Communication method, communication apparatus, and first device

Abstract

The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communications. Provided are a communication method, a communication apparatus, and a first device, which are used for improving the performance and gain of a communication system. In the method, a first device may respectively receive first measurement signals from a first communication device by means of M sensing units, and process the respectively received first measurement signals, such that the first device determines a first beam configuration of the first device. The first beam configuration is related to an electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by signals that the first communication device sends to the first device, and the first device may sense, by means of the M sensing units, the electromagnetic environment in which the first communication device is located, so as to guide the first device to perform beam management. In this way, the present application can adapt to the requirements of different electromagnetic environments and different scenarios, and effectively improves the capability of the first device, thereby improving the performance and gain of the communication system.

Description

Communication method, communication device and first equipment

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411480280.0, filed on October 22, 2024, entitled "Communication Method, Communication Apparatus and First Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a communication method, communication device, and first equipment. Background Technology

[0003] Due to path loss (PL) in the transmission of radio electromagnetic waves through space, the communication distance between network devices and terminal devices is limited. Adding a relay node (RN) between the network device and the terminal device can increase this communication distance. For example, the relay node can be a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) device. RIS devices can intelligently control the reflection characteristics of wireless signals through a large number of low-cost electromagnetic units, thereby regulating the wireless channel and improving the performance and gain of the communication system. Currently, in scenarios where network devices and terminal devices communicate via relay nodes, either the network device or the terminal device can determine the beam configuration of the relay node based on the signal quality information between the terminal device and the network device. This reduces the hardware cost of the relay node and improves processing efficiency.

[0004] However, relay nodes have limited ability to adjust the wireless channel, resulting in less than ideal performance and gain of the communication system. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method, a communication device, and a first equipment to improve the performance and gain of a communication system.

[0006] Firstly, a communication method is provided. This method can be applied to, for example, executed by, a first device. The first device can be a first equipment, a functional module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system), or a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first equipment. For ease of description, the following description uses the execution of this method by a first device as an example. The method includes: receiving first measurement signals from a first communication device through M sensing units, and processing the received first measurement signals through the M sensing units to determine a first beam configuration of the first device; and sending the first beam configuration to the first communication device. Wherein, M is an integer greater than or equal to 2; the first beam configuration indicates the beam coding method corresponding to the first device in signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device; the first beam configuration is related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signal sent by the first communication device to the first device.

[0007] As described in the first aspect, the first device includes M sensing units. The first device can receive first measurement signals from the first communication device through these M sensing units, and process the received first measurement signals to determine the first beam configuration of the first device. This first beam configuration is related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signals sent from the first communication device to the first device. The first device can sense the electromagnetic environment in which the first communication device is located through the M sensing units to guide beam management. That is, the first device can select a suitable beamcoding method based on the electromagnetic environment in which the first communication device is located to adapt to different electromagnetic environments and different scenario requirements, effectively improving the capabilities of the first device and thus enhancing the performance and gain of the communication system. Therefore, when the first device is a relay node, the first device dynamically adjusts the beamcoding based on the electromagnetic environment in which it is located to improve the system performance and gain of the first device in external physical environment deployment.

[0008] In one possible design, any two of the M sensing units are deployed at different positions on the first device, so that the first device can realize two-dimensional sensing comparison, that is, the first device processes and compares the first measurement signal in the horizontal and vertical dimensions to improve the accuracy of the first beam configuration.

[0009] In one possible design, the first beam configuration of the first device is determined by processing the received first measurement signal through M sensing units. This includes: processing the first measurement signal received by each of the M sensing units to obtain the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units, and determining the first beam configuration based on the phase information of each of the M sensing units. The phase information of each of the M sensing units includes the phase information of the first measurement signal received by each of the M sensing units. In other words, the first device senses or determines the electromagnetic environment in which it is located based on the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units, making the implementation principle simple.

[0010] In one possible design, when the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies a first condition, the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method; when the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies a second condition, the first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information, the first configuration information being used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method, and the second configuration information being used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the second beam coding method; when the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies a third condition, the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal; when the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies a fourth condition, the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction. Thus, the first device can determine different beam coding methods based on the conditions satisfied by the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units, namely the first condition, the second condition, the third condition, or the fourth condition mentioned above, so as to be suitable for different electromagnetic environments and different scenarios.

[0011] In one possible design, the first condition includes: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by any two of the M sensing units is greater than or equal to a first threshold.

[0012] In one possible design, the second condition includes: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by any two of the M sensing units is less than a first threshold.

[0013] In one possible design, the M sensing units include a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit, and a third sensing unit; the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are deployed at the same position in a first direction, and the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit are deployed at the same position in a second direction; the third condition includes: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit is less than the first threshold.

[0014] In one possible design, the M sensing units include a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit, and a third sensing unit; the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are deployed at the same position in a first direction, and the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit are deployed at the same position in a second direction; the fourth condition includes: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit is less than a first threshold, and the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit is greater than or equal to the first threshold.

[0015] Based on the four possible design schemes described above, the first, second, third, and fourth conditions correspond to different electromagnetic environments and different beamcoding methods, respectively, and can meet the needs of different electromagnetic environments and scenarios. The first, second, third, and fourth conditions are merely examples; the first device can determine the first, second, third, and fourth conditions through any other possible implementations. The first direction can be horizontal, and the second direction can be vertical; the value of the first threshold can be... Or any other possible value (such as the first threshold and...) The difference between them is less than the preset value, etc. (The specific value of the preset value is not limited in the embodiments of this application).

[0016] In one possible design scheme, the first beam coding method is Fresnel coding, which is suitable for the near-field radiation region of the antenna, i.e., the Fresnel region; the second beam coding method is Fraunhofer coding, which is suitable for the far-field radiation region of the antenna, i.e., the Fraunhofer region.

[0017] In one possible design, after sending the first beam configuration to the first communication device, the method in the first aspect further includes: receiving a second beam configuration from the first communication device, receiving a second measurement signal from the first communication device through the second beam configuration, and sending the second measurement signal to the second communication device. The second beam configuration is determined based on the first beam configuration. That is, the first communication device can determine the second beam configuration based on the first beam configuration and send the second beam configuration to itself. The first device can then directly receive signals from the first communication device through the second beam configuration and send the received measurement signal, i.e., the aforementioned second measurement signal, to the second communication device. Thus, in scenarios where the first and second communication devices communicate through the first device, the system performance and gain of the first device in outdoor physical environment deployment can be effectively improved.

[0018] In one possible design, when the phase information of each of the M sensing units satisfies any one of the first, third, or fourth conditions, the second beam configuration is the same as the first beam configuration. In this case, the first communication device can directly determine the first beam configuration as the second beam configuration, which is simple to implement. When the phase information of each of the M sensing units satisfies the second condition, the second beam configuration is either the first configuration information or the second configuration information. In this case, the first communication device needs to determine the second beam configuration as either the first configuration information or the second configuration information based on the first beam configuration to ensure that the beam coding method corresponding to the first device is compatible with the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located during signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device.

[0019] In one possible design, the phase information of each of the M sensing units satisfies a second condition. Before receiving the second beam configuration from the first communication device, the method of the first aspect further includes: receiving a third measurement signal from the first communication device through a first beam coding method and sending the third measurement signal to the second communication device; receiving a fourth measurement signal from the first communication device through a second beam coding method and sending the fourth measurement signal to the second communication device. That is, the first device receives the third measurement signal through the first beam coding method (corresponding to the first configuration information) and sends the third measurement signal to the second communication device; similarly, the first device receives the fourth measurement signal through the second beam coding method (corresponding to the second configuration information) and sends the fourth measurement signal to the second communication device, so that the second communication device can subsequently obtain signal quality information (such as the first channel quality information and the second channel quality information described below) corresponding to the third and fourth measurement signals, and send the first channel quality information and the second channel quality information to the first communication device. The first communication device can determine the second beam configuration as either the first configuration information or the second configuration information based on the first channel quality information and the second channel quality information, so as to ensure that the beam coding method corresponding to the first device is compatible with the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located during signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device.

[0020] In one possible design, the first device is a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) device. That is, the RIS device includes M sensing units, capable of actively sensing the electromagnetic environment in which the RIS device is located, and possessing the hardware capability to process information about the electromagnetic environment. Simultaneously, the RIS device also possesses the inherent ability to alter the characteristics of the wireless channel, i.e., the ability to change the electromagnetic field strength and phase, thereby improving the performance of the wireless communication system. The first device can also be any other possible form, without limitation.

[0021] Secondly, a communication method is provided, which can be applied to, or executed by, a first communication device. The first communication device can be a communication equipment, a functional module (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first communication device. For ease of description, the following description uses the execution of the method by the first communication device as an example. The method includes: sending a first measurement signal to the first device and receiving a first beam configuration from the first device. The first beam configuration is determined based on the first measurement signal and is used to indicate the beam coding method corresponding to the first device in signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device; the first beam configuration is related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signal sent by the first communication device to the first device.

[0022] In one possible design, the first beam configuration satisfies any of the following: the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method; the first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information, the first configuration information is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method, and the second configuration information is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the second beam coding method; the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal; or, the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction, to suit the needs of different electromagnetic environments and different scenarios.

[0023] In one possible design scheme, the first beam coding method is Fresnel wave coding, and the second beam coding method is Fraunhofer coding.

[0024] In one possible design, after receiving a first beam configuration from the first device, the method of the second aspect further includes: determining a second beam configuration based on the first beam configuration, sending the second beam configuration to the first device, and sending a second measurement signal to the first device.

[0025] In one possible design, the first beam configuration satisfies any of the following: the first beam configuration indicates that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method; the first beam configuration indicates that the first device uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction; or the first beam configuration indicates that the first device uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction, in which case the second beam configuration is the same as the first beam configuration. In this case, the first communication device can directly determine the first beam configuration as the second beam configuration, which is simple to implement. When the first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information, the second beam configuration is the first configuration information or the second configuration information. In this case, the first communication device needs to determine the second beam configuration as the first configuration information or the second configuration information according to the first beam configuration to ensure that the beam coding method corresponding to the first device is compatible with the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located during signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device.

[0026] In one possible design, the first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information. Before sending the second beam configuration to the first device, the method in the second aspect further includes: sending a third measurement signal and a fourth measurement signal to the first device, and receiving first channel quality information and second channel quality information from the second communication device; determining the second beam configuration based on the first channel quality information and the second channel quality information. The first channel quality information is associated with a first beam coding scheme and the third measurement signal; the second channel quality information is associated with a second beam coding scheme and the fourth measurement signal.

[0027] In one possible design, the method in the second aspect further includes: receiving third channel quality information from the second communication device and performing beam management based on the third channel quality information. The third channel quality information is associated with a second measurement signal and a second beam configuration, and the first and second communication devices communicate through the first device. This can eliminate multipath interference, improve signal quality, and increase system capacity.

[0028] In one possible design, the first device is a reconfigurable smart surface RIS device.

[0029] Furthermore, other technical effects of the communication method described in the second aspect can be referred to the technical effects of the communication method described in the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0030] Thirdly, a communication method is provided, which can be applied to a second communication device, such as being executed by the second communication device. The second communication device may include a communication equipment, or a module of the communication equipment (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the communication equipment. For ease of description, the following description uses the execution of the method by the second communication device as an example. The method includes: receiving a second measurement signal from a first device, and sending third channel quality information to the first communication device based on the second measurement signal. The first communication device and the second communication device communicate through the first device.

[0031] In one possible design, the method described in the third aspect further includes: receiving a third measurement signal and a fourth measurement signal from the first device; sending first channel quality information to the first communication device based on the third measurement signal; and sending second channel quality information to the first communication device based on the fourth measurement signal.

[0032] In one possible design, the first device is a reconfigurable smart surface RIS device.

[0033] Furthermore, other technical effects of the communication method described in the third aspect can be referred to the technical effects of the communication method described in the first or second aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0034] Fourthly, a communication method is provided, which can be applied to, or executed by, a first device, including a first equipment, or a module of the first equipment (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first equipment. For ease of description, the following description assumes that the method is executed by the first device. The method includes: receiving a first measurement signal from a first communication device through four beam configurations to obtain four second measurement signals, and sending the four second measurement signals to a second communication device; and receiving a target beam configuration from the first communication device. Among them, four second measurement signals correspond one-to-one with four beam configurations. The beam configurations are used to indicate the beam coding method of the first device in the signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device. The beam configurations are related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signal sent by the first communication device to the first device. The first communication device and the second communication device communicate through the first device. The four beam configurations include a target beam configuration, which is determined based on four channel quality information corresponding to the four second measurement signals. The target beam configuration corresponds to the j-th channel quality information among the four channel quality information. The channel quality indicated by the j-th channel quality information is greater than or equal to the channel quality indicated by the first channel quality information. The first channel quality information includes the other three channel quality information among the four channel quality information, excluding the j-th channel quality information. j is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to 4.

[0035] Based on the methods described in aspects four through six, the first device can receive first measurement signals from the first communication device using four beam configurations respectively. That is, the first device can perform beam coding using the four beam configurations respectively to obtain four second measurement signals. The first device sends the four second measurement signals to the second communication device, so that the second communication device can determine four channel quality information based on the four second measurement signals. Based on the one-to-one correspondence between the four second measurement signals and the four beam configurations, and the one-to-one correspondence between the four second measurement signals and the four channel quality information, the second communication device can send the four channel quality information to the first communication device. The four beam configurations are related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signal sent from the first communication device to the first device. The first communication device can determine the beam configuration corresponding to the j-th channel quality information among the four channel quality information as the target beam configuration and send the target beam configuration to the first device. The channel quality indicated by the j-th channel quality information is greater than or equal to the channel quality indicated by the other three channel quality information information (excluding the j-th channel quality information). That is, the first communication device can sense the electromagnetic environment of the first device based on the four channel quality information, and select a suitable beam configuration for the first device based on the electromagnetic environment of the first device, namely the aforementioned target beam configuration. In this way, the capabilities of the first device can be effectively improved, thereby improving the performance and gain of the communication system.

[0036] In one possible design, the four beam configurations include: a first beam configuration, a second beam configuration, a third beam configuration, and a fourth beam configuration; the first beam configuration, the second beam configuration, the third beam configuration, and the fourth beam configuration are different to suit different electromagnetic environments and different scenario requirements.

[0037] In one possible design, a first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method; a second beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the second beam coding method; a third beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction; a fourth beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction; wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal to suit the needs of different electromagnetic environments and different scenarios.

[0038] In one possible design scheme, the first beam coding method is Fresnel coding, which is suitable for the near-field radiation region of the antenna, i.e., the Fresnel region; the second beam coding method is Fraunhofer coding, which is suitable for the far-field radiation region of the antenna, i.e., the Fraunhofer region.

[0039] In one possible design, the method described in the fourth aspect further includes: receiving a third measurement signal from the first device via a target beam configuration, and sending the third measurement signal to the second communication device. That is, the first device can directly receive the signal from the first communication device via a second beam configuration, and send the received measurement signal, i.e., the aforementioned third measurement signal, to the second communication device. Thus, in scenarios where the first and second communication devices communicate through the first device, the system performance and gain of the first device in outdoor physical environment deployment can be effectively improved.

[0040] In one possible design, the first device is a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) device. This RIS device possesses the inherent ability of a RIS device to alter the characteristics of the wireless channel, namely, the ability to change the electromagnetic field strength and phase, thereby improving the performance of the wireless communication system.

