to determine the first time, which is not described herein again.

[0204] The embodiments of the present application can configure the one-to-one correspondence between the first time parameter and the time offset parameter, so as to more flexibly configure the time of receiving the sensing signal or the time of sending the sensing signal.

[0205] In the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application, considering that in the process of sending the sensing symbol, in order to avoid mutual interference between different symbols in the sending process, a cyclic prefix (CP) can be introduced. That is, a CP is added in front of each symbol, so as to avoid mutual crosstalk between symbols. For the setting mode and value of the CP, reference can be made to related technologies, which is not described herein again. Then, in the case of introducing the CP, the first information can further include a CP length parameter. The CP length parameter is used to indicate the CP length corresponding to the sensing signal. For example, the CP length parameter can include the CP length corresponding to each sensing symbol.

[0206] In some examples, if the first time parameter is used to indicate the time instant of sending the sensing signal, the time offset parameter is used to indicate the offset of the time instant of receiving the sensing signal relative to the time instant of sending the sensing signal. Then, the first network-side device can receive the sensing signal according to the first time parameter, the CP length parameter and the time offset parameter. That is, the first network-side device can determine the second time instant according to the first time parameter, the CP length parameter and the time offset parameter, and receive the sensing signal based on the second time instant. For example, the first time parameter indicates the first time instant, and the second time instant can be obtained by adding the CP length parameter to the first time instant and then adding the time offset parameter.

[0207] In some examples, if the first time parameter is used to indicate the time instant of sending the sensing signal, the time offset parameter is used to indicate the offset of the time instant of receiving the sensing signal relative to the time instant of sending the sensing signal. Then, the first network-side device can receive the sensing signal according to the first time parameter, the CP length parameter and the time offset parameter. That is, the first network-side device can determine the second time instant according to the first time parameter, the CP length parameter and the time offset parameter, and receive the sensing signal based on the second time instant. For example, the first time parameter indicates the first time instant, and the second time instant can be obtained by adding the CP length parameter to the first time instant and then adding the time offset parameter.

[0208] The embodiments of the present application can avoid interference between symbols and accurately determine the time instant of sending the sensing signal or the time instant of receiving the sensing signal in the case that the first time parameter indicates the time instant of receiving the sensing signal or the time instant of sending the sensing signal, in combination with the CP length and the time offset parameter.

[0209] In some embodiments, the first information can include one CP length parameter. Then the CP length parameter can have an association relationship with the N first time parameters. Similar to the above case 1, different first time parameters share the same one CP length parameter. In combination with case 1, that is, different first time parameters share the same one CP length parameter and share the same one time offset parameter. The difference from case 1 is that the CP length parameter is introduced, and then for each sensing symbol, determining the first time instant or the second time instant according to the first time parameter corresponding to the sensing symbol, the shared time offset parameter can be replaced by determining the first time instant or the second time instant according to the first time parameter corresponding to the sensing symbol, the shared CP length parameter and the shared time offset parameter. For details, reference can be made to the corresponding description of case 1, which will not be described here again.

[0210] In other examples, the first information includes one CP length parameter, which can also be applicable to case 2 and case 3. Similar to the above-mentioned applicable mode to case 1, the embodiments of the present application will not be described here again.

[0211] The embodiment of the present application can configure multiple first time parameters to share one CP length parameter, avoid symbol interference, accurately configure the time of receiving or sending the sensing signal, and reduce signaling overhead.

[0212] In some other embodiments, the first information can include P CP length parameters. Then, any one of the P CP length parameters can have an association relationship with part of the N first time parameters. Wherein, P is a positive integer less than N. Similar to the above case 2, each CP length parameter corresponds to part of the N first time parameters, which can be considered as dividing the N first time parameters into P groups, each group including one or more first time parameters, and each group corresponding to a CP length parameter, that is, the one or more first time parameters in the group correspond to the CP length parameter of the group. It can be understood that the values of P and M are independent of each other, and there is no strict size relationship. Assuming that N is 10 and M is 5, P can be 2 or 8. Or P can also be 5. For the case where P and M are the same, the corresponding sensing symbols (or considered as first time parameters) are not necessarily the same. For example, sensing symbol 1 corresponds to first time parameter 1, sensing symbol 2 corresponds to first time parameter 2, and sensing symbol 3 corresponds to first time parameter 3. Sensing symbol 1 and sensing symbol 2 can correspond to time offset parameter 1, and sensing symbol 1 and sensing symbol 3 can correspond to CP length parameter 1. Of course, the values of P, M and N described above are only exemplary descriptions, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited herein.

[0213] The difference from case 2 is that the CP length parameter is introduced, so for each sensing symbol, the first time or the second time is determined according to the first time parameter corresponding to the sensing symbol, the time offset parameter corresponding to the sensing symbol, which can be replaced by the first time parameter corresponding to the sensing symbol, the CP length parameter corresponding to the sensing symbol and the time offset parameter corresponding to the sensing symbol. For details, please refer to the corresponding description of case 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0214] In other examples, the first information includes P CP length parameters, which can also be applicable to case 1 and case 3. Similar to the above method applicable to case 2, the embodiments of the present application will not be repeated here.

[0215] The embodiment of the present application can configure multiple CP length parameters, and each CP length parameter corresponds to one or more first time parameters, which can accurately configure the time of receiving or sending the sensing signal while flexibly configuring multiple CP lengths, and can also save the signaling overhead related to the CP length configuration.

[0216] In yet some embodiments, the first information can comprise N CP length parameters. Then, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the N CP length parameters and the N first time parameters. Similar to case 3, each first time parameter is configured with one CP length parameter. In combination with case 3, each first time parameter corresponds to one CP length parameter and one time offset parameter. The difference from case 3 is that the CP length parameter is introduced. Then, for each sensing symbol, the first time or the second time can be determined according to the first time parameter, the CP length parameter and the time offset parameter corresponding to the sensing symbol, instead of being determined according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter corresponding to the sensing symbol. For details, reference can be made to the corresponding description of case 3, which will not be repeated here.

[0217] In other examples, the first information comprises N CP length parameters, which can also be applicable to case 1 and case 2. Similar to the above-mentioned manner applicable to case 3, the embodiments of the present application will not be repeated here.

[0218] The embodiments of the present application can be applicable to the scenario where the first time parameter and the CP length parameter correspond to each other, so as to more accurately determine the time of receiving the sensing signal or the time of sending the sensing signal in the scenario.

[0219] In the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the time offset parameter mentioned above can be represented in the following forms. That is, the first information can indicate the time offset parameter through the following parameters.

[0220] In some embodiments, the time offset parameter can be represented by a first number of frames, subframes, time slots or symbols. For example, the time offset parameter can indicate 5 frames, or 10 symbols, or 3 time slots, etc., to represent the length of time to be offset. The first number can be any positive integer.

