Communication method, apparatus, readable storage medium, and computer program product

Abstract

A communication method, an apparatus, a readable storage medium, and a computer program product, which relate to the technical field of communications, and are used for improving the communication performance. The method of the present application comprises: a network apparatus sending first configuration information, and receiving, in a first time unit, information used for indicating successful reception of the first configuration information; and the network apparatus sending, in a second time unit, information to a relay apparatus on the basis of the first configuration information, or the network apparatus receiving, in the second time unit, information from the relay apparatus on the basis of the first configuration information, wherein the second time unit is determined on the basis of the first time unit and a first duration, and the first duration is associated with a signal transmission round-trip delay between the network apparatus and a synchronization reference point, or, the first duration is associated with an offset between downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network apparatus. In this way, a second time unit may be temporally subsequent to information used for indicating successful reception of first configuration information, such that the problem of timing disorder can be avoided, and thus a communication success rate can be increased.

Description

A communication method, apparatus, readable storage medium, and computer program product Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, apparatus, readable storage medium, and computer program product. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the 5th generation (5G) New Radio (NR) technology is evolving from Release 18 to Release 19. Simultaneously, NR technology has moved from the standardization phase to the commercial deployment phase. The NR standard protocol was initially designed for wireless communication in terrestrial cellular network scenarios, providing users with ultra-low latency, ultra-reliability, ultra-high speed, and massive connectivity wireless communication services. Compared to terrestrial communication, non-terrestrial networks (NTN) communication features large coverage areas and flexible networking, achieving seamless global network coverage. NTN communication includes networking using equipment such as drones, high-altitude platforms, and satellites to provide data transmission, voice communication, and other services to user equipment (UE).

[0003] In satellite communication systems, terminal devices can transmit data to gateway stations or ground stations via satellite to establish connections with the core network or the internet. However, deploying a large number of gateway and ground stations increases costs. Therefore, reducing costs is a pressing issue.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method, apparatus, readable storage medium, and computer program product for enabling network devices and relay devices to determine a time unit for transmitting information according to a first configuration information based on a first duration. This scheme can improve the rationality of the time unit, thereby improving communication performance.

[0006] On the other hand, the solution provided in this application can delay the effective time of the first configuration information or delay the time of transmitting information according to the first configuration information. This can ensure that the network device receives the information indicating successful reception of the first configuration information before the second time unit (the time unit for transmitting information using the first configuration information) in a high-latency scenario. This avoids the situation where the information indicating successful reception of the first configuration information is after the second time unit (the time unit for transmitting information using the first configuration information) in terms of timing, thereby avoiding timing errors and improving the communication success rate.

[0007] On the other hand, the solution provided in this application can improve the success rate of relay devices in scenarios with large transmission delays. Thus, this solution can enable information transmission through relay devices in satellite communication scenarios. Since relay devices can be deployed in satellite communication scenarios, the number of gateway stations and ground stations can be reduced, thereby reducing communication costs.

[0008] Firstly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be executed by a network device. The network device can be a network equipment or a chip (or chip system, circuit, or module unit) within a network equipment. The network equipment can be deployed on the ground or in the air. For example, the network equipment can include access network equipment, ground stations, gateways, relay equipment, base stations, hosts, parent nodes, or nodes, etc. As another example, the network equipment can include integrated access and backhaul (IAB), network-controlled repeaters (NCR), or wireless access backhaul (WAB), etc. In embodiments of this application, the access network equipment and the gateway can be deployed in one device or separately.

[0009] In this application, the network device sends first configuration information. The first configuration information is used to instruct the relay device to send information. For example, the first configuration information is used to instruct the relay device to forward information from the network device, including information from the network device and / or information sent to the network device. The network device receives information indicating successful reception of the first configuration information in a first time unit. The network device sends information to the relay device according to the first configuration information in a second time unit, or receives information from the relay device according to the first configuration information in a second time unit. The second time unit is determined based on the first time unit and a first duration. The first duration is associated with the round-trip time delay of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point, or with the offset between the downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network device.