[0041] Fifthly, a communication method is provided, which can be applied to, for example, executed by, a first communication device. The first communication device includes a first communication apparatus, or a module applied to the first communication apparatus (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first communication apparatus. For ease of description, the following description assumes the method is executed by the first communication device. The method includes: sending a first measurement signal to the first device and receiving four channel quality information from a second communication device; and sending a target beam configuration to the first device based on the four channel quality information. Among them, four channel quality information corresponds one-to-one with four beam configurations, and four channel quality information corresponds one-to-one with four second measurement signals; the four second measurement signals are obtained by receiving the first measurement signal through the four beam configurations respectively; the beam configuration is used to indicate the beam coding method of the first device in the signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device; the beam configuration is related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signal sent by the first communication device to the first device; the first communication device and the second communication device communicate through the first device; the four beam configurations include a target beam configuration, which corresponds to the j-th channel quality information among the four channel quality information; the channel quality indicated by the j-th channel quality information is greater than or equal to the channel quality indicated by the first channel quality information, and the first channel quality information includes the other three channel quality information among the four channel quality information excluding the j-th channel quality information, where j is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to 4.

[0042] In one possible design, the four beam configurations include: a first beam configuration, a second beam configuration, a third beam configuration, and a fourth beam configuration; the first beam configuration, the second beam configuration, the third beam configuration, and the fourth beam configuration are different.

[0043] In one possible design, a first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method; a second beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the second beam coding method; a third beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction; a fourth beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction; wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal.

[0044] In one possible design scheme, the first beam coding method is Fresnel wave coding, and the second beam coding method is Fraunhofer coding.

[0045] In one possible design, the j-th channel quality information includes indication information, which indicates that the j-th channel quality information is associated with the j-th beam configuration among the four beam configurations. The fifth aspect of the method further includes: determining the target beam configuration based on the j-th channel quality information. That is, by displaying an indication, the first communication device can directly determine that the j-th channel quality information is associated with the j-th beam configuration based on the indication information in the j-th channel quality information, thereby determining the j-th beam configuration as the target beam configuration.

[0046] In one possible design, the method described in the fifth aspect further includes: sending a third measurement signal to the first device and receiving second channel quality information from the second communication device; and performing beam management based on the second channel quality information. The second channel quality information is associated with the third measurement signal and the target beam configuration. This can eliminate multipath interference, improve signal quality, and increase system capacity.

[0047] In one possible design, the first device is a reconfigurable smart surface RIS device.

[0048] Furthermore, other technical effects of the communication method described in the fifth aspect can be referred to the technical effects of the communication method described in the fourth aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0049] Sixthly, a communication method is provided, which can be applied to, for example, executed by, a second communication device. The second communication device may include a second communication apparatus, or a module applied to the second communication apparatus (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the second communication apparatus. For ease of description, the following description assumes the method is executed by the second communication device. The method includes: receiving four second measurement signals from a first device, and sending four channel quality information messages to the first communication device based on the four second measurement signals. The four channel quality information messages correspond one-to-one with the four second measurement signals, and the first communication device and the second communication device communicate through the first device.

[0050] In one possible design, the method described in the sixth aspect further includes: receiving a third measurement signal from the first device, and sending second channel quality information to the first communication device based on the third measurement signal.

[0051] In one possible design, the first device is a reconfigurable smart surface RIS device.

[0052] Furthermore, other technical effects of the communication method described in the sixth aspect can be referred to the technical effects of the communication method described in the fourth or fifth aspects, and will not be repeated here.

[0053] A seventh aspect provides a first device, comprising: a sensing unit and a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) unit. The sensing unit receives and processes measurement signals to obtain measurement results; the RIS unit receives and reflects signals according to the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located. The measurement results are used to determine the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located.

[0054] As can be seen from the device described in the seventh aspect, the first device includes a sensing unit and a RIS unit. The sensing unit can sense the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located, so that the RIS unit can select a suitable beam coding method according to the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located, so as to be suitable for different electromagnetic environments and different scenarios, effectively improving the capabilities of the first device, thereby improving the performance and gain of the communication system.

[0055] In one possible design, the sensing unit includes a sensing processing link, which includes an antenna unit and a signal processing unit. The antenna unit is used to receive measurement signals, and the signal processing unit is used to process the measurement signals, enabling the sensing unit to have the hardware capability to sense and process information about the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located.

[0056] In one possible design, the first device includes at least two sensing units; each of the at least two sensing units is used to receive and process measurement signals to obtain a measurement result corresponding to each sensing unit; the measurement results corresponding to each of the at least two sensing units are used to determine the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located. Any two of the at least two sensing units are deployed at different positions on the first device, thus enabling the first device to achieve two-dimensional sensing comparison, that is, the first device processes and compares the first measurement signal in both horizontal and vertical dimensions to improve the accuracy of sensing the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located.

[0057] Eighthly, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes: a module for performing the method described in the first aspect, such as a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is used to instruct the transceiver functions of the communication device, and the processing module is used to perform functions of the communication device other than the transceiver functions.

[0058] For example, the communication device described in the eighth aspect includes M sensing units. A transceiver module is used to receive first measurement signals from the first communication device through the M sensing units. A processing module is used to process the received first measurement signals through the M sensing units to determine a first beam configuration of the communication device. The transceiver module is also used to send the first beam configuration to the first communication device. Wherein, M is an integer greater than or equal to 2; the first beam configuration indicates the beam coding method corresponding to the communication device in signal transmission between the two communication devices; the first beam configuration is related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the communication device by the signal sent from the first communication device to the communication device.

[0059] In one possible design, any two of the M sensing units are deployed at different locations on the communication device described in the eighth aspect.

[0060] In one possible design, the processing module is further configured to process the first measurement signal received by each of the M sensing units, obtain the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units, and determine the first beam configuration based on the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units. The phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units includes information about the phase of the first measurement signal received by each of the M sensing units.

[0061] In one possible design, when the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies a first condition, the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the communication device described in the eighth aspect is the first beam coding method; when the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies a second condition, the first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information, the first configuration information being used to indicate that the beam coding method of the communication device is the first beam coding method, and the second configuration information being used to indicate that the beam coding method of the communication device is the second beam coding method; when the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies a third condition, the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the communication device uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal; when the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies a fourth condition, the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the communication device uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction.

[0062] In one possible design, the first condition includes: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by any two of the M sensing units is greater than or equal to a first threshold.

[0063] In one possible design, the second condition includes: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by any two of the M sensing units is less than a first threshold.

[0064] In one possible design, the M sensing units include a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit, and a third sensing unit; the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are deployed at the same position in a first direction, and the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit are deployed at the same position in a second direction; the third condition includes: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit is less than the first threshold.

[0065] In one possible design, the M sensing units include a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit, and a third sensing unit; the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are deployed at the same position in a first direction, and the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit are deployed at the same position in a second direction; the fourth condition includes: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit is less than a first threshold, and the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit is greater than or equal to the first threshold.

[0066] In one possible design scheme, the first beam coding method is Fresnel wave coding, and the second beam coding method is Fraunhofer coding.

[0067] In one possible design, after sending the first beam configuration to the first communication device, the transceiver module is further configured to receive a second beam configuration from the first communication device, receive a second measurement signal from the first communication device through the second beam configuration, and send the second measurement signal to the second communication device. The second beam configuration is determined based on the first beam configuration; the first communication device and the second communication device communicate through the communication device described in the eighth aspect.

[0068] In one possible design, when the phase information of each of the M sensing units satisfies any one of the first condition, the third condition, or the fourth condition, the second beam configuration is the same as the first beam configuration; when the phase information of each of the M sensing units satisfies the second condition, the second beam configuration is either the first configuration information or the second configuration information.

[0069] In one possible design, the phase information of each of the M sensing units satisfies the second condition; before receiving the second beam configuration from the first communication device, the transceiver module is further configured to receive the third measurement signal from the first communication device through the first beam coding method and send the third measurement signal to the second communication device; the transceiver module is further configured to receive the fourth measurement signal from the first communication device through the second beam coding method and send the fourth measurement signal to the second communication device.

[0070] In one possible design, the communication device described in the eighth aspect is a reconfigurable smart surface RIS device.

[0071] Optionally, the transceiver module may include a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module implements the transmitting function of the communication device described in the eighth aspect, and the receiving module implements the receiving function of the communication device described in the eighth aspect.

[0072] Optionally, the communication device described in the eighth aspect may further include a storage module storing programs or instructions. When the processing module executes the program or instructions, the communication device can perform the method described in the first aspect.

[0073] Optionally, the communication device described in the eighth aspect may be the first device.

[0074] Furthermore, the technical effects of the communication device described in the eighth aspect can be referred to the technical effects of the method described in the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0075] A ninth aspect provides a communication device. The communication device includes modules for performing the method described in the second aspect, such as a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is used to indicate the transceiver functions of the communication device, and the processing module is used to perform functions of the communication device other than the transceiver functions.

[0076] For example, a transceiver module is used to send a first measurement signal to the first device and receive a first beam configuration from the first device. The first beam configuration is determined based on the first measurement signal and is used to indicate the beam coding method corresponding to the first device in signal transmission between the communication device and the first device as described in the ninth aspect; the first beam configuration is related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signal sent by the communication device to the first device.

[0077] In one possible design, the first beam configuration satisfies any of the following: the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method; the first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information, the first configuration information is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method, and the second configuration information is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the second beam coding method; the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal; or, the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction.

[0078] In one possible design scheme, the first beam coding method is Fresnel wave coding, and the second beam coding method is Fraunhofer coding.

[0079] In one possible design, after receiving a first beam configuration from the first device, the processing module is used to determine a second beam configuration based on the first beam configuration. The transceiver module is also used to send the second beam configuration to the first device and to send a second measurement signal to the first device.

[0080] In one possible design, the first beam configuration satisfies any of the following: the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method; the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction; or the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction, in which case the second beam configuration is the same as the first beam configuration; when the first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information, the second beam configuration is either the first configuration information or the second configuration information.

[0081] In one possible design, the first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information. Before sending the second beam configuration to the first device, the transceiver module is further configured to send a third measurement signal and a fourth measurement signal to the first device, and receive first channel quality information and second channel quality information from the second communication device. The processing module is further configured to determine the second beam configuration based on the first channel quality information and the second channel quality information. The first channel quality information is associated with a first beam coding scheme and the third measurement signal; the second channel quality information is associated with a second beam coding scheme and the fourth measurement signal.

[0082] In one possible design, the transceiver module is further configured to receive third channel quality information from the second communication device. The processing module is further configured to perform beam management based on the third channel quality information. The third channel quality information is associated with a second measurement signal and a second beam configuration, and the communication device described in the ninth aspect communicates with the second communication device via the first device.

[0083] In one possible design, the first device is a reconfigurable smart surface RIS device.

[0084] Optionally, the transceiver module may include a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module implements the transmitting function of the communication device described in the ninth aspect, and the receiving module implements the receiving function of the communication device described in the ninth aspect.

[0085] Optionally, the communication device described in the ninth aspect may further include a storage module storing programs or instructions. When the processing module executes the program or instructions, the communication device can perform the method described in the second aspect.

[0086] Optionally, the communication device described in the ninth aspect may be a first communication device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the first communication device, or a device that includes the first communication device. This application does not limit this.

[0087] Furthermore, the technical effects of the communication device described in the ninth aspect can be referred to the technical effects of the method described in the second aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0088] A tenth aspect provides a communication device. The communication device includes: a module for performing the method described in the third aspect, such as a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is used to indicate the transceiver functions of the communication device, and the processing module is used to perform functions of the communication device other than the transceiver functions.

[0089] For example, the transceiver module is used to receive a second measurement signal from the first device. The processing module is used to control the transceiver module to send third channel quality information to the first communication device based on the second measurement signal. The first communication device communicates with the communication device described in the tenth aspect through the first device.

[0090] In one possible design, the transceiver module is further configured to receive a third measurement signal and a fourth measurement signal from the first device. The processing module is further configured to control the transceiver module to send first channel quality information to the first communication device based on the third measurement signal; the processing module is further configured to control the transceiver module to send second channel quality information to the first communication device based on the fourth measurement signal.

[0091] In one possible design, the first device is a reconfigurable smart surface RIS device.

[0092] Optionally, the transceiver module may include a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module implements the transmitting function of the communication device described in the tenth aspect, and the receiving module implements the receiving function of the communication device described in the tenth aspect.

[0093] Optionally, the communication device according to the tenth aspect may further include a storage module storing programs or instructions. When the processing module executes the program or instructions, the communication device can perform the method described in the third aspect.

[0094] Optionally, the communication device described in the tenth aspect may be a second communication device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the second communication device, or a device that includes the second communication device. This application does not limit this.

[0095] Furthermore, the technical effects of the communication device described in the tenth aspect can be referred to the technical effects of the method described in the third aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0096] Eleventhly, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes: modules for performing the method described in the fourth aspect, such as a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is used to indicate the transceiver functions of the communication device, and the processing module is used to perform functions of the communication device other than the transceiver functions.

[0097] For example, the transceiver module is used to receive first measurement signals from the first communication device through four beam configurations to obtain four second measurement signals. The processing module is used to control the transceiver module to send the four second measurement signals to the second communication device. The transceiver module is also used to receive target beam configurations from the first communication device. Among them, the four second measurement signals correspond one-to-one with the four beam configurations. The beam configurations are used to indicate the beam coding method of the communication device in the signal transmission between the first communication device and the communication device described in the eleventh aspect. The beam configurations are related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the communication device by the signal sent by the first communication device to the communication device. The first communication device and the second communication device communicate through the communication device. The four beam configurations include a target beam configuration, which is determined based on the four channel quality information corresponding one-to-one with the four second measurement signals. The target beam configuration corresponds to the j-th channel quality information among the four channel quality information. The channel quality indicated by the j-th channel quality information is greater than or equal to the channel quality indicated by the first channel quality information. The first channel quality information includes the other three channel quality information among the four channel quality information, excluding the j-th channel quality information. j is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to 4.

[0098] One possible design scheme includes four beam configurations: a first beam configuration, a second beam configuration, a third beam configuration, and a fourth beam configuration; the first beam configuration, the second beam configuration, the third beam configuration, and the fourth beam configuration are different.

[0099] In one possible design, a first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the communication device described in the eleventh aspect is a first beam coding method; a second beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the communication device is a second beam coding method; a third beam configuration is used to indicate that the communication device uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction; a fourth beam configuration is used to indicate that the communication device uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction; wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal.

[0100] In one possible design scheme, the first beam coding method is Fresnel wave coding, and the second beam coding method is Fraunhofer coding.

[0101] In one possible design, the transceiver module is further configured to receive a third measurement signal from the communication device described in the eleventh aspect via a target beam configuration. The processing module is further configured to control the transceiver module to transmit the third measurement signal to the second communication device.

[0102] In one possible design, the communication device described in the eleventh aspect is a reconfigurable smart surface RIS device.

[0103] Optionally, the transceiver module may include a sending module and a receiving module. The sending module implements the sending function of the communication device described in the eleventh aspect, and the receiving module implements the receiving function of the communication device described in the eleventh aspect.

[0104] Optionally, the communication device described in the eleventh aspect may further include a storage module storing programs or instructions. When the processing module executes the program or instructions, the communication device can perform the method described in the fourth aspect.

[0105] Optionally, the communication device described in the eleventh aspect may be the first device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the first device, or a device that includes the first device. This application does not limit this.