[0221] In other embodiments, the time offset parameter can be represented by a first time length. For example, the first time length can be determined based on a sub-carrier spacing (SCS). For example, the time offset parameter can be the reciprocal of the SCS, or the time offset parameter can be K times the reciprocal of the SCS. Therefore, the first time length can be considered to be related to the SCS, or considered to be related to the reciprocal of the SCS. The embodiments of the present application provide various ways of determining the time offset parameter based on the sub-carrier spacing, which improves the system compatibility.

[0222] In some embodiments, the time offset parameter can be represented by a first time length. For example, the time offset parameter can be directly indicative of a fixed time length. The fixed time length can be pre-configured or pre-defined by a protocol. Alternatively, a pre-configured or pre-defined time length 1 can be provided, and the time offset parameter can be indicative of a time length that is a multiple of the time length 1, such as X times the time length 1, where X is a positive real number.

[0223] In some embodiments, the time offset parameter can be represented by a second time length. For example, the second time length can be determined based on a time length threshold. For example, a time length threshold can be pre-configured. The time offset parameter can be any value that is less than or equal to the time length threshold. The second network-side device can dynamically determine the time offset parameter based on the sensing target position, the sensing QoS requirement, and the like. However, it is required that the time length indicated by the time offset parameter be less than or equal to the time length threshold. Similarly, the time offset parameter can also be any value that is greater than or equal to the time length threshold, and the embodiments of the present application will not be described herein.

[0224] In some embodiments, the time offset parameter can be represented by a third time length. The third time length is determined based on a TA. For example, for a case where the sensing target is a terminal, the time offset parameter can be determined based on the TA. For example, the time offset parameter can be 2 times the TA.

[0225] In some embodiments, the time offset parameter can be represented by a fourth time length. For example, the fourth time length can be Y times a unit time length. For example, the unit time length can be a duration of a symbol, a time slot, a subframe, or a frame. That is, the fourth time length can be Y times the duration of a single symbol, a time slot, a subframe, or a frame. Wherein Y can be a positive real number.

[0226] The embodiments of the present application provide a plurality of ways of indicating the time offset parameter, so as to accurately indicate the time offset parameter in different scenarios by using a suitable way.

[0227] In the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the first time parameter mentioned above can be represented by the following forms. That is, the first information can indicate the first time parameter by the following parameters.

[0228] In some embodiments, the first time parameter can be represented by a time domain resource parameter. For example, the time domain resource parameter can include one or more time unit identifiers. The one or more time unit identifiers are indicative of a time domain position at which the sensing signal needs to be transmitted or received. In some examples, the time unit can include at least one of a symbol, a time slot, a subframe, a frame, and the like.

[0229] For another example, the time domain resource parameter can comprise one or more time unit identifiers, and a first identifier. The first identifier can be used to indicate a first time domain resource. The first time domain resource can comprise time units corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers. For example, the time unit identifier can be a symbol identifier. The one or more symbol identifiers can indicate one or more symbols. The first identifier can indicate a frame, a subframe, a slot, or the like, which contains the one or more symbols. The first identifier can be a frame identifier, a slot identifier, a subframe identifier, or the like.

[0230] For another example, the time domain resource parameter can comprise one or more time unit identifiers, and a first periodicity parameter. The first periodicity parameter can be used to indicate a periodicity corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers. The one or more time unit identifiers can be used to indicate one or more time units, and the first periodicity parameter can be used to indicate a periodicity corresponding to the one or more time units. The periodicity can be referred to as a first periodicity. For example, the time unit can be a symbol. Assuming that the one or more symbol identifiers indicate symbol 1, symbol 3, and symbol 5, and the first periodicity is 1 slot. Then, the sensing signal can be transmitted or received at time domain locations corresponding to symbol 1, symbol 3, and symbol 5, according to a periodicity of 1 slot.

[0231] For another example, the time domain resource parameter can comprise a start time unit identifier and a fourth time duration. The start time unit identifier can be used to indicate a start position of a second time domain resource. The fourth time duration can be a duration of the second time domain resource. For example, the fourth time duration can be represented by a number of time units. For example, the start time unit identifier can indicate a start symbol, and the fourth time duration can indicate a number of symbols. According to the start symbol and the number of symbols, the second time domain resource can be obtained. The second time domain resource can be a time domain resource for transmitting or receiving the sensing signal. Similarly, the start time unit identifier can indicate a start frame, a start subframe, a start slot, or the like, and the fourth time duration can indicate a number of frames, a number of subframes, or a number of slots.

[0232] For another example, the time domain resource parameter can comprise a start time unit identifier and a second periodicity parameter. The second periodicity parameter can be used to indicate a periodicity corresponding to the second time domain resource. The periodicity can be referred to as a second periodicity. In this case, the fourth time duration can be a fixed duration that is pre-configured or pre-defined by a protocol. The time domain resource parameter can not need to indicate the fourth time duration. For example, according to the second periodicity, the time domain locations for transmitting or receiving the sensing signal in each period can be determined according to the start symbol and the fixed duration.

[0233] For example, the time domain resource parameter can include a starting time unit identifier, a fourth time length, and a second period parameter. Different from the time domain resource parameter including the starting time unit identifier and the second period parameter, the fourth time length can be indicated separately. The implementation process is similar, and details are not repeated here.

[0234] Embodiments of the present application provide various ways to indicate time domain resource parameters to accurately indicate time domain resource parameters in different scenarios.

[0235] In some embodiments, the first time parameter can be represented by an absolute time value. The absolute time value can be a time in the real world, such as a year, a month, a day, an hour, a minute, and a second. The specific numerical accuracy can be selected according to the actual situation. The absolute time value can indicate the absolute time of sending or receiving the sensing signal.

[0236] In some embodiments, the first time parameter can be represented by a first index. The first index can be used to indicate a frame format. The frame format can be used to indicate the time slot used by the sensing signal. For example, in different frame formats, the time slot used by the sensing signal can be different. The frame format corresponding to different first indexes can be different. Thus, the time slot used by the sensing signal can be indicated by using less signaling.

[0237] In some embodiments, the first time parameter can be represented by a second index. The second index can be used to indicate a time slot format. The time slot format can be used to indicate the symbol used by the sensing signal. For example, in different time slot formats, the symbol used by the sensing signal can be different. The time slot format corresponding to different second indexes can be different. Thus, the symbol used by the sensing signal can be indicated by using less signaling.