[0010] In this application, the transmission direction of information transmitted between the network device and the relay device according to the first configuration information can include various scenarios. For example, the network device can send information to the relay device according to the first configuration information, and the relay device can forward that information. For example, the relay device can forward the information to a terminal device, other relay devices, or other network devices. As another example, the relay device can receive information from a terminal device, other relay devices, or other network devices, and the relay device can forward that information to that network device. In this application, "forward" can also be replaced with "send". The relay device can forward information using a transparent forwarding mode or a regenerative forwarding mode. The information forwarded by the relay device can be, for example, information corresponding to service data.

[0011] Since the second time unit is also determined based on the first duration, which is related to the round-trip delay of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point, or the first duration is related to the offset between the downlink frame timing and the uplink frame timing of the network device, the second time unit determined in this application is more reasonable. In terms of timing, the second time unit can be located after the information used to indicate successful reception of the first configuration information, thereby minimizing the possibility that the information used to indicate successful reception of the first configuration information is located after the effective time of the first configuration information, thus avoiding timing errors and improving the communication success rate.

[0012] On the other hand, the solution provided in this application can increase the time interval between the transmission time of information based on the first configuration information (i.e., the second time unit) and the time interval between the network device receiving the information indicating that the first configuration information has been successfully received. This allows the solution to support the needs of high latency scenarios (such as NTN scenarios or satellite-ground fusion scenarios), thereby improving the success rate of information transmission through relay devices in satellite communication scenarios. This also supports the deployment of relay devices in satellite communication scenarios, thereby improving communication performance.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information sent by the network device may have an effective time. The effective time in this application can be replaced by a start effective time, or an initial effective time, etc. When the first configuration information is effective, the second time unit can belong to a time after the first configuration information becomes effective. This improves the rationality of the timing of information transmission between the network device and the relay device based on the first configuration information, thereby avoiding timing errors and improving the communication success rate. Alternatively, the second time unit can be the effective time of the first configuration information, which also improves the rationality of the effective time of the first configuration information, thereby avoiding timing errors and improving the communication success rate. For example, the first configuration information may also be effective (or continuously effective) within a time period after the effective time. Similarly, the first configuration information may also be effective (or continuously effective) within a time period after the second time unit.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the second time unit is further determined according to the following: a is a positive integer The number of time units included in a subframe; and / or, the value of K, which is associated with the latency of the network device in processing uplink information and / or the latency in processing downlink information.

[0015] On the one hand, this solution is more compatible with existing technologies. For example, the value of 'a' can be 3. This is a parameter defined in the existing standard. In this way, the solution can avoid modifying the parameter range supported by the ground relay device and does not require the ground relay device (small delay scenario) to support the large delay scenario, thus avoiding increasing the capability of the ground relay device.

[0016] For example, the first duration is denoted as ΔT, the index of the first time unit is n, and the second time unit and the first time unit are time slots. For example, the second time unit starts at... The S0th time slot following the first time slot. The second time unit can be the effective time of the first configuration information, or a time after the effective time. For example, the effective time of the first configuration information is starting from... The S0th time slot following the previous time slot. S0 can be zero or a positive integer. In one possible implementation, S0 can be replaced with or set to a fixed value (e.g., 1) instead of a dynamically changing value. For example, S0 can be replaced with 1, and the value of a is 3. For example, the second time unit starts at... The first time slot after the first time slot. For example, the effective time of the first configuration information starts from... The first time slot after the first time slot.

[0017] On the other hand, the K value is a parameter defined in the standard. When the second time unit is associated with the K value, the K value can further increase the time interval between the time of transmitting information according to the first configuration information (i.e., the second time unit) and the time interval between the network device receiving the information indicating that the first configuration information has been successfully received, thereby further avoiding timing errors and improving communication performance.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the index value of the second time unit is determined based on the index value of the first time unit and the sum of at least one of the following: The number of corresponding time units, the number of time units corresponding to the first duration, or the number of time units corresponding to the value of K.