[0106] Furthermore, the technical effects of the communication device described in the eleventh aspect can be referred to the technical effects of the method described in the fourth aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0107] In a twelfth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes modules for performing the method described in the fifth aspect, such as a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is used to indicate the transceiver functions of the communication device, and the processing module is used to perform functions of the communication device other than the transceiver functions.

[0108] For example, the transceiver module is used to send a first measurement signal to a first device and receive four channel quality information from a second communication device. The four channel quality information correspond one-to-one with four beam configurations and one-to-one with four second measurement signals. The four second measurement signals are obtained by receiving the first measurement signal through the four beam configurations. The beam configurations are used to indicate the beam coding method corresponding to the first device in the signal transmission between the communication device and the first device as described in the twelfth aspect. The beam configuration is related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signal sent by the communication device to the first device. The communication device and the second communication device communicate through the first device. The four beam configurations include a target beam configuration, which corresponds to the j-th channel quality information among the four channel quality information. The channel quality indicated by the j-th channel quality information is greater than or equal to the channel quality indicated by the first channel quality information. The first channel quality information includes the other three channel quality information among the four channel quality information, excluding the j-th channel quality information, where j is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to 4.

[0109] In one possible design, the four beam configurations include: a first beam configuration, a second beam configuration, a third beam configuration, and a fourth beam configuration; the first beam configuration, the second beam configuration, the third beam configuration, and the fourth beam configuration are different.

[0110] In one possible design, a first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method; a second beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the second beam coding method; a third beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction; a fourth beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction; wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal.

[0111] In one possible design scheme, the first beam coding method is Fresnel wave coding, and the second beam coding method is Fraunhofer coding.

[0112] In one possible design, the j-th channel quality information includes indication information, which indicates that the j-th channel quality information is associated with the j-th beam configuration out of four beam configurations. A processing module is used to determine the target beam configuration based on the j-th channel quality information.

[0113] In one possible design, the transceiver module is further configured to transmit a third measurement signal to the first device and receive second channel quality information from the second communication device. The processing module is further configured to perform beam management based on the second channel quality information. The second channel quality information is associated with the third measurement signal and the target beam configuration.

[0114] In one possible design, the first device is a reconfigurable smart surface RIS device.

[0115] Optionally, the transceiver module may include a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module implements the transmitting function of the communication device described in the twelfth aspect, and the receiving module implements the receiving function of the communication device described in the twelfth aspect.

[0116] Optionally, the communication device described in the twelfth aspect may further include a storage module storing programs or instructions. When the processing module executes the program or instructions, the communication device can perform the method described in the fifth aspect.

[0117] Optionally, the communication device described in the twelfth aspect may be a first communication device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the first communication device, or a device that includes the first communication device. This application does not limit this.

[0118] Furthermore, the technical effects of the communication device described in the twelfth aspect can be referred to the technical effects of the method described in the fifth aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0119] In a thirteenth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes: modules for performing the method described in the sixth aspect, such as a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is used to indicate the transceiver functions of the communication device, and the processing module is used to perform functions of the communication device other than the transceiver functions.

[0120] For example, a transceiver module is used to receive four second measurement signals from the first device. A processing module is used to control the transceiver module to send four channel quality information messages to the first communication device based on the four second measurement signals. The four channel quality information messages correspond one-to-one with the four second measurement signals, and the first communication device communicates with the communication device described in the thirteenth aspect through the first device.

[0121] In one possible design, the transceiver module is further configured to receive a third measurement signal from the first device. The processing module is further configured to control the transceiver module to send second channel quality information to the first communication device based on the third measurement signal.

[0122] In one possible design, the first device is a reconfigurable smart surface RIS device.

[0123] Optionally, the transceiver module may include a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module implements the transmitting function of the communication device described in the thirteenth aspect, and the receiving module implements the receiving function of the communication device described in the thirteenth aspect.

[0124] Optionally, the communication device described in aspect thirteen may further include a storage module storing programs or instructions. When the processing module executes the program or instructions, the communication device can perform the method described in aspect six.

[0125] Optionally, the communication device described in aspect thirteen may be a second communication device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the second communication device, or a device that includes the second communication device. This application does not limit this.

[0126] Furthermore, the technical effects of the communication device described in aspect thirteen can be referred to the technical effects of the method described in aspect six, and will not be repeated here.

[0127] Fourteenthly, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes a processor configured to execute the method described in any one of the possible implementations of the first to sixth aspects.

[0128] In one possible design, the communication device described in aspect fourteen may further include a transceiver. The transceiver may be a transceiver circuit or an interface circuit. The transceiver can be used for communication between the communication device described in aspect fourteen and other communication devices.

[0129] In one possible design, the communication device described in aspect fourteen may further include a memory. This memory may be integrated with the processor or disposed separately. The memory may be used to store computer programs and / or data relating to the methods described in any of aspects one through six.

[0130] In the embodiments of this application, the communication device described in the fourteenth aspect may be the first device described in the first aspect or the fourth aspect; or, the communication device described in the fourteenth aspect may be the first communication device described in the second aspect or the fifth aspect; or, the communication device described in the fourteenth aspect may be the second communication device described in the third aspect or the sixth aspect.

[0131] Furthermore, the technical effects of the communication device described in the fourteenth aspect can be referred to the technical effects of the method described in any of the implementations of the first to sixth aspects, and will not be repeated here.

[0132] The fifteenth aspect provides a communication device. The communication device includes a processor coupled to a memory, the processor being configured to execute a computer program stored in the memory, such that the communication device performs the method described in any possible implementation of the first to sixth aspects.

[0133] In one possible design, the communication device described in aspect fifteen may further include a transceiver. The transceiver may be a transceiver circuit or an interface circuit. The transceiver can be used for communication between the communication device described in aspect fifteen and other communication devices.

[0134] In the embodiments of this application, the communication device described in the fifteenth aspect may be the first device described in the first aspect or the fourth aspect; or, the communication device described in the fifteenth aspect may be the first communication device described in the second aspect or the fifth aspect; or, the communication device described in the fifteenth aspect may be the second communication device described in the third aspect or the sixth aspect.

[0135] Furthermore, the technical effects of the communication device described in aspect fifteen can be referred to the technical effects of the method described in any of the implementations of aspects one through six, and will not be repeated here.

[0136] In a sixteenth aspect, a communication device is provided, including a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store a computer program, which, when executed by the processor, causes the communication device to perform the method described in any one of the first to sixth aspects.

[0137] In one possible design, the communication device described in the sixteenth aspect may further include a transceiver. The transceiver may be a transceiver circuit or an interface circuit. The transceiver can be used for communication between the communication device described in the sixteenth aspect and other communication devices.

[0138] In the embodiments of this application, the communication device described in the sixteenth aspect may be the first device described in the first aspect or the fourth aspect; or, the communication device described in the sixteenth aspect may be the first communication device described in the second aspect or the fifth aspect; or, the communication device described in the sixteenth aspect may be the second communication device described in the third aspect or the sixth aspect.

[0139] Furthermore, the technical effects of the communication device described in the sixteenth aspect can be referred to the technical effects of the method described in any of the implementations of the first to sixth aspects, and will not be repeated here.

[0140] In a seventeenth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor; the processor being configured to be coupled to a memory, and after reading a computer program from the memory, to execute, according to the computer program, the method as described in any one of the first to sixth aspects.

[0141] In one possible design, the communication device described in the seventeenth aspect may further include a transceiver. The transceiver may be a transceiver circuit or an interface circuit. The transceiver can be used for communication between the communication device described in the seventeenth aspect and other communication devices.

[0142] In the embodiments of this application, the communication device described in the seventeenth aspect may be the first device described in the first aspect or the fourth aspect; or, the communication device described in the seventeenth aspect may be the first communication device described in the second aspect or the fifth aspect; or, the communication device described in the seventeenth aspect may be the second communication device described in the third aspect or the sixth aspect.

[0143] Furthermore, the technical effects of the communication device described in the seventeenth aspect can be referred to the technical effects of the method described in any of the implementations of the first to sixth aspects, and will not be repeated here.

[0144] Eighteenthly, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes the first device described in the first aspect, the first communication apparatus described in the second aspect, and the second communication apparatus described in the third aspect.

[0145] Nineteenthly, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes the first device described in the fourth aspect, the first communication apparatus described in the fifth aspect, and the second communication apparatus described in the sixth aspect.

[0146] In a twentieth aspect, a communication chip is provided, wherein instructions are stored that, when the chip is operated on a communication device, cause the communication method described in any one of the first to sixth aspects to be implemented.

[0147] A twenty-first aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium comprising: a computer program or instructions; wherein, when the computer program or instructions are executed on a computer, the computer causes the computer to perform the method described in any one of the possible implementations of the first to sixth aspects.

[0148] In a twenty-second aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising a computer program or instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method described in any one of the possible implementations of the first to sixth aspects. Attached Figure Description

[0149] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a typical RIS deployment scenario;

[0150] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a two-dimensional planar RIS device for wavefront smoothing;

[0151] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a two-dimensional planar RIS device with a spherical wavefront;

[0152] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an NCR architecture;

[0153] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the architecture for communication between base stations and terminal devices through RIS devices;

[0154] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system to which the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application is applicable;

[0155] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0156] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0157] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a sensing processing link provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0158] Figure 10 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0159] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the determination process of the first beam configuration of a first device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0160] Figure 12 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0161] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0162] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0163] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0164] For ease of understanding, the technical terms involved in the embodiments of this application will be introduced below.

[0165] 1. Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS)

[0166] RIS (Radio Frequency Identification) systems can comprise massively integrated microelectronic components, i.e., metasurface arrays. By dynamically adjusting their electromagnetic properties (such as phase, amplitude, frequency, and polarization), they can alter the direction of incident electromagnetic waves, enhance signal strength, or create specific waveforms to achieve precise signal reflection and transmission, thereby indirectly influencing the wireless environment. In other words, RIS can modify the characteristics of wireless channels, constructing intelligent and controllable wireless environments to achieve personalized channels for desired communications, thus improving the performance of wireless communication systems. A wireless channel refers to a radio channel that transmits data by radiating radio waves. The advantages of RIS lie in their near-zero energy consumption, low cost, and ability to achieve precise spatial control, which helps improve network coverage, reduce interference, and enhance communication quality. RIS is suitable for complex environments where direct base station deployment is difficult, such as through-wall communication between high-rise buildings or signal optimization within buildings. Through software control, RIS can adjust its properties in real time, achieving flexibility and intelligence in wireless communication.

[0167] Due to its low profile, the typical installation scenario for a Resonant Radio Interface (RIS) can include wall mounting as shown in Figure 1. The RIS's controllability allows for adjustment of the wireless channel (e.g., gain, correlation). However, compared to the background wall (10 meters × 20 meters) for RIS installation, the RIS's size is often relatively small (K-class @ 10 GHz, where K represents the power or signal strength class, and 10 GHz refers to the operating frequency, meaning the RIS's radiation or reception capability is concentrated at 10 GHz). When the RIS's antenna array has a half-wavelength pitch, the array size is 0.48m × 0.48m, only 0.115% of the background environment size, i.e., (0.48m × 0.48m) / (10m × 20m) = 0.115%. Therefore, the RIS's ability to adjust the wireless channel environment is limited.

[0168] RIS deployment locations can be spherical wavefronts (i.e., spherical wavefront deployment), planar wavefronts (i.e., planar wavefront deployment), or a hybrid of spherical and planar wavefronts (i.e., hybrid spherical and planar wavefront deployment). Specifically, spherical wavefront deployment is typically suitable for applications requiring omnidirectional coverage, such as stadiums, large buildings, or outdoor spaces. The RIS can adjust its reflection direction to form a wavefront resembling a spherical surface, providing 360-degree blind-spot-free communication. Planar wavefront deployment is used when the goal is to enhance signals on a two-dimensional plane, such as walls, ceilings, or the ground. The RIS is configured according to the planar shape, primarily for directional or linear path optimization. Hybrid spherical and planar wavefront deployment combines the advantages of both to achieve both comprehensiveness and specificity. In some complex environments, spherical coverage may be used for some areas, while planar waves concentrate energy in a specific direction for other areas.

[0169] Different RIS beamforming methods are adapted to different wavefront scenarios (i.e., different deployment locations). Beamforming involves adjusting the parameter vectors of the basic units of the phase array to achieve beamforming. Beamforming, also known as beamforming, spatial filtering, etc., is a signal processing technique that uses sensor arrays to transmit and receive signals in a directional manner. Beamforming technology adjusts the parameters of the basic units of the phase array so that signals at certain angles exhibit constructive interference, while signals at other angles exhibit destructive interference. Beamforming can be used at both the signal transmitting and receiving ends. The following section introduces the RIS beamforming methods corresponding to different wavefront scenarios.

[0170] Located on a plane wavefront, the RIS device can employ Fraunhofer coding based on the pattern product theorem (as shown in equation (1)). Fraunhofer coding is applicable to the far-field radiation region of the antenna, also known as the "Fröhn zone". The function of the antenna radiation field in space varying with angle can be called the antenna pattern function. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a two-dimensional planar RIS device on a plane wavefront. As shown in Figure 2, the spherical coordinate system includes the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis. The RIS has N axes in the x (axis) direction. x Each array element (0-N) x -1), there are N in the y (axis) direction. y Each array element (0-N) y -1), the array has a total of N x ×N y The pattern function of each unit is shown in equation (1), and the Fraunhofer encoded pattern function is shown in equation (2).

[0171] In equation (1), E is the sum of the electric field intensities radiated by all array surfaces at the same position in space, and the electric field intensity is a vector; E1 is the electric field intensity generated by array element 1 in space, E2 is the electric field intensity generated by array element 2 at the same position in space, ..., E N Ψ1 represents the electric field intensity produced by array element N at the same spatial location; Ψ2 represents the phase produced by array element 1 at the same spatial location, ..., Ψ3 represents the phase produced by array element 2 at the same spatial location, ..., Ψ4 represents the phase produced by array element N at the same spatial location. N It represents the phase generated by array element N at the same position in space.

[0172] In equation (2), In spherical coordinates The sum of the electric field intensities produced by directional radiation, where θ is the angle between the z-axis and the y-axis. E is the angle between the x-axis and the y-axis. mn For the mn-th unit (i.e., the coordinates are at x = N) m y = N n The electric field intensity generated at the same location in space; dx d is the element spacing in the x-direction. y The spacing between the array elements is y.

[0173] Located on a spherical wavefront, the RIS device can employ Fresnel coding, which is suitable for the near-field radiation region of the antenna, also known as the "Fresnel zone". Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a two-dimensional planar RIS device on a spherical wavefront. As shown in Figure 3, the spherical coordinate system includes the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis, where θ is the angle between the x-axis and the z-axis. The angle between the x-axis and y-axis is given. The total number of partitions in the Fresnel plane is N, meaning the partitions of the Fresnel plane can include: S1, S2, ..., S... N Its direction function is shown in equation (3) below:

[0174] Where E is the sum of the electric field strengths generated by all array elements of the RIS device; S is the N sub-ring regions of the RIS device, and m is the m sub-regions within the S region. E(n,S) represents the phase shift associated with the S-th sub-region; E(n,S) represents the electric field intensity generated in the nth S-sub-ring region.