[0238] In some embodiments, the first time parameter can be represented by a bitmap. The value of a first bit in the bitmap can be used to indicate whether the frame, subframe, time slot, or symbol corresponding to the first bit is used for the sensing signal. The first bit can be any bit in the bitmap. That is, each bit in the bitmap can be used to indicate whether the frame, subframe, time slot, or symbol corresponding to the bit is used for the sensing signal. For example, the bitmap is 101101, each bit corresponds to a symbol, and 1 represents that the symbol is used for the sensing signal, and 0 represents that the symbol is not used for the sensing signal. Then the bitmap can represent that the first bit, the third bit, the fourth bit, and the sixth bit correspond to the symbols used for sending or receiving the sensing signal. The symbols corresponding to the remaining bits can be idle or used for sending or receiving other signals, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0239] In the embodiments of the present application, if the parameter included in the first information cannot be adjusted after being configured, the configuration of the first information belongs to static configuration. For example, if the parameter included in the first information can be closed or opened after being configured, the configuration of the first information belongs to semi-static configuration. For another example, if the parameter included in the first information can be dynamically adjusted after being configured, the configuration of the first information belongs to dynamic configuration.

[0240] For example, if the first time parameter (or time domain resource parameter) cannot be adjusted after being configured, the configuration of the first time parameter (or time domain resource parameter) belongs to static configuration. For another example, if the first time parameter (or time domain resource parameter) can still be closed or opened after being configured, the configuration of the first time parameter (or time domain resource parameter) belongs to semi-static configuration. For another example, if the first time parameter (or time domain resource parameter) can be dynamically adjusted after being configured, the configuration of the first time parameter (or time domain resource parameter) belongs to dynamic configuration.

[0241] For another example, if the CP length parameter cannot be adjusted after being configured, the configuration of the CP length parameter belongs to static configuration. For another example, if the CP length parameter can still be closed or opened after being configured, the configuration of the CP length parameter belongs to semi-static configuration. For another example, if the CP can be dynamically adjusted after being configured, the configuration of the CP length parameter belongs to dynamic configuration.

[0242] For another example, if the time offset parameter cannot be adjusted after being configured, the configuration of the time offset parameter belongs to static configuration. For another example, if the time offset parameter can still be closed or opened after being configured, the configuration of the time offset parameter belongs to semi-static configuration. For another example, if the time offset parameter can be dynamically adjusted after being configured, the configuration of the time offset parameter belongs to dynamic configuration.

[0243] The embodiments of the present application provide various forms of the first time parameter to accurately indicate the first time parameter in different scenarios.

[0244] The above-mentioned embodiments can also be applied to the cross-DU scenario. For example, in the A-to-B sensing scenario, the RU A and the DU A are in communication connection, and the RU B and the DU B are in communication connection. Then, the first time parameter and the time offset parameter can be synchronized between the DU A and the DU B through signaling. Optionally, the CP length parameter can also be synchronized. In this way, the sensing signal sent by the RU A, or the echo signal of the sensing signal, can be accurately received by the RU B.

[0245] The above-mentioned schemes will be described in combination with more specific embodiments.

[0246] Referring to FIG. 12, the time offset parameter indicates the time domain offset between the first time of sending the downlink sensing signal and the second time of receiving the uplink sensing signal. FIG. 12 takes the symbol as an example in the smallest time domain unit. The sensing signal can include multiple sensing symbols, that is, the sensing signal can be composed of multiple sensing symbols. Then the first time and the second time of each sensing symbol can be determined. In the case shown in FIG. 12, it is assumed that the CP length is not considered or the CP length is not considered in the process of determining the first time and the second time. FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 12, and the difference is that the CP length is considered in the process of determining the first time and the second time. It can be seen that the offset between the first time and the second time of each sensing symbol includes the time domain offset corresponding to the symbol.

[0247] The specific implementation can refer to the method shown in FIG. 14.

[0248] The communication process can be applied to but not limited to the communication scenarios shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 9. And it can be applied to the network architecture shown in FIG. 10. The method can be applied to LTE, LTE FDD system, LTE TDD, 5G system or NR system, subsequent evolution of communication system (such as future communication system), V2X, which can include V2N, V2V, V2I, V2P, etc., LTE-V, vehicle networking, MTC, IoT, LTE-M, M2M, D2D, etc. Wireless communication scenarios. Embodiments of the present application take the first network side device as RU, the second network side device as DU, the third network side device as CU, the fourth network side device as SU, the first core network element as SF, and the second core network element as AMF as an example for description. The method can include the following steps:

[0249] S201, the SF sends the second information to the AMF. Correspondingly, the AMF receives the second information from the SF.

[0250] S202, the AMF sends the second information to the CU. Correspondingly, the CU receives the second information from the AMF.

[0251] For example, the SF can initiate a sensing service request (i.e. the second information) to the CU through the AMF. The sensing service request can carry the sensing target position, the QoS requirement information corresponding to each sensing service, the sensing resource configuration information, etc. The QoS requirement information can include the accuracy of the sensing result, the resolution of the sensing result, and the latency requirement of the sensing service, etc. In some examples, the QoS requirement information can also be referred to as QoS requirement information, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0252] S203, the CU sends the second information to the DU. Correspondingly, the DU receives the second information from the CU.

[0253] S204, the DU determines the first information according to the second information.

[0254] For example, the DU can determine one or more first information according to the perceived target location, the perceived QoS requirement information, the perceived resource configuration, and optional TA information. For example, the first information includes a first time parameter and a time offset parameter. The TA information can be informed by the CU to the DU, or can be determined by the DU in the interaction process with the terminal. The specific TA determination process can be referred to related technical implementation, which will not be described herein.

[0255] For example, the first time parameter indicates a first time point for sending a downlink sensing signal, and the time offset parameter can be used for receiving an uplink sensing signal. For another example, the first time parameter indicates a first time point for receiving an uplink sensing signal, and the time offset parameter can be used for sending a downlink sensing signal.

[0256] In some examples, the first time parameter can include one or more symbol identifiers (such as symbol ID) and optionally frame ID, subframe ID, slot ID information and first period parameter of the symbol. For another example, the first time parameter can include a specific starting time value corresponding to each symbol, i.e. an absolute time value. Alternatively, the first time parameter can include a frame format index to indicate the corresponding frame format. The frame format can be a protocol-specified frame format with different sensing time slot ratios. Alternatively, the first time parameter can include a slot format index to indicate the corresponding slot format. The slot format can be a protocol-specified slot format with different sensing symbol ratios.

[0257] For another example, the first time parameter can include continuous time information (i.e. fourth time length) of frame, subframe, slot or symbol granularity, or periodic continuous time information (i.e. second period parameter) of frame, subframe, slot or symbol granularity. For example, it can include a starting frame ID, subframe ID, slot ID or symbol ID, and a continuous frame number, subframe number, slot number or symbol number. Alternatively, the starting frame ID, subframe ID, slot ID or symbol ID, and the continuous frame number, subframe number, slot number or symbol number and the second period. In some examples, the second period can also be represented by the continuous frame number, subframe number, slot number or symbol number.

[0258] For another example, the first time parameter can include a bitmap. Each bit value 0 or 1 can respectively indicate whether the frame, subframe, slot or symbol corresponding to the bit is used to send a sensing signal.