[0019] In this application, the index value of a time unit (e.g., the index value of the second time unit and the index value of the first time unit) is information used to identify the time unit. The index value can also be replaced with an identifier, etc. For example, if the time unit is a time slot, the index value of the time unit can be the time slot number; or, if the time unit is a frame, the index value of the time unit can be the frame number. The transmission directions corresponding to the first and second time units may be different or the same. For example, the first time unit may be an uplink time slot, and the second time unit may be a downlink time slot; or, both the first and second time units may be uplink time slots. This scheme provides a specific method for determining the second time unit, which can reduce the complexity of determining the second time unit.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the network device sends information indicating a first duration. The information indicating the first duration includes at least one of the following: a first duration; information on the round-trip time delay of signal transmission between the network device and a synchronization reference point; a scheduling offset value; or, a scheduling offset value and a first value. The scheduling offset value is associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network device, and the first value is indicated by the network device.

[0021] In this way, the relay device can determine the first duration based on the information used to indicate the first duration, thereby reducing the complexity of the scheme. When the information used to indicate the first duration includes a scheduling offset value, which is a parameter defined in the existing standard, the scheme can reuse parameters in the existing table, thereby reducing the degree of modification to the existing scheme and minimizing or eliminating the resource overhead caused by adding new parameters.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the network device sends information indicating the updated first duration. This information includes: the updated first duration; or, information indicating the difference between the first duration and the updated first duration. Thus, the relay device can determine the updated first duration based on the information indicating the updated first duration, thereby reducing the complexity of the relay device's method for determining the updated first duration. The network device may send multiple configuration information messages to the relay device. The effective time (or second time unit) of subsequent configuration information can also refer to the determination scheme of the effective time of the first configuration information. The effective time of subsequent configuration information can also be determined based on the first duration, either the first duration previously used to determine the second time unit or the updated first duration. Furthermore, since there may be moving devices in the scenario, updating the first duration can make the subsequently determined effective time of configuration information more reasonable and more consistent with the actual situation, thereby avoiding timing errors and minimizing data transmission latency, thus improving communication performance.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the first duration is greater than or equal to the round-trip time of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point.

[0024] Since the timing disorder problem is caused by the time interval between the uplink frame timing and the downlink frame timing on the network device side, and since the time interval between the uplink frame timing and the downlink frame timing on the network device side may be equal to or greater than the round-trip delay of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point, the scheme in which the first duration is greater than or equal to the round-trip delay of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point can place the second time unit after the information used to indicate the successful reception of the first configuration information in terms of timing, thereby minimizing the timing disorder problem and improving the communication success rate.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the first duration is determined based on the location information of the synchronization reference point and the location information of the network device.

[0026] Since the positions of the synchronization reference point and the network device are related to the round-trip time delay of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point, and also to the offset between the downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network device, a more reasonable first time interval can be determined based on the positions of the synchronization reference point and the network device. This, in turn, allows for the determination of a more reasonable second time interval, thereby minimizing timing discrepancies and improving communication success rate.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the first duration is determined based on a scheduling offset value; or, the first duration is determined based on both the scheduling offset value and a first value. The scheduling offset value is associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and the uplink frame timing of the network device.