[0175] 2. Reference signal (RS)

[0176] A reference signal, also known as a pilot signal, is a known signal provided by the transmitter to the receiver for channel estimation or channel sounding. Reference signals can be divided into uplink reference signals and downlink reference signals. Uplink reference signals refer to signals sent from a terminal device to a network device; that is, the transmitter is the terminal device and the receiver is the network device. Uplink reference signals can be used for uplink channel estimation (such as for coherent demodulation and detection in network devices or for calculating precoding) or uplink channel quality measurement. Downlink reference signals refer to signals sent from a network device to a terminal device; that is, the transmitter is the network device and the receiver is the terminal device. Downlink reference signals can be used for downlink channel estimation (such as for coherent detection and demodulation in terminal devices), downlink channel quality measurement, or cell search.

[0177] Uplink reference signals include sounding reference signal (SRS), demodulation reference signal (DMRS), etc.; downlink reference signals include channel status information reference signal (CSI-RS), DMRS, cell reference signal (CRS), synchronization signal block (SSB), primary synchronization signal (PSS), secondary synchronization signal (SSS), phase noise tracking reference signal (PT-RS), etc.

[0178] 3. Beam

[0179] A beam is a communication resource that refers to a directional, special transmission or reception effect formed by the transmitter or receiver of network or terminal equipment through an antenna array, similar to the beam of light from a flashlight focused in one direction. Using beams to transmit and receive signals can effectively increase the transmission distance.

[0180] Beams can be divided into transmit beams and receive beams. The technology for forming beams can be beamforming technology or other technologies. Beamforming includes transmit beamforming and receive beamforming. Specifically, beamforming technology can be digital beamforming technology, analog beamforming technology, or hybrid digital / analog beamforming technology, etc.

[0181] The transmitting beam is defined as follows: the transmitting device sends a signal with a certain beamforming weight, resulting in a spatially directional beam. In the uplink direction, the transmitting device can be a terminal device; in the downlink direction, the transmitting device can be a network device.

[0182] Received beam: The receiving device receives signals with certain beamforming weights, forming a spatially directional beam. In the uplink direction, the receiving device can be a network device; in the downlink direction, the receiving device can be a terminal device.

[0183] Transmit beamforming: When a transmitting device with an antenna array transmits a signal, a specific amplitude and phase are set on each antenna element of the antenna array to give the transmitted signal a certain spatial directivity. That is, the signal power is high in some directions and low in some directions, and the direction with the highest signal power is the direction of the transmitted beam. The antenna array consists of multiple antenna elements, and the specific amplitude and phase added are the beamforming weights.

[0184] Receiver beamforming: When a receiver with an antenna array receives a signal, a specific amplitude and phase are set on each antenna element of the array to make the power gain of the received signal directional. That is, the power gain is high when receiving signals in certain directions, and low when receiving signals in other directions. The direction with the highest power gain is the direction of the received beam. The antenna array consists of multiple antenna elements, and the specific amplitude and phase added are the beamforming weights.

[0185] Transmitting a signal using a specific transmit beam: Transmitting a signal using a specific beamforming weight. Receiving a signal using a specific receive beam: Receiving a signal using a specific beamforming weight.

[0186] The beam can be a wide beam, a narrow beam, or other types of beams.

[0187] Beams are generally associated with resources. For example, during beam measurement, network devices measure different beams using different resources, and the terminal devices provide feedback on the measured resource quality, allowing the network devices to determine the quality of the corresponding beam. During data transmission, beams can also be indicated by their corresponding resources. For instance, network devices use the Transmission Configuration Index (TCI) field in downlink control information (DCI) to indicate a transmission configuration indicator-state, and the terminal device determines the beam corresponding to that reference resource based on the reference resource contained in that TCI-state. Different beams can be considered different resources, and using (or through) different beams can transmit the same or different information.

[0188] A beampup typically includes a transmit beam from the transmitting device and a receive beam from the receiving device. Unless otherwise specified, the transmit beam in the following text refers to the transmit beam of the network device, and the receive beam refers to the receive beam of the terminal.

[0189] In communication systems, such as 5G New Radio (NR) systems, both network devices and terminal devices can generate one or more transmit beams and one or more receive beams. Before transmitting data, network devices and terminal devices need to perform beam alignment. In communication protocols, beams can be specifically represented as digital beams, analog beams, spatial domain filters, spatial filters, spatial parameters, TCI, TCI-states, etc. The beam used to transmit signals can be called a transmission beam (or Tx beam), a spatial domain transmission filter, a spatial transmission filter, a spatial domain transmission parameter, a spatial transmission parameter, etc. The beam used to receive signals can be called a reception beam (or Rx beam), a spatial domain reception filter, a spatial reception filter, a spatial domain reception parameter, a spatial reception parameter, etc. This application uses the term "beam" uniformly in its embodiments, but "beam" can be understood as other equivalent concepts, and is not limited to those mentioned above.

[0190] 4. Beam management

[0191] Beam management refers to the process by which network devices and terminal devices acquire transmit and receive beam sets. Beam management mainly includes the following four steps: beam scanning, beam measurement, beam reporting, and beam determination. Network devices can determine the corresponding transmit and receive beams through these four steps, and similarly, terminal devices can also determine the corresponding transmit and receive beams through these four steps. For specific implementation details, please refer to existing technologies; further elaboration is not provided here.

[0192] 5. Network Controlled Repeater (NCR)

[0193] NCRs can facilitate relay communication between base stations (such as next-generation Node-B (gNB)) and terminal equipment (or user equipment, UE) at low cost. For example, an NCR can act as a UE access base station or parent node and amplifies and forwards radio frequency (RF) signals, improving coverage, especially in blind spots. Therefore, NCRs can also be called network-controlled relay devices, signal-amplifying relay devices, intelligent relay devices, network-assisted relay devices, controllable relay devices, etc., without limitation. As shown in Figure 4, an NCR can include: an NCR mobile termination unit (NCR-MT) and an NCR forwarding unit (NCR-Fwd).

[0194] The NCR-MT has the function of establishing a connection with the parent node. This connection can be based on the Uu interface (the connection between the gNB and the UE), meaning the NCR-MT acts as the UE's access point to the parent node. The connection established between the NCR-MT and the parent node is called the control link (C-link). The parent node can decode the data transmitted through this link, thus possessing digital processing capabilities. Control information or side control information (SCI) is sent or received through the control link. SCI can be used to control behavior on the backhaul link, control link, and access link, such as beamforming direction, switching relay devices, and power control. The NCR-Fwd can be used to amplify and forward uplink / downlink radio frequency signals between the gNB and the UE via the backhaul link and access link. The distinction between the control link and the backhaul link is a logical concept and will not be elaborated further.

[0195] Currently, due to path loss (PL) during radio wave transmission, the communication distance between network devices and terminal devices is limited. By adding a relay node (RN) or relay equipment (such as the aforementioned NCR and RIS devices) between the base station and the terminal, the communication distance between the network devices and terminal devices can be increased. In scenarios where network devices and terminal devices communicate via relay nodes, the network device or terminal device can determine the beam configuration of the relay node based on the signal quality information between the terminal device and the network device. This reduces the hardware cost of the relay node and improves communication efficiency.

[0196] However, relay nodes have limited ability to adjust the wireless channel, resulting in less than ideal performance and gain of the communication system.

[0197] For example, taking a relay node as a RIS device, as described above, the RIS device can intelligently control the reflection characteristics of wireless signals through its numerous low-cost electromagnetic units, thereby adjusting the wireless channel (gain, correlation, etc.). As shown in Figure 5, after the network device and terminal device transmit signals through the RIS device, the communication device (i.e., the network device or the terminal device) can obtain a first signal quality. This first signal quality reflects the signal quality information from the terminal device to the RIS device, and from the RIS device to the network device, or from the network device to the RIS device, and from the RIS device to the terminal device. Based on the first signal quality, the communication device can determine the beam configuration of the relay node, which is related to the direction of the (transmit or receive) beam. In this way, the interaction (data, control signaling, etc.) and beam configuration and beam management processes between the network device, terminal device, and RIS device can be realized. However, the above implementation process does not consider the influence of the electromagnetic environment in which the RIS device is located on the beam configuration of the RIS device, which limits the control capability of the RIS device, resulting in less than ideal performance and gain of the communication system.

[0198] Therefore, in scenarios where network devices and terminal devices communicate through relay nodes, improving the performance and gain of the communication system is an urgent problem to be solved.

[0199] In summary, to address the aforementioned technical problems, this application proposes the following technical solutions to improve the performance and gain of the communication system.

[0200] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0201] The technical solutions of this application embodiment can be applied to various communication systems, such as Bluetooth systems, wireless fidelity (WiFi) systems, long-range radio (LoRa), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems, device-to-device (D2D) communication systems, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication systems, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT) communication systems, fourth-generation (4G) communication systems such as long-term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, fifth-generation (5G) communication systems such as new radio (NR) systems, and future communication systems, etc.

[0202] In a communication system, a device can send signals to or receive signals from another device. These signals can include information, signaling, or data. The term "device" can also be replaced with entities, network entities, communication equipment, communication modules, nodes, communication nodes, etc.

[0203] This application will present various aspects, embodiments, or features relating to systems that may include multiple devices, components, modules, etc. Optionally, each system may include additional devices, components, modules, etc., and / or may not include all the devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, combinations of these approaches may also be used.

[0204] Furthermore, in the embodiments of this application, the words "exemplary," "for example," etc., are used to indicate that they are examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design scheme described as "exemplary" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Specifically, the use of the term "exemplary" is intended to present the concept in a concrete manner.

[0205] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "information," "signal," "message," "channel," and "signaling" may sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that, without emphasizing their distinction, their intended meanings are consistent. Similarly, "of," "corresponding (relevant)," and "corresponding" may sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that, without emphasizing their distinction, their intended meanings are consistent. Furthermore, the " / " mentioned in this application can be used to indicate an "or" relationship. In this application, "instruction" can include direct instruction, indirect instruction, explicit instruction, and implicit instruction. When describing an instruction as indicating A, it can be understood that the instruction carries A, directly indicates A, or indirectly indicates A.

[0206] In this embodiment, the information indicated by the instruction information is called the information to be instructed. In specific implementations, there are many ways to indicate the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly indicating the information to be instructed, such as the information to be instructed itself or its index; or indirectly indicating the information to be instructed by indicating other information, wherein there is an association between the other information and the information to be instructed. Alternatively, only a part of the information to be instructed may be indicated, while the other parts are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction of specific information can be achieved by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol-defined) arrangement of various pieces of information, thereby reducing instruction overhead to some extent.

[0207] The information to be instructed can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information messages, and the sending period and / or timing of these sub-information messages can be the same or different. This application does not limit the specific sending method. The sending period and / or timing of these sub-information messages can be predefined, for example, according to a protocol, or configured by the transmitting device by sending configuration information to the receiving device.

[0208] In the embodiments of this application, "send" and "receive" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "send information to XX" can be understood as the destination of the information being XX, which may include direct transmission via the air interface or indirect transmission by other units or modules via the air interface. "Receive information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information being YY, which may include direct reception from YY via the air interface or indirect reception from YY by other units or modules via the air interface. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can occur between devices, such as between network devices and terminal devices, or within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device via a bus, wiring, or interface.

[0209] The network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of this application are for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0210] In this embodiment, "first device" may include a first device or a functional module capable of implementing the functions of the first device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first device. "First communication device" may include a first communication device or a functional module capable of implementing the functions of the first communication device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first communication device. "Second communication device" may include a second communication device or a functional module capable of implementing the functions of the second communication device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the second communication device.

[0211] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, the communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application will be described in detail first using the communication system shown in FIG6 as an example. For example, FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system to which the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application applies.

[0212] As shown in Figure 6, the communication system mainly includes: a first communication device, a first device, and a second communication device.

[0213] The first communication device and the second communication device can be either network devices or terminal devices. When the first communication device is a network device, the second communication device can be a terminal device; when the first communication device is a terminal network device, the second communication device can be a network device.

[0214] Network devices can be devices with wireless transceiver capabilities, or they can be chips or chip systems located in the access network (AN) of a communication system to provide access services to terminals. For example, a network device can be called an RAN device, specifically an access network device in a future communication system, or in a future mobile communication system, a network device can have other naming conventions, all of which are covered within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application, and the embodiments of this application do not impose any limitations on them. Alternatively, network equipment can also include 5G, such as a gNB in ​​a New Radio (NR) system, or one or a group of antenna panels (including multiple antenna panels) of a 5G base station. It can also be network nodes constituting a gNB, a transmission reception point (TRP) or transmission point (TP), or a transmission measurement function (TMF), such as a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), a radio unit (RU), an RSU with base station functionality, a wired access gateway, or core network elements of 5G. Alternatively, network equipment can also include: access points (APs) in Wi-Fi systems, wireless relay nodes, wireless backhaul nodes, various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small cells), relay stations, access points, wearable devices, vehicle-mounted equipment, etc.

[0215] CU and DU can be configured separately or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RU can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs). Optionally, network equipment can be CU nodes, DU nodes, or equipment including both CU and DU nodes. Furthermore, CUs can be classified as network equipment in the access network (RAN) or as network equipment in the core network (CN); there are no restrictions on this classification.

[0216] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an ORAN system, CU can also be called O-CU (open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules.

[0217] In this embodiment, the form of the network device is not limited. The device used to implement the function of the network device can be the network device itself, or it can be a device that supports the network device in implementing the function, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the network device or used in conjunction with the network device.

[0218] The terminal device can be a device or module that accesses the aforementioned communication system and has corresponding communication functions. The terminal device can be a terminal device with transceiver functions, or it can be a chip or chip system installed in the terminal device. This terminal device can also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal equipment, subscriber unit, user station, mobile station (MS), mobile station, remote station, remote terminal equipment, mobile device, user terminal equipment, terminal equipment, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user apparatus. The terminal devices in the embodiments of this application may be mobile phones, cellular phones, smartphones, tablets, wireless data cards, personal digital assistants (PDAs), wireless modems, handsets, laptop computers, machine-type communication (MTC) terminal devices, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, virtual reality (VR) terminal devices, augmented reality (AR) terminal devices, smart home devices (e.g., refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners, electricity meters, etc.), intelligent robots, robotic arms, workshop equipment, wireless terminal devices in autonomous driving, wireless terminal devices in industrial control, wireless terminal devices in self-driving, wireless terminal devices in telemedicine, wireless terminal devices in smart grids, wireless terminal devices in transportation safety, wireless terminal devices in smart cities, and smart homes. The terminal equipment in this application can be a wireless terminal device (e.g., a vehicle-mounted terminal device), a roadside unit (RSU) with terminal device functionality, or flying equipment (e.g., intelligent robots, hot air balloons, drones, airplanes). The terminal equipment in this application can also be a vehicle-mounted module, vehicle-mounted component, vehicle-mounted chip, or vehicle-mounted unit integrated into a vehicle as one or more components or units, a transportation vehicle with wireless communication functionality, or a communication module. The terminal equipment can also be other devices with terminal device functionality; for example, it can be a device that functions as a terminal device in D2D communication.

[0219] The embodiments of this application do not limit the form of the terminal device. The device used to implement the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device itself; it can also be a device that supports the terminal device in implementing the functions, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in the terminal device or used in conjunction with the terminal device. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices. The terminal device typically has a communication module, circuit, or chip that performs the corresponding communication functions. The terminal device can also be configured with program instructions for performing the corresponding communication functions.

[0220] The first device can be a relay node used to forward signals (such as data signals, control signals, etc.) between the first and second communication devices, that is, the first and second communication devices communicate through the first device. For example, the first device can be a RIS device, or any other possible device, without limitation. The naming of the first device is merely an example and can be replaced with any other possible name, without limitation.