[0259] In some examples, the time offset parameter can be a time offset relative to the time indicated by the first time parameter. In the air interface frame format, the transmission time of symbols in each frame, each subframe and each slot can be fixed. Therefore, determining the symbol used by the sensing signal can be equivalent to determining the transmission time or the reception time of the sensing signal.

[0260] In some examples, the network device can obtain the TA value through a random access procedure with the UE. The TA value can be understood as the signal transmission delay between the base station and the UE. Therefore, by determining the time offset parameter of the sensing signal through the TA value, the sensing service scenario is generally targeted at the terminal as the sensing target.

[0261] In some embodiments, the DU can determine the number of symbols contained in the sensing signal and the plurality of time offset parameters in the following ways.

[0262] For example, the DU can predict the position of the sensing target in the next plurality of symbol times and the distance between the sensing target and the network device according to the position movement information of the sensing target. The position movement information can be obtained through a core network element, and specific implementation can be referred to related technologies, which will not be described herein. The DU can know its own position, and thus can determine the distance between itself and the sensing target according to its own position and the position of the sensing target. The DU can estimate the transmission time of the sensing signal according to the distance of the sensing target and the propagation speed of electromagnetic waves in the environment, and thus determine the time offset of the reception time of the sensing signal relative to the transmission time of the sensing signal. In some examples, the number of sensing symbols can be fixed, such as determined by the protocol preset frame format. Alternatively, the number of sensing symbols can also be dynamically adjusted by the DU, such as dynamically adjusting the proportion of sensing symbols in the frame format according to the accuracy and resolution of the sensing task, QoS requirements, and the status of wireless resources occupied by communication services. Alternatively, a suitable slot format (or frame format) can be selected from a plurality of slot formats (or frame formats) with different sensing symbol (or slot) ratios as the transmission slot (or frame) of the sensing signal, so as to determine the number of sensing symbols.

[0263] Of course, in the scenario considering the CP, the first information includes the first time parameter, the CP length parameter and the time offset parameter. The CP length parameter can indicate the CP length, which can be a CP with the CP length added to the front end of the corresponding symbol, i.e., the beginning part of the symbol, in the CP adding function process of the RU. The CP length can be dynamically adjusted according to the communication distance, communication loss and other requirements. The specific adjustment method can be referred to related technologies, which will not be described herein.

[0264] In some examples, the sum of the CP of the latter symbol and the time domain offset of the symbol can be greater than the time domain offset of the former symbol. For example, the sum of the CP of symbol #1 and the time domain offset of symbol #1 can be greater than the time domain offset of symbol #0. In this way, the time domain offset of the former symbol can be effectively avoided from interfering with the latter symbol.

[0265] S205, the DU sends the first information to the RU. Accordingly, the RU receives the first information from the DU.

[0266] For example, the DU can send the first information determined in S204 to the RU. That is, the first information can include the first time parameter and the time offset parameter, or the first information can include the first time parameter, the CP length parameter and the time offset parameter.

[0267] The RU can determine the first time instant for transmitting the sensing signal and the second time instant for receiving the sensing signal according to the first information. The second time instant can be considered as the time at which the earliest in-phase and quadrature (IQ) samples of the sensing signal are received by the RU at the reference point and within the symbol corresponding to the sensing signal (i.e. the start point of the CP if there is a CP). For example, if the first time parameter indicates the first time instant, the second time instant can be equal to the first time instant plus the value of the time offset parameter. For another example, if the first time parameter indicates the second time instant, the first time instant can be equal to the second time instant minus the value of the time offset parameter.

[0268] For the case of not considering the CP, the first information can include the following multiple forms:

[0269] Form 1:

[0270] The first information can include N first time parameters and 1 time offset parameter. In this case, all the first time parameters share the same time offset parameter.

[0271] Form 2:

[0272] The first information can include N first time parameters and M time offset parameters. Wherein, M is less than N. For example, in the case of M being 2, the 2 time offset parameters can correspond to long distance sensing signals and short distance sensing signals respectively. For another example, the M time offset parameters can be M time offset parameters for different sensing distances (or ranges) respectively.

[0273] That is, the plurality of time offset parameters can be determined according to different perception distances respectively. In other examples, the time offset parameters corresponding to each parameter can also be determined according to different parameters such as the moving trajectory and moving speed of the perception target. The time offset parameters corresponding to the appropriate parameter configuration can be selected according to the actual situation, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited herein.

[0274] Form 3:

[0275] The first information can include N first time parameters and N time offset parameters. That is, each time offset parameter corresponds to a different first time parameter. For example, the N time offset parameters can be time offset parameters respectively for N different perception distances (or ranges).

[0276] In some examples, the time offset parameter can be a numerical value of any unit time. For example, it can be denoted as △t, which can be the duration of a symbol, a time slot, a subframe or a frame. Alternatively, △t can be equal to the reciprocal of the subcarrier spacing, or a multiple of the reciprocal of the subcarrier spacing. Alternatively, △t can also be other fixed time lengths, such as a fixed time value less than the width of a symbol, or equal to 2 times the TA value.

[0277] For the case of considering CP, the first information can include the following forms:

[0278] Form 4:

[0279] The first information can include N first time parameters, 1 CP length parameter and 1 time offset parameter. Similar to Form 1, all first time parameters share the same CP length parameter.

[0280] Form 5:

[0281] The first information can include N first time parameters, P CP length parameters and M time offset parameters. Wherein, P is less than N. For example, in the case of P being 2, the 2 CP length parameters can be used to indicate the CP length added in the perception symbol for long distance, and the CP length added in the perception symbol for short distance respectively. For example, the P CP length parameters can be used to indicate the CP length added in the symbol for P different perception distances respectively.

[0282] It can be understood that the values of P and M have no correlation. P can be greater than, equal to or less than M. The specific corresponding relationship can be referred to the description of the foregoing embodiments, and the embodiments of the present application will not be repeated here.

[0283] Form 6:

[0284] The first information can comprise N first time parameters, N CP length parameters and N time offset parameters. Similar to Form 3, each CP length parameter corresponds to a different first time parameter. The N CP length parameters can be used to indicate the CP length added in the sensing symbol for the N different sensing distances, respectively.

[0285] In some embodiments, for the case that the first time parameter indicates the second time instant, the time offset parameter can be used as a pre-compensation time advance for transmitting the sensing signal. Since the sensing signal can also be used as a communication signal. Then for the terminal, the pre-compensation time advance, i.e. the time offset parameter, can be known. So that the terminal can receive the sensing signal at the right time. In some examples, the time offset parameter can be carried in any of the RRC, PDCP control protocol data unit (PDU), MAC control element (CE) or downlink control information (DCI).