[0028] Since timing discrepancies arise from the time interval between uplink and downlink frame timings on the network device side, and because the scheduling offset is related to the offset between the downlink and uplink frame timings of the network device, a more reasonable first duration can be determined based on the location of the synchronization reference point and the location of the network device. This, in turn, allows for the determination of a more reasonable second time unit, thereby minimizing timing discrepancies and improving communication success rate. Furthermore, since the scheduling offset is a parameter in the existing standard, this scheme reduces the need for additional parameters, thus reducing the resource overhead associated with transmitting new parameters.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the relay device can access the network device as a mobile termination (MT) and perform some operations with the network device. In this case, the relay device can also be referred to as a relay device-MT. For example, the relay device (relay device-MT) can use the value of a first duration as the scheduling offset value corresponding to the relay device (relay device-MT). For example, the first duration is also used to determine the effective time of the first message associated with the relay device (relay device-MT). The first message includes at least one of the following: a message for configuring, activating, or deactivating the downlink zero-power channel state information reference signal; a message for indicating the mapping relationship between the transmission configuration indication state and the code points in the downlink control information domain; a message for activating or deactivating the semi-static channel state information reporting configuration; a message for activating or deactivating the channel state information reference signal configuration; or a message for activating or deactivating the channel state information interface measurement configuration. By using the first duration as the scheduling offset value, the relay device can make the effective time of the first message more reasonable in high-latency scenarios, and can delay the effective time of the first message, thereby improving the communication performance in high-latency scenarios.

[0030] The terminal device also uses the scheduling offset value. In one possible implementation, the terminal device can use the scheduling offset value as its own scheduling offset value. For example, the terminal device uses the scheduling offset value to determine the effective time of the first message associated with the terminal device. The first message also includes the above-mentioned content, which will not be described again.

[0031] Relay devices can be considered as MTs (Mediators). Terminal devices and relay-MTs may need to use different values ​​as their scheduling offset values. For example, relay devices and terminal devices can choose appropriate values ​​as scheduling offset values ​​based on their respective types (e.g., whether a device is a relay device or a terminal device). For instance, if a network device determines that a device is a relay device, then the network device needs to use a first duration as the scheduling offset value for that relay device. As another example, if a network device determines that a device is a terminal device, then the network device needs to use a specific scheduling offset value (e.g., the value of kmac) as the scheduling offset value for that relay device. These schemes allow different types of devices to be configured to use different values ​​as scheduling offset values, thereby improving the rationality of the first message's effective time.

[0032] In another possible implementation, the relay device can send information indicating its type to the network device (e.g., the relay device indicates to the network device that it is a relay device), and the network device can receive the information indicating the type of the relay device. Similarly, a terminal device can send information indicating its type to the network device (e.g., the terminal device indicates to the network device that it is a terminal device), and the network device can receive the information indicating the type of the terminal device. After receiving the information indicating the type of each device (e.g., relay devices and / or terminal devices), the network device can determine the type of the device based on this information (e.g., whether the device is a relay device or a terminal device), and then select a more suitable value as the scheduling offset value for each device. In this scheme, since the relay device and / or terminal device can report their own type, it is easier for the network device to determine the type of a device, thereby reducing the complexity of the scheme on the network device side. In another possible implementation, the network device can update the corresponding scheduling offset value according to different device types (e.g., update the first duration of the scheduling offset value as a relay device) to achieve more accurate and efficient scheduling offset value updates.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information includes at least one of the following corresponding to the information of the relay device forwarding the network device: resource information, beam information, reference signal information, routing information, frequency information, power information, port information, or signal transmission mode information; the signal transmission mode includes transparent forwarding or regenerative forwarding.

[0034] In this way, the relay device and the network device can align some configurations of the information, thereby improving the transmission speed of the relay device in transmitting signals according to the first configuration information, improving the signal transmission quality, and thus improving the communication performance.

[0035] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be executed by a relay device. The relay device can be a relay equipment or a chip (or chip system, circuit, or module unit) within a relay equipment. The relay equipment can be satellite equipment or a network equipment deployed on the ground.

[0036] The relay device receives first configuration information. The first configuration information instructs the relay device to forward information from the network device, including information received from and / or sent to the network device. In a first time unit, the relay device sends information indicating successful reception of the first configuration information. In a second time unit, the relay device receives and forwards information from the network device, or sends information to the network device, based on the first configuration information. The second time unit is determined based on the first time unit and a first duration. The first duration is associated with the round-trip time delay of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point, or it is associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network device.