[0221] In this communication system, the first device includes M sensing units. The first device can receive first measurement signals from a first communication device through these M sensing units, and process the received signals to determine its first beam configuration. This first beam configuration is related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by signals transmitted from the first communication device. The first device can sense the electromagnetic environment of its location through the M sensing units to guide beam management. That is, the first device can select an appropriate beamcoding method based on the electromagnetic environment to suit different electromagnetic environments and scenarios, effectively improving its capabilities and thus enhancing the performance and gain of the communication system. Therefore, when the first device acts as a relay node, it dynamically adjusts its beamcoding based on the surrounding electromagnetic environment to improve system performance and gain in external physical environments.

[0222] Figure 6 is a simplified schematic diagram for ease of understanding. Other devices may also be included in this communication system, which are not shown in Figure 6.

[0223] The first device provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 7-9.

[0224] In this embodiment, the first device acts as a relay node, capable of forwarding signals (electromagnetic waves) between network devices and terminal devices. This first device possesses the ability to dynamically change the electromagnetic field strength and flexibly adjust parameters such as the phase, amplitude, frequency, and polarization of the incident electromagnetic waves, thereby altering the characteristics of the wireless channel, constructing an intelligent and controllable wireless environment, and improving the performance of the wireless communication system. The first device also has the ability to actively sense the electromagnetic environment in which it is located. The first device will be described in detail below.

[0225] For example, FIG7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG7, the first device may include a sensing unit and a RIS unit.

[0226] The sensing unit can be used to receive and process measurement signals to obtain measurement results. The RIS unit is used to reflect signals based on the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located.

[0227] The sensor unit will be described in detail below.

[0228] In one possible design, the sensing unit can be composed of a sensing processing link. As shown in Figure 9, the sensing processing link may include an antenna unit and a signal processing unit.

[0229] The antenna unit can be used to receive measurement signals. For example, the antenna unit can receive measurement signals from network devices or terminal devices. When the antenna unit receives measurement signals from network devices, the measurement signal can be a downlink reference signal, such as CSI-RS, DMRS, CRS, SSB, PSS, SSS, PT-RS, etc., without limitation; when the antenna unit receives measurement signals from terminal devices, the measurement signal can be an uplink reference signal, such as SRS, DMRS, etc., without limitation. The signal processing unit can include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) module, a processing module, etc., for processing the measurement signals to obtain measurement results. The measurement results can be used to determine the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located. Based on the sensing processing link, the enabling sensing unit can have the hardware capability to sense and process information about the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located. Optionally, the sensing processing link can also include any other possible modules or units, such as a power supply module for powering the signal processing unit, without limitation.

[0230] In one possible design, the first device includes at least two sensing units; each of the at least two sensing units is used to receive and process measurement signals to obtain a measurement result corresponding to each sensing unit; the measurement results corresponding to each of the at least two sensing units are used to determine the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located.

[0231] Optionally, any two of the at least two sensing units may be deployed at different positions on the first device, enabling the first device to perform two-dimensional sensing comparison. For example, the first device may process and compare measurement signals in both horizontal and vertical dimensions to improve the accuracy of sensing the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located. For instance, if the first device includes two sensing units, the deployment positions of these two sensing units on the first device differ in both horizontal and vertical dimensions; if the first device includes three or more sensing units, at least two of the at least three sensing units may have horizontally different deployment positions on the first device, and at least two of the at least three sensing units may have vertically different deployment positions on the first device.

[0232] For example, as shown in Figure 8, sensing unit #A and sensing unit #B are deployed on the same vertical direction on the first device, sensing unit #A and sensing unit #C are deployed on the same horizontal direction on the first device, and the deployment positions of sensing unit #B and sensing unit #C on the first device differ in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. When the first device includes two sensing units, it can include sensing unit #B and sensing unit #C. Sensing unit #B can receive and process measurement signals to obtain measurement result #1; sensing unit #C can receive and process measurement signals to obtain measurement result #2. In this case, the first device can perform a two-dimensional (horizontal and vertical) sensing comparison based on measurement result #1 and measurement result #2 to determine the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located.

[0233] When the first device includes three or more sensing units, taking three sensing units as an example, the first device may include sensing units #A and #C in the horizontal dimension, and sensing units #A and #B in the vertical dimension. Sensing unit #A can receive and process measurement signals to obtain measurement result #3; sensing unit #B can receive and process measurement signals to obtain measurement result #1; sensing unit #C can receive and process measurement signals to obtain measurement result #2. In this case, the first device can perform a vertical dimension sensing comparison based on measurement result #3 and measurement result #1, and a horizontal dimension sensing comparison based on measurement result #3 and measurement result #2, to determine the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located. Optionally, the first device can also achieve two-dimensional sensing processing and comparison through a combination of sensing units #A, #B, #C, or more sensing units (such as sensing unit #D shown in Figure 8), thereby improving the accuracy of the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located. This application embodiment does not limit this aspect.

[0234] Optionally, each sensing unit may include one or more antenna elements, and each antenna element may correspond to one or more receiving antennas. Each antenna element may correspond to a signal processing unit, and an antenna element and its corresponding signal processing unit can be called a sensing processing link, which has the capability of signal acquisition and signal processing. For example, suppose sensing unit #A includes four antenna elements, namely antenna element #a (corresponding to signal processing unit #a), antenna element #b (corresponding to signal processing unit #b), antenna element #c (corresponding to signal processing unit #c), and antenna element #d (corresponding to signal processing unit #d). As shown in Figure 9, antenna element #a and signal processing unit #a can form processing link #a, antenna element #b and signal processing unit #b can form processing link #b, antenna element #c and signal processing unit #c can form processing link #c, and antenna element #d and signal processing unit #d can form processing link #d.

[0235] Optionally, the sensing unit can be deployed on the outside or inside of the first device. For details on how the sensing unit processes measurement signals to obtain measurement results, please refer to the relevant content in step S1001 below.

[0236] The RIS unit will be described in detail below.

[0237] The RIS unit may include a metasurface array, possessing the ability to dynamically change the electromagnetic field strength and flexibly control parameters such as the phase, amplitude, frequency, and polarization of the incident electromagnetic wave, enabling the first device to have metasurface control capabilities. The RIS unit may include an adjustable unit, a controller, and a power supply module. The adjustable unit may be a positive-intrinsic negative (PIN) diode, a variable capacitance diode (VCD), a phase change material (PCM) liquid crystal (LC), etc.; the controller may be used to control the switching of the adjustable unit, and may be an advanced reduced instruction set machine (RISC machine, ARM), a microcontroller unit (MCU), etc.; the power supply module may be used to power the adjustable unit and the controller. For a detailed description of the RIS unit, please refer to existing technologies. Optionally, as shown in Figure 8, the first device may include one or more RIS units, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0238] Optionally, the RIS unit can share a power supply module with the sensing unit, or the RIS unit and the sensing unit can each have their own dedicated power supply module.

[0239] As described in the technical terminology section above, the electromagnetic environment in which the first device operates affects its beamcoding method. The first device can determine its electromagnetic environment based on measurement results obtained from the sensing unit. Based on this environment, the first device selects a suitable beamcoding method for beamcoding; that is, it can use this selected beamcoding method to reflect signals (i.e., electromagnetic waves) through the RIS unit. Optionally, the first device using this selected beamcoding method to reflect signals through the RIS unit can be understood as: the first device using this selected beamcoding method to receive the incident signal through the RIS unit and then reflecting it back. This allows it to be adapted to different electromagnetic environments and different scenarios, effectively improving the capabilities of the first device and thus enhancing the performance and gain of the communication system.

[0240] Based on the above description, for example, the first device can be a RIS device (such as a RIS apparatus), which may include RIS units and sensing units. That is, the metasurface array and the sensing units constitute the RIS apparatus, enabling the RIS apparatus to have both metasurface manipulation and active sensing capabilities of the electromagnetic environment. This RIS apparatus may also be called a RIS apparatus with fused sensing capabilities, or any other possible name, without limitation.

[0241] In summary, the sensing unit and the RIS unit constitute the first device. The sensing unit can sense the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located, so that the RIS unit can select an appropriate beam coding method according to the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located, so as to be suitable for different electromagnetic environments and different scenarios, effectively improving the capabilities of the first device, thereby improving the performance and gain of the communication system.

[0242] The first device provided in the embodiments of this application has been described in detail above with reference to Figures 7-9. The communication method provided in the embodiments of this application will be specifically described below with reference to Figures 10-14.

[0243] For example, Figure 10 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. This method can be applied to the aforementioned communication system and involves interaction between a first communication device, a second communication device, and the first device shown in Figure 7.

[0244] As shown in Figure 10, the flow of this communication method is as follows:

[0245] S1001, the first communication device sends a first measurement signal to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first measurement signal from the first communication device through M sensing units.

[0246] The first measurement signal can be a measurement beam, which is transmitted from the first communication device to the first device. When the first communication device is a network device, the first measurement signal can be a downlink reference signal, such as CSI-RS, DMRS, CRS, SSB, PSS, SSS, PT-RS, etc.; when the first communication device is a terminal device, the first measurement signal can be an uplink reference signal, such as SRS, DMRS, etc.

[0247] The first device may include M sensing units, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2, meaning the first device includes at least 2 sensing units. At least two of the M sensing units are deployed in different positions on the first device, enabling the first device to achieve two-dimensional sensing comparison. That is, the first device processes and compares measurement signals in both horizontal and vertical dimensions to improve the accuracy of sensing the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located. Optionally, at least two of the M sensing units are deployed in different positions on the first device. Optionally, the M sensing units may be all sensing units included in the first device, or a subset (M units) of all sensing units (e.g., N units), where N is an integer greater than M. This embodiment does not limit this. Each of the M sensing units includes a sensing processing link, which includes an antenna unit. The first device can receive a first measurement signal from a first communication device through the antenna unit of each of the M sensing units. In other words, each of the M sensing units can receive a first measurement signal from the first communication device.

[0248] In one possible design, the first device is a RIS device.

[0249] In other words, the first device possesses the ability of a typical RIS device to dynamically change the electromagnetic field strength and flexibly adjust parameters such as the phase, amplitude, frequency, and polarization of the incident electromagnetic wave; that is, the first device includes RIS units. Based on the fact that the first device includes M sensing units, it also has the ability to actively sense the electromagnetic environment in which it is located. For a detailed description of the first device, please refer to the relevant content in Figure 7 above; further details will not be elaborated here.

[0250] The naming of the first measurement signal mentioned above is merely an example, and the first measurement signal can be replaced with any other possible name without limitation.

[0251] S1002, the first device processes the received first measurement signal through M sensing units to determine the first beam configuration of the first device.

[0252] Based on the description of the relevant content in the first device shown in Figure 7 above, the sensing processing link also includes a signal processing unit. The first device can process the first measurement signal received by each of the M sensing units through its respective signal processing unit to obtain relevant parameters of the sensing electromagnetic environment. These relevant parameters can determine the first beam configuration of the first device, which can be used to indicate the beam coding method corresponding to the first device in the signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device.

[0253] In signal transmission between two first communication devices, the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located differs, and the beamcoding method used by the first device varies accordingly. That is, the first beam configuration is related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signal sent from the first communication device to the first device. For example, in signal transmission between two first communication devices, if the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located corresponds to a plane wavefront, the first device can use Fraunhofer coding for beamcoding; if the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located corresponds to a spherical wavefront, the first device can use Fresnel coding for beamcoding. The first device can determine its electromagnetic environment by sensing relevant parameters of the electromagnetic environment, thereby determining the first beam configuration. The specific implementation of the first device processing the received first measurement signal through M sensing units is described below.

[0254] In one possible design, the first device processes the received first measurement signal through M sensing units to determine the first beam configuration of the first device, including:

[0255] The first device processes the first measurement signal received by each of the M sensing units to obtain the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units.

[0256] The first device determines the first beam configuration based on the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units.

[0257] The phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units includes the phase information of the first measurement signal received by each of the M sensing units. Optionally, since any two sensing units among the M sensing units are deployed at different positions on the first device, the phases of the first measurement signals received by the M sensing units are also different. The first device processes the first measurement signal received by each of the M sensing units separately, that is, each of the M sensing units obtains the phase information of the first measurement signal received by itself. The first device can compare and calculate the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units, or compare it with the trained model, to determine the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located, so as to determine the first beam configuration based on the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located.

[0258] The following example illustrates how the first device determines the first beam configuration based on the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units.

[0259] Case 1: When the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies the first condition, the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method.

[0260] Case 2: When the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies the second condition, the first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information. The first configuration information is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method, and the second configuration information is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the second beam coding method.

[0261] Case 3: When the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies the third condition, the first beam configuration is used to instruct the first device to use the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction. The first direction and the second direction are orthogonal.

[0262] Case 4: When the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies the fourth condition, the first beam configuration is used to instruct the first device to use the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction.

[0263] The first beamcoding method can be Fresnel coding or any other possible beamcoding method; the second beamcoding method can be Fraunhofer coding or any other possible beamcoding method. The following discussion will use Fresnel coding as the first beamcoding method and Fraunhofer coding as the second beamcoding method as an example.

[0264] The following section, with reference to Figure 11, will provide a detailed description of cases 1 through 4.

[0265] As shown in Figure 11, for case 1 above:

[0266] The first condition may include: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by any two of the M sensing units is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and the deployment positions of these two sensing units on the first device differ in either the horizontal or vertical dimension. In this case, the signals (or beams) received by the first device in both the horizontal and vertical directions are beamcoded using the first beamcoding method.

[0267] For example, the value of the first threshold can be... Or any other possible value, for example, the first threshold and The difference between them is less than a preset value. This application embodiment does not limit the specific value of the preset value or the specific value of the first threshold. This application embodiment assumes that the value of the first threshold is equal to... This will be explained further using an example. Optionally, in the M sensing units, the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by any two sensing units is greater than or equal to... In this case, the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located corresponds to a spherical wavefront, i.e., the far-field radiation region of the antenna. The first device can determine that Fresnel coding is used for beam coding. In case 1, this first beam configuration is referred to as first beam configuration #a, and will not be described further hereafter.

[0268] Regarding situation 2 above:

[0269] The second condition may include: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by any two of the M sensing units is less than a first threshold. The deployment positions of these two sensing units on the first device differ in either a horizontal or vertical dimension. Optionally, in case 2, the first device cannot directly determine whether to use the first beamcoding method or the second beamcoding method. That is, the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by any two of the M sensing units is less than... When the first device cannot determine whether the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located corresponds to a spherical wavefront or a planar wavefront, i.e., the far-field radiation region of the antenna or the far-field radiation region of the antenna, the first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information.

[0270] For the first configuration information, the signals (or beams) received by the first device in both the horizontal and vertical directions are beamcoded using the first beamcoding method, i.e., Fresnel coding. For the second configuration information, the signals (or beams) received by the first device in both the horizontal and vertical directions are beamcoded using the second beamcoding method, i.e., Fraunhofer coding. Whether the first device ultimately uses the first or second beamcoding method is determined or decided by the first communication device. Optionally, in case 2, this first beam configuration is referred to as first beam configuration #b, and will not be elaborated further.

[0271] It should be noted that in cases 1 and 2, if M=2, the deployment positions of the two sensing units on the first device differ in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions, for example, as shown in Figure 8, sensing unit #B and sensing unit #C.

[0272] Regarding situation 3 above:

[0273] The M sensing units include a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit, and a third sensing unit. That is, in case 3, M is greater than or equal to 3. Case 3 will be described below using three sensing units out of the M units—the first, second, and third sensing units—as an example. The first and second sensing units are deployed at the same location in the first direction, and the first and third sensing units are deployed at the same location in the second direction. The third condition may include: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first and second sensing units is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first and third sensing units is less than the first threshold.