[0286] In some examples, for the case of A-to-B sensing scenario, the DU can transmit the first information related to the first time instant to the RU A. For example, the first time parameter indicates the first time instant, then the first information transmitted by the DU to the RU A can comprise the first time parameter. For another example, the first time parameter indicates the second time instant, then the first information transmitted by the DU to the RU A can comprise the first time parameter and the time offset parameter (optionally, the CP length parameter is also included). The DU can transmit the first information related to the second time instant to the RU B. For example, the first time parameter indicates the second time instant, then the first information transmitted by the DU to the RU B can comprise the first time parameter. For another example, the first time parameter indicates the first time instant, then the first information transmitted by the DU to the RU B can comprise the first time parameter and the time offset parameter (optionally, the CP length parameter is also included).

[0287] S206, the RU transmits and / or receives the sensing signal according to the first information.

[0288] For example, the first time parameter indicates the first time instant, the RU can transmit the downlink sensing signal according to the first time instant indicated by the first time parameter. The RU can also determine the second time instant according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter (optionally, the CP length parameter is also included). The uplink sensing signal is received at the second time instant. For example, the second time instant can be the sum of the first time parameter and the time offset parameter, or the sum of the first time parameter, the CP length parameter and the time offset parameter.

[0289] In some examples, the RU can perform CP removal, fast fourier transformation (FFT), resource element (RE) de-mapping, etc. on the received sensing signal to obtain processed sensing IQ data.

[0290] In S207, the RU sends third information to the DU. Accordingly, the DU receives the third information from the RU.

[0291] The third information can include the sensing IQ data determined in S206. For example, the RU can send the third information in a sending time window of the fronthaul interface. Accordingly, the DU can receive the third information according to a receiving time window of the fronthaul interface. For example, the third information can include the sensing IQ data in S206.

[0292] In the embodiments described in FIGS. 12-14, the DU can also be replaced by an SU or a CU. The first information sent by the DU can also be carried in separate control plane signaling (such as O-RAN control plane messages) or separate management plane signaling (such as O-RAN management plane messages) sent by the DU to the RU.

[0293] In some embodiments, the configuration of the first information described above can be dynamic configuration, such as configuration for each sensing task. Alternatively, it can be static configuration, such as sending and / or receiving sensing signals based on the first information at a certain period. Alternatively, it can be semi-static configuration. For example, on the basis of static configuration, it can be adjusted at any time according to actual conditions, such as indicating that sensing signals are no longer sent. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0294] The embodiments of the present application send the first information indicating the sending time and receiving time of the sensing signal to the RU through the DU, so that the RU can accurately determine the uplink receiving time of each sensing symbol at the reference point, and accurately receive the uplink sensing symbol at the uplink receiving time, reducing the overhead of monitoring and receiving signals.

[0295] Further, the processing time of removing CP by the RU for different symbols can also be considered, and the RU is configured to determine the uplink receiving time of each sensing symbol according to the CP length. By setting the receiving time after removing the CP, the difference in processing time of removing the CP can be eliminated, which changes the processing time of the RU. The time of receiving the uplink sensing signal is more accurate and reasonable.

[0296] FIG. 15 is another communication scenario provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0297] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments can also be applicable to the O-RAN network architecture. Therefore, FIG. 15 shows a schematic diagram of a scenario under the O-RAN architecture. In the O-RAN architecture, the access network device can be divided into three functional entities, i.e., O-RU, O-DU and O-CU. The O-RU is similar to the RU, the O-DU is similar to the DU, and the O-CU is similar to the CU. The interfaces between the functional entities can be referred to the description of the foregoing embodiments, and will not be described herein. In the O-RAN network architecture, a near-real-time RIC (RAN intelligent controller) and a service management and orchestration (SMO) can also be included.

[0298] The near-real-time RIC is mainly used to collect network information and perform necessary optimization tasks. The near-real-time RIC can communicate with the O-CU and the O-DU through an E2 interface. The near-real-time RIC can include a QoS management module, a radio connection management module, an interference management module, a mobility management module, and the like.

[0299] The SMO can include multiple functional modules, such as a non-real-time RIC, a configuration module, a policy module, a design module, an inventory module, and the like. The main functions of the SMO can include cloud infrastructure operations, administration and maintenance (OAM). For example, the SMO can operate, maintain and manage the cloud infrastructure through an O2 interface. The SMO can also operate, maintain and manage the RAN through an O1 interface. The SMO can also include a non-real-time RIC, which can implement macroscopic regulation and intervention of the O-RAN in a non-real-time manner by combining artificial intelligence (AI) technology and big data analysis technology through an A1 interface. Each functional entity in the O-RAN can be used as an independent functional entity and communicate with the SMO through the O1 interface. In some examples, the SMO and the near-real-time RIC can communicate through the A1 interface or the O1 interface. The appropriate communication path can be selected according to the actual situation, and the embodiments of the present application will not be described herein.

[0300] Next, how to implement the above scheme in the O-RAN scenario is described in combination with FIG. 16 and FIG. 17.

[0301] FIG. 16 is another network architecture provided by the embodiment of the application.

[0302] Similar to FIG. 10, in FIG. 16, the first logical unit is O-RU, the second logical unit is O-DU, the third logical unit is O-CU, the first core network element is SF, and the second core network element is AMF. The architecture can also include the near real-time RIC and SMO shown in FIG. 15. The non-real-time RIC can be included in the SMO. The interfaces between the specific units can refer to the description of the foregoing embodiments, and the embodiment of the application will not be described here.

[0303] FIG. 17 is another communication method provided by the embodiment of the application.

[0304] The communication process can be applied to but not limited to the communication scenarios shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 9. It can also be applied to the network architectures shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16. The method can be applied to LTE, LTE FDD, LTE TDD, 5G system or NR system, subsequent communication systems (such as future communication systems), V2X, which can include V2N, V2V, V2I, V2P, etc., LTE-V, vehicle networking, MTC, IoT, LTE-M, M2M, D2D, and other wireless communication scenarios. The O-RU, O-DU, and O-CU involved in the embodiment of the application can be access network devices. The O-RU, O-DU, and / or O-CU can be deployed on the same access network device, or can be deployed on different access network devices, which are not limited in the embodiment of the application. The AMF and / or SF can be deployed on the same core network device, or can be deployed on different core network devices, which are not limited in the embodiment of the application.

[0305] The method can include the following steps:

[0306] S301, the SF sends second information to the AMF. Correspondingly, the AMF receives the second information from the SF.

[0307] S302, the AMF sends the second information to the O-CU. Correspondingly, the O-CU receives the second information from the AMF.

[0308] The implementation process of S301-S302 is similar to that of S201-S202, and the difference is that CU is replaced by O-CU, which will not be described here in the embodiment of the application.

[0309] S303, the O-CU sends the second information to the near real-time RIC or SMO. Correspondingly, the near real-time RIC or SMO receives the second information from the O-CU.