[0037] Since the second time unit is also determined based on the first duration, which is related to the round-trip delay of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point, or the first duration is related to the offset between the downlink frame timing and the uplink frame timing of the network device, the second time unit determined in this application is more reasonable. In terms of timing, the second time unit can be located after the information used to indicate successful reception of the first configuration information, thereby minimizing the possibility that the information used to indicate successful reception of the first configuration information is located after the effective time of the first configuration information, thus avoiding timing errors and improving the communication success rate.

[0038] For details regarding the second time unit, please refer to the description of the first aspect and its possible implementations, which will not be repeated here.

[0039] In one possible implementation, the relay device receives information indicating a first duration. The relay device determines a second time unit based on the information indicating the first duration. Details regarding the information indicating the first duration can be found in the description of the first aspect and its possible implementations, and will not be repeated here.

[0040] In one possible implementation, the relay device receives information indicating a first duration after the update. Details regarding the information indicating the first duration after the update can be found in the description of the first aspect and its possible implementations, and will not be repeated here.

[0041] The relevant content regarding the first duration, the first message, and the first configuration information can be found in the description of the first aspect and its possible implementations, and will not be repeated here.

[0042] In one possible implementation, the relay device determines the effective time of the first configuration information and / or the first message using a first duration, based on the type of the relay device.

[0043] In another possible implementation, the relay device can send information indicating its type to the network device, and correspondingly, the network device can receive such information. After receiving this information indicating the type of a device from each device (e.g., the relay device), the network device can determine the type of that device (e.g., whether it is a relay device or a terminal device) based on this information. In this scheme, since the relay device can report its own type, it is easier for the network device to determine the type of a device, thereby reducing the complexity of the scheme on the network device side.

[0044] The relevant description and beneficial effects of the second aspect can be found in the description of the first aspect and its possible implementations, and will not be repeated here.

[0045] Thirdly, a communication device is provided, which can be the aforementioned relay device or network device. The communication device may include a communication unit and a processing unit to perform any one of the first to second aspects, or any possible implementation of the first to second aspects. The communication unit is used to perform functions related to sending and receiving. The communication unit may be referred to as a transceiver unit. Optionally, the communication unit includes a receiving unit and a sending unit. In one design, the communication device is a communication chip, the processing unit may be one or more processors or processor cores, and the communication unit may be the input / output circuit, input / output interface, or antenna port of the communication chip.

[0046] In another design, the communication unit can be a transmitter and a receiver, or the communication unit can be a transmitter and a receiver.

[0047] Optionally, the communication device may also include modules that can be used to perform any one of the first to second aspects described above, or to perform any possible implementation of the first to second aspects.

[0048] Fourthly, a communication device is provided, which may be the aforementioned relay device or network device. The communication device may include at least one processor and a memory to execute any one of the first to second aspects, or to execute any possible implementation of the first to second aspects. Optionally, it may also include a transceiver, the memory for storing computer programs or instructions, and the processor for retrieving and running the computer program or instructions from the memory. When the processor executes the computer program or instructions in the memory, the communication device executes any one of the first to second aspects, or to execute any possible implementation of the first to second aspects.

[0049] Optionally, there may be one or more processors and one or more memories.

[0050] Optionally, the memory can be integrated with the processor, or the memory can be set up separately from the processor.

[0051] Optionally, the transceiver may include a transmitter and a receiver.

[0052] Fifthly, a communication device is provided, which can be the aforementioned relay device or network device. The communication device may include at least one processor to execute any one of the first to second aspects, or to execute any possible implementation of the first to second aspects. The processor is coupled to a memory. Optionally, the communication device further includes a memory. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface, to which the processor is coupled.

[0053] In one implementation, when the communication device is a relay device or a network device, the communication interface can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0054] In another implementation, when the communication device is a chip or chip system, the communication interface can be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, or related circuit on the chip or chip system. The processor can also be manifested as a processing circuit or logic circuit.