[0274] For example, the first direction can be horizontal, and the second direction can be vertical. That is, the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are deployed at the same position in the horizontal direction, but differ in the vertical dimension. For example, as shown in Figure 8, the first sensing unit can be sensing unit #A, and the second sensing unit can be sensing unit #B; the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit are deployed at the same position in the vertical direction, but differ in the horizontal dimension. For example, as shown in Figure 8, the first sensing unit can be sensing unit #A, and the third sensing unit can be sensing unit #C.

[0275] In scenario 3, the signals (or beams) received by the first device in the horizontal direction are all beamcoded using the first beamcoding method, i.e., Fresnel coding, while the signals (or beams) received in the vertical direction are all beamcoded using the second beamcoding method, i.e., Fraunhofer coding. Optionally, in scenario 3, this first beam configuration is referred to as first beam configuration #c, and will not be elaborated further.

[0276] For scenario 4:

[0277] The M sensing units include a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit, and a third sensing unit. That is, in case 4, M is greater than or equal to 3. Case 4 will be described below using three sensing units out of the M units—the first, second, and third sensing units—as an example. The first and second sensing units are deployed at the same position in the first direction, and the first and third sensing units are deployed at the same position in the second direction. The fourth condition includes: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first and second sensing units is less than a first threshold, and the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first and third sensing units is greater than or equal to the first threshold.

[0278] For example, the first direction can be horizontal, and the second direction can be vertical. That is, the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are deployed at the same position in the horizontal direction, but differ in the vertical dimension. For example, as shown in Figure 8, the first sensing unit can be sensing unit #A, and the second sensing unit can be sensing unit #B; the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit are deployed at the same position in the vertical direction, but differ in the horizontal dimension. For example, as shown in Figure 8, the first sensing unit can be sensing unit #A, and the third sensing unit can be sensing unit #C.

[0279] In scenario 4, the signals (or beams) received by the first device in the horizontal direction are all beamcoded using the second beamcoding method, namely Fraunhofer coding, while the signals (or beams) received in the vertical direction are all beamcoded using the first beamcoding method, namely Fresnel coding. Optionally, in scenario 4, this first beam configuration is referred to as first beam configuration #d, and will not be elaborated further.

[0280] Based on the above situations 1-4, the correspondence between the first beam configuration and the beam coding method adopted by the first device for the signals (or beams) received in the horizontal and vertical directions can be shown in Table 1. For a detailed description, please refer to the relevant content in the above situations 1-4, which will not be repeated here.

[0281] Table 1

[0282] The above scenarios 1-4 are merely examples. The first device can also process the first measurement signal received by each of the M sensing units to obtain other information corresponding to the M sensing units for characterizing electromagnetic environment parameters, so as to help the first device judge the electromagnetic environment. This application does not limit this.

[0283] The naming of the first beam configuration, first configuration information, and second configuration information mentioned above is only an example. The first beam configuration, first configuration information, and second configuration information can also be replaced with any other possible names.

[0284] S1003, the first device sends a first beam configuration to the first communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first beam configuration from the first device.

[0285] The first beam configuration is determined based on the first measurement signal. Specifically, in step S1002, the first device processes the received first measurement signal through M sensing units to determine its first beam configuration. The first device then sends or reports the determined first beam configuration to the first communication device. The first beam configuration will be described in detail below using the following example (i.e., the first beam configuration satisfies any one of the following conditions).

[0286] Case a: The first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method.

[0287] Case b: The first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information. The first configuration information is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method, and the second configuration information is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the second beam coding method.

[0288] Case c: The first beam configuration is used to instruct the first device to use a first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and a second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal.

[0289] Case d: The first beam configuration is used to instruct the first device to use the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction.

[0290] It is understandable that situation a corresponds to situation 1 above, and its specific description can be found in the relevant content of situation 1 above, so it will not be repeated here; situation b corresponds to situation 2 above, and its specific description can be found in the relevant content of situation 2 above, so it will not be repeated here; situation c corresponds to situation 3 above, and its specific description can be found in the relevant content of situation 3 above, so it will not be repeated here; situation d corresponds to situation 4 above, and its specific description can be found in the relevant content of situation 4 above, so it will not be repeated here.

[0291] In summary, the first device includes M sensing units. The first device can receive first measurement signals from the first communication device through these M sensing units, and process the received first measurement signals to determine its first beam configuration. This first beam configuration is related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signals sent from the first communication device to the first device. The first device can sense the electromagnetic environment of the first communication device through these M sensing units to guide beam management. That is, the first device can select an appropriate beam coding method based on the electromagnetic environment of the first communication device to suit different electromagnetic environments and scenarios, effectively improving the capabilities of the first device and thus enhancing the performance and gain of the communication system. Based on this, when the first device is a relay node, the first device dynamically adjusts its beam coding based on the electromagnetic environment it is in, incorporating its sensing and processing of the electromagnetic environment into the signal, signaling, and beam configuration and management processes of network devices, terminal devices, and relay devices (such as RIS). In other words, by integrating the sensing information of the first device with the beam management method, the first device can change the channel environment more efficiently and achieve higher network gain, thereby improving the system performance and gain of the first device in the field physical environment deployment.

[0292] In conjunction with the above embodiments, in one possible design scheme, after the first device sends the first beam configuration to the first communication device, or after the first communication device receives the first beam configuration from the first device, the method further includes:

[0293] The first communication device determines the second beam configuration based on the first beam configuration.

[0294] The first communication device sends a second beam configuration to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the second beam configuration from the first communication device.

[0295] The first communication device sends a second measurement signal to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the second measurement signal from the first communication device through a second beam configuration.

[0296] The first device sends a second measurement signal to the second communication device. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the second measurement signal from the first device.

[0297] The second communication device sends third channel quality information to the first communication device based on the second measurement signal. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the third channel quality information from the second communication device.

[0298] The first communication device performs beam management based on the third channel quality information.

[0299] In other words, the second beam configuration is determined based on the first beam configuration. The following example illustrates the specific implementation of how the first communication device determines the second beam configuration.

[0300] Form 1: When the first beam configuration satisfies any of the following: the first beam configuration indicates that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method; the first beam configuration indicates that the first device uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction; or the first beam configuration indicates that the first device uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction, the second beam configuration is the same as the first beam configuration. Alternatively, when the phase information of each of the M sensing units satisfies any one of the first condition, the third condition, or the fourth condition, the second beam configuration is the same as the first beam configuration.

[0301] That is, form 1 corresponds to cases a, c and d above, or form 1 corresponds to cases 1, 3 and 4 above. In this case, the first device can directly determine the first beam configuration as the second beam configuration, which is simple to implement.

[0302] Form 2: When the first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information, the second beam is configured with either the first configuration information or the second configuration information. Alternatively, when the phase information of each of the M sensing units satisfies the second condition, the second beam is configured with either the first configuration information or the second configuration information.

[0303] That is, form 2 corresponds to case b above, or form 2 corresponds to case 2 above. In this case, the first communication device needs to determine the second beam configuration as either the first configuration information or the second configuration information based on the first beam configuration, in order to ensure the accuracy of the beam coding method corresponding to the first device in the signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device. The specific implementation of the first communication device determining the second beam configuration as either the first configuration information or the second configuration information based on the first beam configuration is described in detail below.

[0304] In one possible design, the first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information, prior to the first communication device sending the second beam configuration to the first device; or, the phase information of each of the M sensing units satisfies a second condition, prior to the first device receiving the second beam configuration from the first communication device. The method further includes:

[0305] The first communication device sends a third measurement signal and a fourth measurement signal to the first device.

[0306] Accordingly, the first device receives the third measurement signal from the first communication device through the first beam coding method, and sends the third measurement signal to the second communication device.

[0307] The first device receives the fourth measurement signal from the first communication device using the second beam coding method, and then sends the fourth measurement signal to the second communication device.

[0308] The third and fourth measurement signals can be the same signal, denoted as measurement signal #a, which is continuously transmitted. For example, suppose the first communication device can continuously transmit measurement signal #a to the first device at times T1-T2, and the transmission delay between the first communication device and the first device is 0. The predefined or preconfigured rule is: the first device receives measurement signal #a from the first communication device at time T1 using the first beam coding method (corresponding to the first configuration information), and receives measurement signal #a from the first communication device at time T3 using the second beam coding method (corresponding to the second configuration information), where T3 is greater than T1 and less than or equal to T2. In this case, the first device can, according to the predefined or preconfigured rule, receive measurement signal #a from the first communication device at time T1 using the first beam coding method, i.e., Fresnel wave coding, and at time T3 using the second beam coding method, i.e., Fraunhofer coding, to receive measurement signal #a from the first communication device.

[0309] Alternatively, the third and fourth measurement signals can be different measurement signals. The third measurement signal can be denoted as measurement signal #b, and the fourth measurement signal can be denoted as measurement signal #c. The difference between measurement signal #b and measurement signal #c means that the first communication device sends measurement signal #b and measurement signal #c to the first device at different times, but the signal type and characteristics of measurement signal #b and measurement signal #c, such as phase, amplitude, and period, are the same. That is, measurement signal #b and measurement signal #c are sent at intervals. For example, assuming the transmission delay between the first communication device and the first device is 0, the first communication device can send measurement signal #b to the first device at time Ta, and the first device can receive measurement signal #b from the first communication device at time Ta using the first beam coding method, i.e., Fresnel wave coding. The first communication device can send measurement signal #c to the first device at time Tb, and the first device can receive measurement signal #c from the first communication device at time Tb using the second beam coding method, i.e., Fraunhofer coding. Ta is different from Tb. This application does not limit whether the third measurement signal and the fourth measurement signal are the same measurement signal or different measurement signals.

[0310] Based on the above introduction, when the first communication device is a network device, the third and fourth measurement signals can be downlink reference signals, such as CSI-RS, DMRS, CRS, SSB, PSS, SSS, PT-RS, etc., without limitation; when the first communication device is a terminal device, the third and fourth measurement signals can be uplink reference signals, such as SRS, DMRS, etc., without limitation.

[0311] The first communication device and the second communication device communicate through the first device. That is, the first device can act as a relay node between the first and second communication devices, forwarding signals (electromagnetic waves) between them. The first device can send a third measurement signal received using a first beamcoding method and a fourth measurement signal received using a second beamcoding method to the second communication device. It is understood that when the first device sends the third and fourth measurement signals to the second communication device, the directions of the transmitting beams used are the same or similar. For example, the deviation between the directions of the transmitting beams corresponding to the third and fourth measurement signals is within a preset range, which is not limited in this embodiment. The transmitting beam corresponding to the third measurement signal (which can be denoted as beam #a) can be understood as: the first communication device uses beam #a to send the third measurement signal to the second communication device; the transmitting beam corresponding to the fourth measurement signal (which can be denoted as beam #b) can be understood as: the first communication device uses beam #b to send the fourth measurement signal to the second communication device. Correspondingly, the second communication device can use receiving beams in the same direction to receive the third and fourth measurement signals.

[0312] The second communication device can measure the third measurement signal to obtain first channel quality information. The first channel quality information can be associated with a first beamcoding method and the third measurement signal, and is used to characterize the quality of the channel traversed by the first communication device when forwarding the third measurement signal from the first device (which receives the third measurement signal using the first beamcoding method) to the second communication device. This first channel quality information can be a channel quality indicator (CQI), signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), reference signal receiving power (RSRP), reference signal receiving quality (RSRQ), received signal strength indication (RSSI), or any other parameter or signaling that may be used to characterize or measure the quality of the wireless link, without limitation. For ease of understanding, CQI information will be used as an example in the following description. For ease of understanding, this first channel quality information can be referred to as the first CQI.

[0313] Similarly, the second communication device can measure the fourth measurement signal to obtain second channel quality information. This second channel quality information can be associated with the second beamcoding method and the fourth measurement signal to characterize the quality of the channel traversed by the first communication device as it forwards the fourth measurement signal from the first device (which receives the fourth measurement signal using the second beamcoding method) to the second communication device. This second channel quality information can be denoted as the second CQI.

[0314] The amount of data (which can be understood as control signals) based on the first and second channel quality information is much smaller than the amount of data signals. Therefore, the second communication device can directly send the first and second channel quality information to the first communication device without the need for forwarding by the first device or other relay nodes, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the first and second channel quality information. The first communication device can determine the second beam configuration based on the first and second channel quality information.

[0315] For example, the first communication device can compare the first CQI and the second CQI to determine which one represents better channel quality. For instance, suppose the channel quality represented by the first CQI is A, and the channel quality represented by the second CQI is B. If A is greater than B, the first communication device can determine the first beam coding scheme (i.e., the first configuration information) associated with the first CQI as the second beam configuration; if A is less than B, the first communication device can determine the second beam coding scheme (i.e., the second configuration information) associated with the second CQI as the second beam configuration.

[0316] Based on the above implementation, the first communication device can decide or determine the second beam configuration according to the first beam configuration. The first communication device can send the second beam configuration to the first device, so that the first device can execute the second beam configuration. That is, the first device can use the second beam configuration to receive the second measurement signal sent by the first communication device. The second measurement signal is similar to the first measurement signal mentioned above and can be understood by reference, so it will not be elaborated here. The first device sends the second measurement signal to the second communication device, and the second communication device can measure the second measurement signal to obtain the third channel quality information. The third channel quality information is associated with the second measurement signal and the second beam configuration. The third channel quality information is used to characterize the quality of the channel through which the first communication device forwards the second measurement signal to the second communication device via the first device (which receives the second measurement signal using the second beam configuration). For ease of understanding, the following description will use the third channel quality information as the third CQI as an example.

[0317] Similar to the first and second channel quality information mentioned above, the second communication device can directly send the third channel quality information, such as the third CQI mentioned above, to the first communication device for beam management between the first communication device, the first device, and the second communication device. Its specific implementation is similar to the existing technology and can be understood by reference, without further details.

[0318] It is understood that the naming of the second measurement signal, the third measurement signal, the fourth measurement signal, the first channel quality information, and the second channel quality information mentioned above is only an example. The second measurement signal, the third measurement signal, the fourth measurement signal, the first channel quality information, and the second channel quality information can also be replaced with any other possible names without limitation.

[0319] Optionally, in the scenario where a first communication device forwards a signal to a second communication device, the first device senses the electromagnetic environment formed on its own by the signal sent from the first communication device to the second communication device to determine the beamcoding method (i.e., the first beam configuration) corresponding to the first device in the signal transmission between the two devices. The first device reports this first beam configuration to the first communication device so that the first communication device can decide on a second beam configuration based on the first beam configuration. The first communication device then sends the second beam configuration to the first device. Based on channel reciprocity, the second beam configuration can be used to indicate the beamcoding method corresponding to the first device in the signal transmission between the two devices. For example, the first device can use the second beam configuration to receive a signal from the first communication device, such as signal #a, and forward signal #a to the second communication device; simultaneously, the first device can also use the second beam configuration to forward a received signal from the second communication device, such as signal #b, to the first communication device.