[0310] For example, the O-CU can forward the perception task request information (i.e., the second information) issued by the SF to the near real-time RIC through the E2 interface, or to the SMO (such as the non-real-time RIC in the SMO) through the O1 interface. Alternatively, the O-CU first forwards the request information to the near real-time RIC function through the E2 interface, and then further forwards the request information to the SMO or the non-real-time RIC function in the SMO through the A1 interface by the near real-time RIC.

[0311] S304, the near real-time RIC or SMO determines the first information according to the second information.

[0312] The implementation process of S304 is similar to that of S204, except that the DU is replaced by the near real-time RIC or SMO, which will not be described herein.

[0313] Next, the O-RU will be described in different ways how to obtain the first information.

[0314] Method 1:

[0315] S305, the near real-time RIC or SMO sends the first information to the O-DU. Correspondingly, the O-DU receives the first information from the near real-time RIC or SMO.

[0316] S306, the O-DU sends the first information to the O-RU. Correspondingly, the O-RU receives the first information from the O-DU.

[0317] For example, when the first information is generated by the near real-time RIC, the near real-time RIC can send the first information to the O-DU through the E2 interface, and then the O-DU sends the first information to the O-RU through the LLS interface. Alternatively, the near real-time RIC can first send the first information to the O-CU through the E2 interface, and then the O-CU forwards the first information to the O-DU through the F1 interface, and the O-DU forwards the first information to the O-RU through the LLS interface.

[0318] For example, when the first information is generated by the SMO, the SMO sends the first information to the O-DU through the O1 interface, and then the O-DU sends the first information to the O-RU through the LLS interface. Alternatively, the SMO sends the first information to the near real-time RIC through the A1 interface, and the near real-time RIC forwards the first information to the O-DU through the E2 interface, and then the O-DU forwards the first information to the O-RU through the LLS interface. Alternatively, the near real-time RIC can first send the first information to the O-CU through the E2 interface, and then the O-CU forwards the first information to the O-DU through the F1 interface, and the O-DU forwards the first information to the O-RU through the LLS interface.

[0319] Option 2:

[0320] S307, the near real-time RIC or SMO sends the first information to the O-RU. Correspondingly, the O-RU receives the first information from the near real-time RIC or SMO.

[0321] For example, when the first information is generated by the SMO, the SMO sends the information to the O-RU through the O1 interface.

[0322] The LLS, O1, E2 and A1 interfaces in the above-mentioned Option 1 and Option 2 can refer to the architecture and interfaces shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16.

[0323] S308, the O-RU sends and / or receives the sensing signal according to the first information.

[0324] S309, the O-RU sends the third information to the O-DU. Correspondingly, the O-DU receives the third information from the O-RU.

[0325] The implementation process of S308-S309 is similar to that of S206-S207, and the difference is that the RU is replaced by the O-RU, and the DU is replaced by the O-DU, which will not be described herein again.

[0326] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned scheme can be implemented by a QoS management function module, a wireless connection management function module or an interference management function module in the near real-time RIC. It can also be implemented by a non-real-time RIC function module, a list module function or a design module function or a configuration function module in the SMO. The related function module description can refer to the related description of FIG. 16, which will not be described herein again.

[0327] The embodiments of the present application provide a configuration method of the sending time and receiving time of the sensing signal under the O-RAN architecture. The first information is sent to the O-DU and the O-RU by the near real-time RIC or the SMO, so that the O-DU and the O-RU can accurately determine the sending time and the receiving time of each sensing symbol.

[0328] In the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application, it is considered that the future network node can not only have the function of transmission, but also can have the function of radar detection and the like. Therefore, the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to the similar network device when sending the detection signal, and the sending time and the receiving time of the signal can be flexibly configured, so as to realize the accurate sending and receiving of the signal. The sending and receiving time of such signal does not need to be completely aligned with the communication signal. The embodiments of the present application are not limited in this regard.

[0329] It can be understood that each of the above-mentioned embodiments of the present application can be independently implemented, or can be combined with each other; there is no absolute membership relationship between the embodiments, and the embodiments can be combined with each other under any condition to obtain the corresponding effect.

[0330] It can be understood that, in order to realize the functions in the above-mentioned embodiments, the network device includes the hardware structure and / or software module corresponding to each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and method steps of the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in the present application, the present application can be realized in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is realized in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0331] FIGS. 18 and 19 are structural schematic diagrams of possible communication apparatuses provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication apparatuses can be used to realize the functions of the first network side device or the second network side device in the above-mentioned method embodiments, and thus can also realize the beneficial effects possessed by the above-mentioned method embodiments. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication apparatus can be the RAN node 110 shown in FIG. 1, wherein the RAN node can also be referred to as an access network device or a network device. The communication apparatus can also be a module (such as a chip) applied to a network device.

[0332] In the embodiments of the present application, the apparatus for realizing the functions of the network device can be a network device, or can be an apparatus (such as a chip system) capable of supporting the network device to realize the functions, which can be installed in the network device or used in combination with the network device.

[0333] In the embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0334] As shown in FIG. 18, the communication apparatus 1800 includes a processing unit 1810 and a transceiver unit 1820. The communication apparatus 1800 is used to realize the functions of the network device in the method embodiments shown in FIGS. 11, 14 and 17.

[0335] When the communication apparatus 1800 is used to realize the functions of the first network side device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the processing unit 1810 is used to acquire first information. The processing unit 1810 is also used to control the transceiver unit 1820 to transmit and / or receive the sensing signal according to the first information.

[0336] When the communication apparatus 1800 is used to realize the functions of the second network side device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the processing unit 1810 is used to determine the first information. The transceiver unit 1820 is used to transmit the first information.

[0337] More detailed description of the processing unit 1810 and the transceiver unit 1820 can be referred to the related description of the method embodiments shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 14, and FIG. 17.

[0338] As shown in FIG. 19, the communication apparatus 1900 includes a processor 1910 and an interface circuit 1920. The processor 1910 and the interface circuit 1920 are coupled to each other. It can be understood that the interface circuit 1920 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication apparatus 1900 can further include a memory 1930 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1910 or storing input data required by the processor 1910 for executing instructions or storing data generated by the processor 1910 after executing instructions. Sometimes, the interface circuit 1920 can also be understood as a part of the processor 1910, and the communication apparatus 1900 includes the processor 1910.

[0339] When the communication apparatus 1900 is used to implement the methods shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 14, and FIG. 17, the processor 1910 is configured to implement the functions of the processing unit 1810, and the interface circuit 1920 is configured to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 1820.

[0340] When the above communication apparatus is a chip applied to an access network device, the access network device chip implements the functions of the access network device in the above method embodiments. The access network device chip receives information from a terminal or a core network device, which can be understood as the information being received by other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the access network device first, and then being sent to the access network device chip by these modules. The access network device chip sends information to a terminal or a core network device, which can be understood as the information being sent to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the terminal or the core network device first, and then being sent to the terminal or the core network device by these modules.