[0055] Sixthly, a system is provided, which includes the aforementioned relay device.

[0056] In one possible implementation, the system may also include a network device.

[0057] In a seventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising: a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when executed, causes a computer to perform any one of the first to second aspects described above, or to perform any possible implementation of the first to second aspects.

[0058] Eighthly, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the first to second aspects described above, or to perform any possible implementation of the first to second aspects.

[0059] A ninth aspect provides a processing apparatus, comprising: an interface circuit and a processing circuit. The interface circuit may include an input circuit and an output circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive signals through the input circuit and transmit signals through the output circuit, thereby enabling any of the first to second aspects described above, or any possible implementation of the first to second aspects, to be implemented.

[0060] In specific implementation, the aforementioned processing device can be a chip, the input circuit can be an input pin, the output circuit can be an output pin, and the processing circuit can be a transistor, gate circuit, flip-flop, and various logic circuits, etc. The input signal received by the input circuit can be received and input by, for example, but not limited to, a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit can be, for example, but not limited to, output to a transmitter and transmitted by the transmitter. Furthermore, the input circuit and the output circuit can be the same circuit, which is used as the input circuit and output circuit at different times. This application does not limit the specific implementation method of the processor and various circuits.

[0061] In one implementation, when the communication device is a relay device or a network device, the interface circuit can be a radio frequency processing chip in the relay device or network device, and the processing circuit can be a baseband processing chip in the relay device or network device.

[0062] In another implementation, the communication device can be a component of a relay device or network device, such as an integrated circuit product like a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or communication chip. The interface circuit can be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pins, or related circuits on the chip or chip system. The processing circuit can be the logic circuit on the chip. Attached Figure Description

[0063] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of a possible communication system scenario applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0064] Figure 1B is a possible schematic diagram of uplink and downlink data on the network device side and UE side provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0066] Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0067] Figure 2C is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0068] Figure 2D is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0069] Figure 2E is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0070] Figure 2F is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0071] Figure 2G is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0072] Figure 2H is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0073] Figure 2I is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0074] Figure 2J is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0075] Figure 2K is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0076] Figure 2L is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0077] Figure 3A is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0078] Figure 3B is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0079] Figure 3C is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0080] Figure 3D is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0081] Figure 3E is a schematic diagram of another possible architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0082] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the uplink and downlink time units of a relay device, a synchronization reference point, and a network device side according to an embodiment of this application.

[0083] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0084] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the uplink and downlink time units of a relay device, a synchronization reference point, and a network device side provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0085] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the uplink and downlink time units on the relay device side according to an embodiment of this application;

[0086] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between uplink and downlink time units on the network device side according to an embodiment of this application;

[0087] Figure 9 is a possible structural schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0088] Figure 10 is a possible structural schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0089] Figure 11 is a possible structural schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0090] The following describes the nouns and terms used in the embodiments of this application.

[0091] (1) Synchronization reference point.

[0092] In communication scenarios, synchronization reference points can be set. The English name for a synchronization reference point in the standard is "synchronization reference point." A synchronization reference point refers to the aligned position of downlink and uplink frames, or the position where downlink and uplink frames have a fixed deviation (for example, this fixed deviation can be denoted as N). TA,offset The location of the synchronization reference point. For example, the English description of the synchronization reference point in the standard can be: The uplink time synchronization reference point is the point where DL and UL are frame aligned with an offset given by N. TA,offset For example, N TA,offset It may be related to duplex mode, and this parameter can be carried in a broadcast message and sent by the network device to the terminal device or relay device.

[0093] The synchronization reference point can also be called the uplink time synchronization reference point or the uplink timing synchronization reference point. The uplink and downlink frame boundaries on the synchronization reference point side can be aligned, or there can be a fixed small deviation value, which can be configured by the network device or defined by the protocol.