[0320] In a scenario where a second communication device forwards a signal to a first communication device via a first device, the first device can also sense the electromagnetic environment formed on its own by the signal sent from the second communication device to the first device. This allows it to determine the beamcoding method (assuming a third beam configuration) corresponding to the first device in the signal transmission between the second and first devices. The implementation principle is similar to the specific implementation of determining the beamcoding method in the signal transmission between the first and second devices in the scenario described above. This can be understood by reference and will not be elaborated further. Based on channel reciprocity, the third beam configuration can be used to indicate the beamcoding method corresponding to the first device in the signal transmission between the second and first devices. For example, the first device can use the third beam configuration to receive a signal from the second communication device, such as signal #c, and forward this signal #c to the first communication device. Simultaneously, the first device can also use the third beam configuration to forward a received signal from the first communication device, such as signal #d, to the first communication device.

[0321] Thus, the first device can determine the beamcoding method (corresponding to the second beam configuration) of the first device in signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device, and the beamcoding method (corresponding to the third beam configuration) of the first device in signal transmission between the second communication device and the first device, to realize signal transmission between the first communication device, the first device, and the second communication device. For example, if the first communication device sends signal #e to the first device, the first device can use the second beam configuration to receive signal #e and use the third beam configuration to send signal #e to the second communication device; or, for example, if the second communication device sends signal #f to the first device, the first device can use the third beam configuration to receive signal #f and use the second beam configuration to send signal #f to the first communication device.

[0322] Optionally, when the first communication device is a terminal device and the second communication device is a network device, the second beam configuration is determined based on the first beam configuration of the first communication device. That is, the terminal device has the ability to decide the beam coding method of the first device. However, if the terminal device does not have the ability to decide the beam coding method of the first device, the terminal device needs to report the first beam configuration information fed back by the first device to the network device. The network device then makes a decision on the beam coding method of the first device to determine the second beam configuration and sends the second beam configuration to the terminal device and the first device for communication between the terminal device and the first device. The specific implementation of this application embodiment will not be described in detail.

[0323] For example, Figure 12 is a schematic flowchart of the communication method provided in the embodiment of this application. This method can be applied to the above-mentioned communication system, involving the interaction between a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device. It can be understood that the first device can be the first device shown in Figure 7 above. In this case, the sensing unit or sensing processing link in the first device is in a silent state, that is, the sensing unit or sensing processing link of the first device does not work, and the other functions are the same as those of the first device shown in Figure 7 above; or, as shown in Figure 13, the first device is a relay node, which has the ability to dynamically change the electromagnetic field strength and flexibly adjust the phase, amplitude, frequency, polarization and other parameters of the incident electromagnetic wave, but does not have the hardware capability to sense and process the electromagnetic environment information of the RIS device. In other words, the first device only contains the RIS unit, but does not contain the sensing unit or sensing processing link. The function of the RIS unit is the same as that of the RIS unit in the first device shown in Figure 7 above, which can be understood by reference and will not be described in detail.

[0324] As shown in Figure 12, the flow of this communication method is as follows:

[0325] S1201, the first communication device sends a first measurement signal to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first measurement signal from the first communication device through a four-beam configuration, and obtains four second measurement signals.

[0326] The first measurement signal can be understood as a measurement beam, which the first communication device sends to itself. When the first communication device is a network device, the first measurement signal can be a downlink reference signal, such as CSI-RS, DMRS, CRS, SSB, PSS, SSS, PT-RS, etc., without limitation; when the first communication device is a terminal device, the first measurement signal can be an uplink reference signal, such as SRS, DMRS, etc., without limitation.

[0327] The first device receives a first measurement signal from the first communication device using four beam configurations to obtain four second measurement signals. That is, each of the four second measurement signals corresponds one-to-one with a beam configuration, or in other words, the four second measurement signals are obtained by receiving the first measurement signal through each of the four beam configurations. In other words, the first device sequentially traverses the four beam configurations, using each of the four beam configurations to receive the first measurement signal and obtain the four second measurement signals. The beam configurations (i.e., the first, second, third, and fourth beam configurations described below) indicate the beam coding method corresponding to the first device during signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device. These beam configurations are related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signal sent from the first communication device to the first device. For a detailed description, please refer to the relevant content in step S1001 above, which will not be repeated here. The four beam configurations are described in detail below.

[0328] In one possible design, the four beam configurations may include: a first beam configuration, a second beam configuration, a third beam configuration, and a fourth beam configuration.

[0329] The first, second, third, and fourth beam configurations are different, meaning that each of these configurations corresponds to a different beam code. Therefore, the first device receives the first measurement signal from the first communication device using each of the four beam configurations, resulting in four different second measurement signals. For example, the four second measurement signals may have different phases, or the electromagnetic environments formed by these four second measurement signals on the first device may differ; however, this is not a limitation.

[0330] For example, the first device uses a first beam configuration to receive a first measurement signal from a first communication device and obtains a second measurement signal #a; the first device uses a second beam configuration to receive the first measurement signal from the first communication device and obtains a second measurement signal #b; the first device uses a third beam configuration to receive the first measurement signal from the first communication device and obtains a second measurement signal #c; the first device uses a fourth beam configuration to receive the first measurement signal from the first communication device and obtains a second measurement signal #d.

[0331] In one possible design, a first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method; a second beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the second beam coding method; a third beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction; and a fourth beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction.

[0332] In this embodiment, the first beamcoding method is Fresnel coding, or any other possible beamcoding method, without limitation; the second beamcoding method is Fraunhofer coding, or any other possible beamcoding method, without limitation. The first and second directions are orthogonal. For example, the first direction can be horizontal and the second direction can be vertical, or the first direction can be vertical and the second direction can be horizontal. This embodiment does not limit this. For ease of understanding, the following description will use Fresnel coding as the first beamcoding method, Fraunhofer coding as the second beamcoding method, and the first direction being horizontal and the second direction being vertical as an example.

[0333] For example, as shown in Table 2, the first beam configuration can be used to indicate that the beamcoding method of the first device is Fresnel coding, or in other words, the signals (or beams) received by the first device in both the horizontal and vertical directions are beamcoded using Fresnel coding; the second beam configuration can be used to indicate that the beamcoding method of the first device is Fraunhofer coding, or in other words, the signals (or beams) received by the first device in both the horizontal and vertical directions are beamcoded using Fraunhofer coding; the third beam configuration can be used to indicate that the first device uses Fresnel coding for the received horizontal signals (or beams) and Fraunhofer coding for the received vertical signals (or beams); the fourth beam configuration can be used to indicate that the first device uses Fraunhofer coding for the received horizontal signals (or beams) and Fresnel coding for the received vertical signals.

[0334] Table 2

[0335] It is understood that the naming of the first measurement signal, the second measurement signal, the first beam configuration, the second beam configuration, the third beam configuration, and the fourth beam configuration is merely an example. The first measurement signal, the second measurement signal, the first beam configuration, the second beam configuration, the third beam configuration, and the fourth beam configuration can also be replaced with any other possible names without limitation.

[0336] S1202, the first device sends four second measurement signals to the second communication device. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives four second measurement signals from the first device.

[0337] In this embodiment, the first communication device communicates with the second communication device through the first device. That is, the first device can act as a relay node between the first and second communication devices, forwarding signals (electromagnetic waves) between them. The first device can transmit four second measurement signals received using first, second, third, and fourth beam configurations to the second communication device. For example, the first device can transmit second measurement signal #a, second measurement signal #b, third measurement signal #c, and fourth measurement signal #d to the second communication device respectively. It is understood that when the first device transmits the four second measurement signals to the second communication device, the directions of the transmitting beams used are the same or similar. For example, the deviation between the directions of the transmitting beams corresponding to any two of the four second measurement signals is within a preset range; this embodiment does not limit this.

[0338] Accordingly, the second communication device can use the receiving beam in the same direction to receive four second measurement signals respectively, such as the second measurement signal #a, the second measurement signal #b, the third measurement signal #c, and the fourth measurement signal #d mentioned above.

[0339] S1203, the second communication device sends four channel quality information messages to the first communication device based on four second measurement signals. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the four channel quality information messages from the second communication device.

[0340] Specifically, the four channel quality information points can be one-to-one corresponded with the four second measurement signals, and the four channel quality information points can also be one-to-one corresponded with the four beam configurations. The second communication device can measure the four second measurement signals respectively to obtain the channel quality information corresponding to each of the four second measurement signals.

[0341] For example, the second communication device can measure the second measurement signal #a to obtain channel quality information #a. This channel quality information #a can be used to characterize the quality of the channel through which the first communication device forwards the second measurement signal #a to the second communication device via the first device (which receives the first measurement signal using a first beam configuration to obtain the second measurement signal #a). This channel quality information #a can be a channel quality indicator (CQI), SINR, RSRP, RSRQ, RSSI information, or any other parameter or signaling that may be used to characterize or measure the quality of the wireless link, without limitation. For ease of understanding, the following description uses CQI information as an example. For ease of understanding, this channel quality information #a can be denoted as CQI#a, corresponding to the second measurement signal #a and the first beam configuration.

[0342] The second communication device can measure the second measurement signal #b to obtain channel quality information #b. This channel quality information #b can be used to characterize the quality of the channel through which the first communication device forwards the second measurement signal #b to the second communication device via the first device (which receives the first measurement signal using a second beam configuration to obtain the second measurement signal #b). This channel quality information #b can be denoted as CQI#b, which corresponds to the second measurement signal #b and the second beam configuration.

[0343] The second communication device can measure the second measurement signal #c to obtain channel quality information #c. This channel quality information #c characterizes the quality of the channel through which the first communication device forwards the second measurement signal #c to the second communication device via the first device (which receives the first measurement signal using a third beam configuration to obtain the second measurement signal #c). This channel quality information #c can be denoted as CQI#c, which corresponds to the second measurement signal #c and the third beam configuration.

[0344] The second communication device can measure the second measurement signal #d to obtain channel quality information #d. This channel quality information #d can be used to characterize the quality of the channel through which the first communication device forwards the second measurement signal #d to the second communication device via the first device (which receives the first measurement signal using a fourth beam configuration to obtain the second measurement signal #d). This channel quality information #d can be denoted as CQI#d, which corresponds to the second measurement signal #d and the fourth beam configuration.

[0345] Similar to the first and second channel quality information shown in Figure 10 above, the second communication device can directly send the four channel quality information to the first communication device without the need for forwarding by the first device or other relay nodes, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the four channel quality information.

[0346] S1204, the first communication device sends the target beam configuration to the first device based on four channel quality information. Correspondingly, the first device receives the target beam configuration from the first communication device.

[0347] The four beam configurations may include a target beam configuration, that is, the target beam configuration can be one of the first beam configuration, the second beam configuration, the third beam configuration, and the fourth beam configuration. The target beam configuration is determined based on four channel quality information corresponding to the four second measurement signals, and the target beam configuration corresponds to the j-th channel quality information among the four channel quality information.

[0348] That is, the first communication device can select the j-th channel quality information from the four channel quality information information. The channel quality indicated by the j-th channel quality information is greater than or equal to the channel quality indicated by the first channel quality information, which may include the other three channel quality information information besides the j-th channel quality information. j is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to 4. The first communication device can determine the target beam configuration based on the beam configuration associated with the j-th channel quality information.

[0349] For example, the first communication device can compare the channel quality indicated by four channel quality information pieces to determine the one that indicates or represents the better channel quality, such as the j-th channel quality information. For example, the first communication device can compare CQI#a, CQI#b, CQI#c, and CQI#d to determine the one that represents the better channel quality among CQI#a, CQI#b, CQI#c, and CQI#d. For example, suppose CQI#a represents channel quality a, CQI#b represents channel quality b, CQI#c represents channel quality c, and CQI#d represents channel quality d. Assuming a is greater than or equal to b, c, and d, then the j-th channel quality information can be CQI#a. The first channel quality information can include CQI#b, CQI#c, and CQI#d.

[0350] The following section describes the specific implementation of the first device determining the target beam configuration based on the beam configuration associated with the j-th channel quality information.

[0351] In one possible design, the j-th channel quality information may include indication information. This indication information can be used to indicate that the j-th channel quality information is associated with the j-th beam configuration out of the four beam configurations. The method further includes:

[0352] The first communication device determines the target beam configuration based on the j-th channel quality information.

[0353] For example, the first device receives a first measurement signal from a first communication device through four beam configurations, resulting in four second measurement signals. Each of these four second measurement signals may carry indication information, which can be used to indicate the beam configuration associated with that second measurement signal. For example, second measurement signal #a may carry indication information #a, indicating that second measurement signal #a is associated with the first beam configuration; second measurement signal #b may carry indication information #b, indicating that second measurement signal #b is associated with the second beam configuration; second measurement signal #c may carry indication information #c, indicating that second measurement signal #c is associated with the third beam configuration; and second measurement signal #d may carry indication information #d, indicating that second measurement signal #d is associated with the fourth beam configuration.

[0354] The second communication device measures the second measurement signal #a, and the obtained channel quality information #a can carry the indication information #a; the second communication device measures the second measurement signal #b, and the obtained channel quality information #b can carry the indication information #b; the second communication device measures the second measurement signal #c, and the obtained channel quality information #c can carry the indication information #c; the second communication device measures the second measurement signal #d, and the obtained channel quality information #d can carry the indication information #d.

[0355] Thus, the first communication device can determine the j-th beam configuration based on the indication information carried in the j-th channel quality information, and designate the j-th beam configuration as the target beam configuration. For example, the first communication device can determine the j-th beam configuration as the first beam configuration based on the indication information #a carried in CQI#a, and the first communication device can designate the first beam configuration as the target beam configuration.

[0356] It is understood that the implementation of the j-th channel quality information including indication information is merely an example. The first communication device can also determine the beam configuration associated with the j-th channel quality information through any other possible implementation, and this application embodiment does not limit this. Based on the above implementation, the first communication device can determine the target beam configuration according to the four channel quality information and send the target beam configuration to the first device so that the first device can execute the target beam configuration, that is, the first device uses the target beam configuration for beam coding.

[0357] It is understood that the naming of the first information quality information mentioned above is only an example, and the first information quality information can be replaced with any other possible name without limitation.

[0358] In summary, the first device can receive the first measurement signal from the first communication device using four beam configurations, that is, the first device can perform beamcoding using the four beam configurations to obtain four second measurement signals. The first device sends the four second measurement signals to the second communication device, so that the second communication device can determine four channel quality information based on the four second measurement signals. Based on the one-to-one correspondence between the four second measurement signals and the four beam configurations, and the one-to-one correspondence between the four second measurement signals and the four channel quality information, the second communication device can send the four channel quality information to the first communication device. The four beam configurations are related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signal sent by the first communication device to the first device. The first communication device can determine the beam configuration corresponding to the j-th channel quality information among the four channel quality information as the target beam configuration and send the target beam configuration to the first device. The channel quality indicated by the j-th channel quality information is greater than or equal to the channel quality indicated by the other three channel quality information (excluding the j-th channel quality information). In other words, the first communication device can sense the electromagnetic environment of the first device based on the four channel quality information, and select a suitable beam configuration for the first device based on the electromagnetic environment of the first device, namely the aforementioned target beam configuration. In this way, the first device can change the channel environment more efficiently and achieve higher network gain, which can effectively improve the capabilities of the first device, thereby improving the performance and gain of the communication system.

[0359] In conjunction with the above embodiments, in one possible design scheme, the method further includes:

[0360] The first communication device sends a third measurement signal to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the third measurement signal from the first device through a target beam configuration.

[0361] The first device sends a third measurement signal to the second communication device. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the third measurement signal from the first device.

[0362] The first device sends second channel quality information to the first communication device based on the third measurement signal. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the second channel quality information from the second communication device.

[0363] The first communication device performs beam management based on the second channel quality information.