[0341] In this application, entity A sending information to entity B can be A sending directly to B, or A sending indirectly to B through other entities. Similarly, entity B receiving information from entity A can be entity B receiving information sent by entity A directly, or entity B receiving information sent by entity A indirectly through other entities. Here, entity A and B can be RAN nodes or terminals, or modules inside RAN nodes or terminals. The sending and receiving of information can be the information interaction between RAN nodes and terminals, for example, the information interaction between a base station and a terminal; the sending and receiving of information can also be the information interaction between two RAN nodes, for example, the information interaction between a CU and a DU; the sending and receiving of information can also be the information interaction between different modules inside one apparatus, for example, the information interaction between a terminal chip and other modules of the terminal, or the information interaction between a base station chip and other modules of the base station.

[0342] It can be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application can be a central processing unit (CPU), and can also be one or a combination of other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), microprocessor units (MPUs), microcontroller units (MCUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), application specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), artificial intelligence processors (AI processors), or neural processing units (NPUs); or the processor mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can be an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component (or part) or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor, etc.

[0343] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions executable by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in a memory, such as a volatile memory and / or a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory can be a flash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or an electrically EPROM (EEPROM). The volatile memory can be a cache, a random access memory (RAM). For example, the RAM can be used as an external cache. By way of example, and not limitation, the RAM includes the following various forms: a static random access memory (SRAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), a double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), an enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), a synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and a direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). The memory can also be a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a compact disc (CD) ROM, or any other form of storage well known in the art.

[0344] It should be noted that when the processor is a general processor, a DSP, an ASIC, other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) can be integrated in the processor. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor, so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a base station or a terminal. The processor and the storage medium can also exist as separate components in the base station or the terminal.

[0345] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer programs or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments are performed. The computer can be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user equipment or other programmable apparatus. The computer programs or instructions can be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transferred from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer programs or instructions can be transferred from one website site, computer, server or data center to another website site, computer, server or data center through wired or wireless manner. The computer readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center and the like integrated with one or more available media. The available media can be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape; or an optical medium, such as a digital video disc; or a semiconductor medium, such as a solid state disk. The computer readable storage medium can be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or can include both volatile and non-volatile storage media.

[0346] In various embodiments of the present application, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be referred to each other if there is no special description and logical conflict, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0347] In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. The association relationship between the associated objects is described, which means that there can be three kinds of 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 literal description of the present application, the character " / ", generally represents that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship; in the formula of the present application, the character " / ", represents that the associated objects before and after are in a "division" relationship. "Including at least one of A, B and C" can mean: including A; including B; including C; including A and B; including A and C; including B and C; including A, B and C.

[0348] It can be understood that various numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application are only distinguished for convenience of description, and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the serial number of the above processes does not mean the execution order, and the execution order of the processes should be determined according to its function and inherent logic.

[0349] The network architecture and service scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application. Those skilled in the art can know that, with the evolution of network architecture and the appearance of new service scenarios, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0350] The terms "first" and "second" and the like in the specification and drawings of the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish different objects or different processing of the same object. The terms "first", "second" and the like can be used to distinguish the same items or similar items with basically the same function and role. For example, the first device and the second device are only used to distinguish different devices, and do not limit the sequence. Those skilled in the art can understand that the terms "first", "second" and the like do not limit the quantity and execution sequence, and the terms "first", "second" and the like do not necessarily mean different.

[0351] In addition, the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof mentioned in the description of the embodiments of the present application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product or device including a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but can optionally include other steps or units not listed, or can optionally include other steps or units inherent to the process, method, product or device.

[0352] In the embodiments of the present application, the words "exemplary" or "for example" are used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design presented as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of the words "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present concepts in a concrete manner. The words "first", "second", and the like are used to distinguish different objects.

[0353] It can be understood that the "embodiments" mentioned throughout the specification mean that the specific features, structures or characteristics related to the embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the embodiments of the present application. Therefore, the various embodiments throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, these specific features, structures or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It can be understood that in various embodiments of the embodiments of the present application, the size of the sequence number of each process does not mean the execution order, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0354] It can be understood that, in the embodiments of the present application, "… time" and "if" all refer to making corresponding processing under certain objective conditions, and are not limited to time, and do not require judgment actions when implementing, nor mean that there are other limitations.

[0355] It can be understood that, in some optional features in the embodiments of the present application, in some scenarios, they can be implemented independently without relying on other features, such as the scheme currently based on, to solve the corresponding technical problems and achieve the corresponding effects, and in some scenarios, they can be combined with other features according to the needs. Correspondingly, the devices given in the embodiments of the present application can also implement these features or functions, which will not be described here.