[0094] For example, in terrestrial communication scenarios, a terrestrial base station can be used as a synchronization reference point, ensuring that uplink and downlink frame boundaries are aligned on the base station side. Another example is in high-latency scenarios (such as NTN communication), where the synchronization reference point can be set on the communication link between two devices. For instance, in satellite-to-ground communication, where latency is significant, setting the synchronization reference point between the UE and the network device allows the UE to consider only the latency between itself and the synchronization reference point for timing advance (TA) settings. The network device can also consider the latency between the synchronization reference point and itself for time-domain compensation of the signal. If the synchronization reference point is set on the network device side, all latency needs to be compensated by the UE side. However, if the synchronization reference point is set between the UE and the network device, both the UE and the network device can perform partial latency compensation, thus reducing the complexity of latency compensation on the UE side.

[0095] The synchronization reference point can be set on a device (e.g., a relay device) of the communication link. Alternatively, the synchronization reference point can be set at other locations on the communication link, or it may not be set on a device (e.g., not on a relay device). Figure 1A illustrates a possible communication system scenario. As shown in Figure 1A, the network device communicates with the UE via a satellite. The network device is, for example, a gNB / gateway. The link between the satellite and the UE can be a service link, and the link between the satellite and the network device can be a feeder link. The synchronization reference point can be set on the satellite or at a location on the link. Figure 1A illustrates an example where the synchronization reference point is set at a location on the feeder link. Figure 1B illustrates a possible schematic diagram of uplink and downlink data on the network device side and the UE side. As shown in Figure 1B, since the synchronization reference point is not set on the network device side but between the UE and the network device, there can be a time delay difference between the downlink and uplink data of the network device for time domain compensation. For example, the timing difference between DL and UL on the network device side is shown in Figure 1B. To perform time-domain compensation, there is a delay difference between the downlink and uplink data of the UE, such as the round-trip delay between the UE and the synchronization reference point shown in Figure 1B. The delay difference between the downlink data on the network device side and the downlink data on the UE side is the one-way propagation delay of the signal. Since the UE and the network device can each perform a portion of the delay compensation processing, the complexity of delay compensation on the UE side can be reduced.

[0096] (2) Time unit.

[0097] The time units involved in the embodiments of this application belong to time-domain resources. Time-domain resources may include at least one of radio frames, subframes, slots, mini slots, or orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. A time unit may include a radio frame, a subframe, a slot, a mini slot, or an OFDM symbol. A time unit may also include resources composed of multiple radio frames, multiple subframes, multiple slots, multiple mini slots, or multiple OFDM symbols. Specifically, a radio frame may include multiple subframes, a subframe may include one or more slots, and a slot may include at least one symbol. Alternatively, a radio frame may include multiple slots, and a slot may include at least one symbol. It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, an OFDM symbol may also be simply referred to as a symbol.

[0098] (3) Frequency domain resources.

[0099] Frequency domain resources may include at least one of the following: resource element (RE), resource block (RB), channel, subchannel, carrier, or bandwidth part (BWP). A frequency domain unit may include one RE, one RB, one channel, one subchannel, one carrier, or one bandwidth part (BWP), etc. A frequency domain unit may also include resources composed of multiple REs, multiple RBs, multiple subchannels, multiple carriers, or multiple BWPs aggregated together. In the embodiments of this application, a channel can be equivalently replaced by a resource block set (RB set), and the frequency domain bandwidth of an RB set may be 20 MHz.

[0100] The technical solutions of this application can be applied to satellite communication systems, high altitude platform station (HAPS) communication, and non-terrestrial network (NTN) systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Examples include integrated communication and navigation (ICAN) systems, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), and ultra-dense low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication systems. Satellite communication systems can be integrated with traditional mobile communication systems. For example, mobile communication systems can be fourth-generation (4G) communication systems (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, fifth-generation (5G) communication systems (e.g., new radio (NR) systems), and future mobile communication systems.