[0364] That is, after the first communication device sends the target beam configuration to the second communication device, the first communication device can send a third measurement signal to the second communication device. When the first communication device is a network device, the third measurement signal can be a downlink reference signal, such as CSI-RS, DMRS, CRS, SSB, PSS, SSS, PT-RS, etc., without limitation; when the first communication device is a terminal device, the third measurement signal can be an uplink reference signal, such as SRS, DMRS, etc., without limitation. The first device can execute the target beam configuration, that is, the first device can use the target beam configuration to receive the third measurement signal from the second communication device and send the third measurement signal to the second communication device.

[0365] The second communication device can measure the third measurement signal to obtain second channel quality information. This second channel quality information is associated with the third measurement signal and the target beam configuration, and can be used to characterize the quality of the channel traversed by the first communication device as it forwards the third measurement signal from the first device (which receives the third measurement signal using the target beam configuration) to the second communication device. This second channel quality information can be denoted as CQI#e.

[0366] Similar to the four channel quality information mentioned above, the second communication device can directly send the second channel quality information, such as CQI#e, to the first communication device for beam management between the first communication device, the first device, and the second communication device. Its specific implementation is similar to the existing technology and can be understood by reference, so it will not be elaborated here.

[0367] It is understood that the above describes a scenario where a first communication device forwards signals to a second communication device. The first communication device can sense its electromagnetic environment based on the four channel quality information points fed back by the second communication device, and select a suitable beam configuration—the target beam configuration—based on this electromagnetic environment. Based on channel reciprocity, the target beam configuration can be used to indicate the beam coding method corresponding to the first device in signal transmission between the two devices. For example, the first device can use the target beam configuration to receive signals from the second communication device, such as signal #g, and forward this signal #g to the second communication device; simultaneously, the first device can also use the target beam configuration to forward signals received from the second communication device, such as signal #h, to the first communication device.

[0368] In a scenario where a second communication device forwards a signal to a first communication device via a first device, the decision-making process regarding the beamcoding method (assuming a fifth beam configuration) of the first device during signal transmission between the two devices is similar in principle to the scenario where the first communication device forwards a signal to a second device via a first device. In this scenario, the first communication device selects a suitable beam configuration based on its electromagnetic environment. The specific implementation of the target beam configuration is similar and can be understood without further elaboration. Based on channel reciprocity, the fifth beam configuration can be used to indicate the beamcoding method of the first device during signal transmission between the second and first devices. For example, the first device can use the fifth beam configuration to receive a signal, such as signal #i, from the second communication device and forward it to the first communication device. Simultaneously, the first device can also use the fifth beam configuration to forward a received signal, such as signal #j, from the first communication device to the first communication device.

[0369] Thus, the first device can determine the beamcoding method (corresponding to the target beam configuration) of the first device in signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device, and the beamcoding method (corresponding to the fifth beam configuration) of the first device in signal transmission between the second communication device and the first device, to realize signal transmission between the first communication device, the first device, and the second communication device. For example, if the first communication device sends signal #k to the first device, the first device can use the target beam configuration to receive signal #k and use the fifth beam configuration to send signal #k to the second communication device; or, for example, if the second communication device sends signal #l to the first device, the first device can use the fifth beam configuration to receive signal #l and use the target beam configuration to send signal #l to the first communication device.

[0370] Optionally, when the first communication device is a terminal device and the second communication device is a network device, the first communication device sends a target beam configuration to the first device based on four channel quality information. That is, the terminal device has the ability to compare the four channel quality information and decide on the beam coding method of the first device. However, if the terminal device does not have the ability to compare the four channel quality information and decide on the beam coding method of the first device, then the terminal device needs to rely on the network device to decide on the beam coding method of the first device for communication between the terminal device and the first device. The specific implementation of this application embodiment will not be described in detail.

[0371] Based on the above description, the above method embodiment senses and identifies the electromagnetic environment of the first device (as a relay node) to determine the beam coding mode of the first device. It is understood that the above method embodiment can also be applied to the sensing and identification of the electromagnetic environment of the first communication device and the second communication device, i.e., the network device and the terminal device, to guide the near-field and far-field communication of the network device. The implementation principle is similar and can be understood by reference, without further elaboration.

[0372] The communication method provided by the embodiments of this application has been described in detail above with reference to Figures 10-13. The communication apparatus used to perform the communication method provided by the embodiments of this application is described in detail below with reference to Figures 14-15.

[0373] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Exemplarily, as shown in Figure 14, the communication device 1400 includes a transceiver module 1401 and a processing module 1402. For ease of explanation, Figure 14 only shows the main components of the communication device 1400.

[0374] The transceiver module 1401 is used to perform the transceiver function of the method shown in Figure 10 or Figure 12, and the processing module 1402 is used to perform other functions of the method shown in Figure 10 or Figure 12 besides the transceiver function.

[0375] Optionally, the transceiver module 1401 may include a transmitting module (not shown in FIG. 14) and a receiving module (not shown in FIG. 14). The transmitting module is used to implement the transmitting function of the communication device 1400, and the receiving module is used to implement the receiving function of the communication device 1400.

[0376] Optionally, the communication device 1400 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 14) that stores programs or instructions. When the processing module 1402 executes the program or instructions, the communication device 1400 can perform the functions of the first communication device, the first device, and the second communication device in the methods shown in FIG. 10 or FIG. 12.

[0377] It is understood that the communication device 1400 may be a first communication device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the first communication device, or a device that includes the first communication device; or, the communication device 1400 may be a first device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the first device, or a device that includes the first device; or, the communication device 1400 may be a second communication device, or a chip (system) or other component or assembly that can be disposed in the second communication device, or a device that includes the second communication device. The embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0378] Furthermore, the technical effects of the communication device 1400 can be referred to the technical effects of the communication method shown in Figure 10 or Figure 12, and will not be repeated here.

[0379] For example, Figure 15 is a second schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. This communication device can be a first communication device, a first device, or a second communication device, or it can be a chip (system) or other component or assembly of a first communication device, a first device, or a second communication device. As shown in Figure 15, the communication device 1500 may include a processor 1501. Optionally, the communication device 1500 may also include a memory 1502 and / or a transceiver 1503. The processor 1501 is coupled to the memory 1502 and the transceiver 1503, for example, they can be connected via a communication bus.

[0380] The following is a detailed description of each component of the communication device 1500, with reference to Figure 15:

[0381] The processor 1501 is the control center of the communication device 1500. It can be a single processor or a collective term for multiple processing elements. For example, the processor 1501 can be one or more central processing units (CPUs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the embodiments of this application, such as one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), or one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

[0382] Optionally, the processor 1501 can perform various functions of the communication device 1500 by running or executing software programs stored in the memory 1502 and calling data stored in the memory 1502, such as performing the communication methods shown in FIG10 or FIG12 above.

[0383] In a specific implementation, as one embodiment, processor 1501 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 shown in FIG15.

[0384] In a specific implementation, as one embodiment, the communication device 1500 may also include multiple processors, such as processors 1501 and 1504 shown in FIG. 15. Each of these processors may be a single-core processor (single-CPU) or a multi-core processor (multi-CPU). Here, a processor may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0385] The memory 1502 is used to store the software program that executes the solution of this application, and is controlled by the processor 1501 to execute it. The specific implementation method can be referred to the above method embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0386] Optionally, the memory 1502 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital universal optical discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer, but not limited thereto. The memory 1502 may be integrated with the processor 1501 or may exist independently and be coupled to the processor 1501 through the interface circuit of the communication device 1500 (not shown in FIG. 15). This application embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0387] Transceiver 1503 is used for communication with other communication devices. For example, if communication device 1500 is a terminal device, transceiver 1503 can be used to communicate with a network device or with another terminal device. As another example, if communication device 1500 is a network device, transceiver 1503 can be used to communicate with a terminal device or with another network device.

[0388] Optionally, transceiver 1503 may include a receiver and a transmitter (not shown separately in Figure 15). The receiver is used to implement the receiving function, and the transmitter is used to implement the transmitting function.

[0389] Optionally, the transceiver 1503 can be integrated with the processor 1501 or exist independently and be coupled to the processor 1501 through the interface circuit of the communication device 1500 (not shown in FIG15). This application embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0390] It should be noted that the structure of the communication device 1500 shown in Figure 15 does not constitute a limitation on the communication device. The actual communication device may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0391] Furthermore, the technical effects of the communication device 1500 can be referred to the technical effects of the communication method described in the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0392] This application provides a communication system. The communication system may include the first communication device, the first device, and the second communication device described in the above method embodiments.

[0393] In the embodiments of this application, the processor can be a central processing unit (CPU), but it can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0394] The memory in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. The volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of random access memory (RAM) are available, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous DRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous DRAM (ESDRAM), synchronous linked DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0395] The above embodiments can be implemented, in whole or in part, by software, hardware (such as circuits), firmware, or any other combination thereof. When implemented using software, the above embodiments can be implemented, in whole or in part, in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions or computer programs. When the computer instructions or computer programs are loaded or executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more sets of available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium. A semiconductor medium can be a solid-state drive.

[0396] In this article, the term "and / or" simply describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. A and B can be singular or plural. Additionally, the character " / " generally indicates an "or" relationship between the preceding and following objects, but it can also represent an "and / or" relationship. Please refer to the context for a more accurate understanding.

[0397] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0398] In the various embodiments of this application, the order of the above-mentioned processes does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0399] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0400] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0401] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0402] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0403] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0404] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0405] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: Applied to a first device, the first device comprising M sensing units, including: Each of the M sensing units receives a first measurement signal from the first communication device; where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The received first measurement signal is processed by the M sensing units respectively to determine the first beam configuration of the first device; wherein, the first beam configuration is used to indicate the beam coding method of the first device in the signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device; the first beam configuration is related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signal sent by the first communication device to the first device; Send the first beam configuration to the first communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, Any two of the M sensing units are deployed in different positions on the first device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The step of processing the received first measurement signal through the M sensing units to determine the first beam configuration of the first device includes: Each of the M sensing units processes the first measurement signal it receives to obtain phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units; wherein, the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units includes information about the phase of the first measurement signal received by each of the M sensing units. The configuration of the first beam is determined based on the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, When the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies the first condition, the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method; When the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies the second condition, the first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information. The first configuration information is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method, and the second configuration information is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the second beam coding method. When the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies the third condition, the first beam configuration is used to instruct the first device to use the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal. When the phase information corresponding to each of the M sensing units satisfies the fourth condition, the first beam configuration is used to instruct the first device to use the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, The first condition includes: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by any two of the M sensing units is greater than or equal to a first threshold.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein, The second condition includes: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by any two of the M sensing units is less than a first threshold.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein, The M sensing units include a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit, and a third sensing unit; the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are deployed at the same position in the first direction, and the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit are deployed at the same position in the second direction; The third condition includes: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit is less than the first threshold.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein, The M sensing units include a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit, and a third sensing unit; the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are deployed at the same position in the first direction, and the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit are deployed at the same position in the second direction; The fourth condition includes: the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit is less than a first threshold, and the phase difference between the phases of the first measurement signal received by the first sensing unit and the third sensing unit is greater than or equal to the first threshold.

9. The method according to any one of claims 4-8, characterized in that, The first beam coding method is Fresnel wave coding, and the second beam coding method is Fraunhofer coding.

10. The method according to any one of claims 4-9, characterized in that, After sending the first beam configuration to the first communication device, the method further includes: Receive a second beam configuration from the first communication device; wherein the second beam configuration is determined based on the first beam configuration; The second measurement signal is received from the first communication device via the second beam configuration; The second measurement signal is sent to the second communication device; wherein the first communication device and the second communication device communicate through the first device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, When the phase information of each of the M sensing units satisfies any one of the first condition, the third condition, or the fourth condition, the second beam configuration is the same as the first beam configuration; when the phase information of each of the M sensing units satisfies the second condition, the second beam configuration is the first configuration information or the second configuration information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The phase information of each of the M sensing units satisfies the second condition; before receiving the second beam configuration from the first communication device, the method further includes: The third measurement signal from the first communication device is received using the first beam coding method; The third measurement signal is sent to the second communication device; The fourth measurement signal from the first communication device is received using the second beam coding method; The fourth measurement signal is sent to the second communication device.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that, The first device is a reconfigurable smart surface RIS device.

14. A communication method, comprising: Applied to a first communication device, including: Send the first measurement signal to the first device: Receive a first beam configuration from the first device; wherein the first beam configuration is determined based on the first measurement signal, and the first beam configuration is used to indicate the beam coding method corresponding to the first device in signal transmission between the first communication device and the first device; the first beam configuration is related to the electromagnetic environment formed on the first device by the signal sent by the first communication device to the first device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The first beam configuration satisfies any one of the following: The first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method; The first beam configuration includes first configuration information and second configuration information. The first configuration information is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method, and the second configuration information is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the second beam coding method. The first beam configuration is used to instruct the first device to use the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal; Alternatively, the first beam configuration may be used to instruct the first device to use the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, The first beam coding method is Fresnel wave coding, and the second beam coding method is Fraunhofer coding.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that After receiving the first beam configuration from the first device, the method further includes: The second beam configuration is determined based on the first beam configuration; Send the second beam configuration to the first device; Send a second measurement signal to the first device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, When the first beam configuration satisfies any of the following: the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the beam coding method of the first device is the first beam coding method; the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction; or the first beam configuration is used to indicate that the first device uses the second beam coding method for the received signal in the first direction and uses the first beam coding method for the received signal in the second direction, the second beam configuration is the same as the first beam configuration. When the first beam configuration includes the first configuration information and the second configuration information, the second beam configuration is either the first configuration information or the second configuration information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, The first beam configuration includes the first configuration information and the second configuration information; Before sending the second beam configuration to the first device, the method further includes: Send a third measurement signal and a fourth measurement signal to the first device; The system receives first channel quality information and second channel quality information from a second communication device; wherein the first channel quality information is associated with the first beam coding scheme and the third measurement signal; and the second channel quality information is associated with the second beam coding scheme and the fourth measurement signal. The second beam configuration is determined based on the first channel quality information and the second channel quality information.

20. The method of any one of claims 17-19, wherein, The method further includes: Receive third channel quality information from a second communication device; wherein the third channel quality information is associated with the second measurement signal and the second beam configuration, and the first communication device communicates with the second communication device through the first device; Beam management is performed based on the third channel quality information.

21. A first device, characterized by include: Sensing unit and reconfigurable smart surface RIS unit; The sensing unit is used to receive and process measurement signals to obtain measurement results; the measurement results are used to determine the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located. The RIS unit is used to reflect signals according to the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located.

22. The first device of claim 21, wherein, The sensing unit is composed of a sensing processing link, which includes an antenna unit and a signal processing unit. The antenna unit is used to receive the measurement signal, and the signal processing unit is used to process the measurement signal.

23. The first device of claim 21 or 22, wherein, The first device includes at least two of the aforementioned sensing units; each of the at least two sensing units is respectively used to receive the measurement signal and process the measurement signal to obtain the measurement result corresponding to each sensing unit. The measurement results corresponding to each of the at least two sensing units are used to determine the electromagnetic environment in which the first device is located.

24. A communications device, characterized by Includes modules for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-20.

25. A communications device, characterized by include: processor; The processor is configured to run computer programs or instructions to enable the method as described in any one of claims 1-20 to be implemented.

26. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium includes a computer program or instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the communication method as described in any one of claims 1-20.

27. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer program product includes: a computer program or instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the communication method as described in any one of claims 1-20.

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