[0356] In the embodiments of the present application, the same or similar parts of different embodiments can be mutually referred to, unless otherwise specified. In the embodiments of the present application, and in each implementation method / implementation method / implementation method of each embodiment, if there is no special specification and logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments, and each implementation method / implementation method / implementation method in each embodiment are consistent and can be mutually referred to, and the technical features of different embodiments, and each implementation method / implementation method / implementation method in each embodiment can be combined to form new embodiments, implementation methods, implementation methods, or implementation methods according to their inherent logical relationship. The implementation methods of the embodiments of the present application described below do not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: obtaining first information, the first information comprising a first time parameter and a time offset parameter; the first time parameter being used to indicate a time of receiving a sensing signal, and the time offset parameter being used to indicate an offset of a time of sending the sensing signal relative to the time of receiving the sensing signal; or, the first time parameter being used to indicate a time of sending a sensing signal, and the time offset parameter being used to indicate an offset of a time of receiving the sensing signal relative to the time of sending the sensing signal; sending and / or receiving the sensing signal according to the first information. The method of claim 1, wherein The first information is determined by sensing target position information and quality of service (QoS) requirement information related to a sensing service. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first time parameter is used to indicate a time of receiving a sensing signal, and the time offset parameter is used to indicate an offset of a time of sending the sensing signal relative to the time of receiving the sensing signal; the sending and / or receiving the sensing signal according to the first information comprises: receiving the sensing signal according to the first time parameter, and / or sending the sensing signal according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter; or, the first time parameter is used to indicate a time of sending a sensing signal, and the time offset parameter is used to indicate an offset of a time of receiving the sensing signal relative to the time of sending the sensing signal; and the sending and / or receiving the sensing signal according to the first information comprises: sending the sensing signal according to the first time parameter, and / or receiving the sensing signal according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The first information further comprises a cyclic prefix (CP) length parameter, and the CP length parameter is used to indicate a CP length corresponding to the sensing signal; the first time parameter is used to indicate a time of receiving a sensing signal, and the time offset parameter is used to indicate an offset of a time of sending the sensing signal relative to the time of receiving the sensing signal; the sending the sensing signal according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter comprises: sending the sensing signal according to the first time parameter, the CP length parameter and the time offset parameter; or, the first time parameter is used to indicate a time of sending a sensing signal, and the time offset parameter is used to indicate an offset of a time of receiving the sensing signal relative to the time of sending the sensing signal; and the receiving the sensing signal according to the first time parameter and the time offset parameter comprises: receiving the sensing signal according to the first time parameter, the CP length parameter and the time offset parameter. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first information further comprises one CP length parameter, wherein the N is a positive integer; and one CP length parameter has an association relationship with N first time parameters. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first information further comprises P CP length parameters, wherein the P is a positive integer smaller than the N; and any one of the P CP length parameters has an association relationship with part of the N first time parameters. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first information further includes N CP length parameters, where N is a positive integer; and the N CP length parameters and the N first time parameters are in one-to-one correspondence. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The first information includes N first time parameters and one time offset parameter, where N is a positive integer; and the time offset parameter has a correlation relationship with the N first time parameters. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The first information includes N first time parameters and M time offset parameters, where M is a positive integer less than N; and any one of the M time offset parameters has a correlation relationship with part of the N first time parameters. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The first information includes N first time parameters and N time offset parameters, where N is a positive integer; and the N time offset parameters and the N first time parameters are in one-to-one correspondence. The method according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that The time offset parameter is represented in any of the following ways: A first number of frames, subframes, slots, or symbols; A first time length, which is determined based on a subcarrier spacing (SCS); A preset time length; A second time length, which is determined based on a time length threshold; or A third time length, which is determined based on a time advance (TA). The method of claim 11, wherein The first time length is the reciprocal of the SCS, or the first time length is K times the reciprocal of the SCS, where K is an integer. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that The first time parameter includes any of the following parameters: A time domain resource parameter; A first index, which is used to indicate a frame format used by the sensing signal to indicate a slot used by the sensing signal; A second index, which is used to indicate a slot format used by the sensing signal to indicate a symbol used by the sensing signal; or A bitmap, where a value of a first bit in the bitmap is used to indicate whether a frame, subframe, slot, or symbol corresponding to the first bit is used by the sensing signal, where the first bit is any bit in the bitmap. The method of claim 13, wherein The time domain resource parameter includes: One or more time unit identifiers; or The one or more time unit identifiers, and a first identifier and / or a first periodicity parameter; or A start time unit identifier and a fourth time length; or The start time unit identifier and a second periodicity parameter; or The start time unit identifier, the fourth time length, and the second periodicity parameter; Where the first identifier is used to indicate a first time domain resource including a time unit corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers, the first periodicity parameter is used to indicate a period corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers, the start time unit identifier is used to indicate a starting position of a second time domain resource, the fourth time length is a duration of the second time domain resource, and the second periodicity parameter is used to indicate a period corresponding to the second time domain resource. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method includes: determining first information, the first information comprising a first time parameter and a time offset parameter; the first time parameter is used to indicate a time of receiving a sensing signal, and the time offset parameter is used to indicate an offset of a time of sending the sensing signal relative to the time of receiving the sensing signal; or the first time parameter is used to indicate a time of sending a sensing signal, and the time offset parameter is used to indicate an offset of a time of receiving the sensing signal relative to the time of sending the sensing signal; sending the first information. The method of claim 15, wherein The determination of the first information comprises: receiving second information, the second information comprising sensing target position information and quality of service (QoS) requirement information related to a sensing service; determining one or more of the first information according to the sensing target position information and the QoS requirement information related to the sensing service. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that The first information further comprises a cyclic prefix (CP) length parameter, and the CP length parameter is used to indicate a CP length corresponding to the sensing signal. The method of claim 17, wherein The first information further comprises one CP length parameter, wherein N is a positive integer; and one CP length parameter is associated with N first time parameters. The method of claim 17, wherein The first information further comprises P CP length parameters, wherein P is a positive integer smaller than N; and any one of the P CP length parameters is associated with part of the N first time parameters. The method of claim 17, wherein The first information further comprises N CP length parameters, wherein N is a positive integer; and the N CP length parameters are in one-to-one correspondence with the N first time parameters. The method according to any one of claims 15-20, characterized in that The first information comprises N first time parameters and one time offset parameter, wherein N is a positive integer; and one time offset parameter is associated with N first time parameters. The method according to any one of claims 15-20, characterized in that The first information comprises N first time parameters and M time offset parameters, wherein M is a positive integer smaller than N; and any one of the M time offset parameters is associated with part of the N first time parameters. The method according to any one of claims 15-20, characterized in that The first information comprises N first time parameters and N time offset parameters, wherein N is a positive integer; and the N time offset parameters are in one-to-one correspondence with the N first time parameters. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 23, characterized in that The time offset parameter is represented in any of the following ways: a first number of frames, subframes, slots, or symbols; a first time length, which is determined based on a subcarrier spacing (SCS); a preset time length; a second time length, which is determined based on a time length threshold; or a third time length, which is determined based on a time advance (TA). The method of claim 24, wherein The first time length is the reciprocal of the SCS, or the first time length is K times the reciprocal of the SCS, wherein K is an integer. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 25, characterized in that The first time parameter comprises any of the following parameters: a time domain resource parameter; a first index, which is used to indicate a frame format used to indicate a slot used by the sensing signal; a second index, the second index being used for indicating a slot format, the slot format being used for indicating symbols used by the sensing signal; or a bitmap, a value of a first bit in the bitmap being used for indicating whether a frame, a subframe, a slot or a symbol corresponding to the first bit is used for the sensing signal, wherein the first bit is any bit in the bitmap. The method of claim 26, wherein The time domain resource parameter comprises: one or more time unit identifiers; or the one or more time unit identifiers, and a first identifier and / or a first periodicity parameter; or a start time unit identifier and a fourth time length; or the start time unit identifier and a second periodicity parameter; or the start time unit identifier, the fourth time length and the second periodicity parameter; wherein the first identifier is used for indicating a first time domain resource, the first time domain resource comprising time units corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers, the first periodicity parameter is used for indicating a period corresponding to the one or more time unit identifiers, the start time unit identifier is used for indicating a start position of a second time domain resource, the fourth time length is a duration of the second time domain resource, and the second periodicity parameter is used for indicating a period corresponding to the second time domain resource. A communication device characterized by comprising: A module for performing the method of any one of claims 1-27. A communication device, characterized by A processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit being used for receiving signals from other communication devices and transmitting signals to the processor or sending signals from the processor to other communication devices, the processor being used for implementing the method of any one of claims 1-27 through a logic circuit and / or an execution code instruction. A communication system characterized by The system comprises: a first network side device for performing the method of any one of claims 1-14, and a second network side device for performing the method of any one of claims 15-27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized by The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, when the computer program or instructions are executed by a communication device, the method of any one of claims 1-27 is implemented. A computer program product comprising computer programs or instructions, characterized in that, The computer program or instructions are executed by a communication device, the method of any one of claims 1-27 is implemented.

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