[0101] Figure 2A exemplarily illustrates an architecture diagram of a communication system 1000 applicable to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 2A, the communication system includes a wireless access network 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may also include an Internet 300. The wireless access network 100 may include at least one wireless access network device (110a and 110b in Figure 2A) and at least one terminal device (120a-120j in Figure 2A). The terminal device is wirelessly connected to the wireless access network device, and the wireless access network device is wirelessly or wiredly connected to the core network. The core network device and the wireless access network device may be independent and different physical devices, or the functions of the core network device and the logical functions of the wireless access network device may be integrated on the same physical device, or a single physical device may integrate some of the functions of the core network device and some of the functions of the wireless access network device. Terminal devices and wireless access network devices may be interconnected via wired or wireless means. Figure 2A is just a schematic diagram. The communication system may also include other network devices, such as wireless relay devices and wireless backhaul devices, which are not shown in Figure 2A.

[0102] The network devices involved in the embodiments of this application include, for example, radio access network (RAN) devices. RAN devices can be base stations, evolved NodeBs (eNodeBs or eNBs), transmission reception points (TRPs), transmission points (TPs), base stations in 5G mobile communication systems, base stations in future mobile communication systems, or access nodes in WiFi systems; they can also be modules or units that perform some of the functions of a base station, for example, they can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), or radio units (RUs). The CU (Radio Control Unit) performs the functions of the radio resource control protocol and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the base station, and can also perform the functions of the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP). The DU (Radio Link Control Unit) performs the functions of the radio link control layer and medium access control (MAC) layer of the base station, and can also perform some or all of the physical layer functions. For specific descriptions of the above-mentioned protocol layers, please refer to the relevant technical specifications of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The CU and DU can be set up separately, or they can be included in the same network element, such as in the baseband unit (BBU). The RU (Radio Receiver Unit) can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as in the remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), or remote radio head (RRH). In different systems, CU, DU, or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an open radio access network (ORAN) system, a CU can also be called an open CU (open-CU, O-CU), a DU can also be called an open DU (open-DU, O-DU), and a RU can also be called an open RU (open-RU, O-RU).In this application, any of the following units—CU (or CU control plane (CU-CP), CU user plane (CU-UP), DU, and RU)—can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules. CU-CP can also be called open-CU-CP (O-CU-CP), and CU-UP can also be called open-CU-UP (O-CU-UP).

[0103] Wireless access network equipment can be a macro base station (as shown in Figure 2A, 110a), a micro base station or an indoor station (as shown in Figure 2A, 110b), or a relay device, relay node, or donor node, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or equipment form used in the wireless access network equipment. For ease of description, the following description uses a base station as an example of wireless access network equipment.

[0104] Terminal devices can also be referred to as terminals, user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminal devices, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart cities, etc. Terminal devices can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, sensors, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technologies or device forms used in the terminal devices.

[0105] The aforementioned terminal devices can establish connections with the operator's network through interfaces provided by the operator's network (such as N1), and use data and / or voice services provided by the operator's network. The terminal devices can also access the Domain Name System (DNS) through the operator's network, and use operator services deployed on the DNS, and / or services provided by third parties. These third parties can be service providers outside of the operator's network and the terminal devices, and can provide other data and / or voice services to the terminal devices. The specific form of these third parties can be determined according to the actual application scenario and is not limited here.

[0106] Base stations and terminal equipment can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; on water; or in the air on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of the base stations and terminal equipment.

[0107] The roles of base stations and terminal devices can be relative. For example, the helicopter or drone 120i in Figure 2A can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminal devices 120j that access the wireless access network 100 through 120i, terminal device 120i is a base station; however, for base station 110a, 120i is a terminal device, meaning that 110a and 120i communicate via a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, 110a and 120i can also communicate via a base station-to-base station interface protocol. In this case, relative to 110a, 120i is also a base station. Therefore, both base stations and terminal devices can be collectively referred to as communication devices. 110a and 110b in Figure 2A can be called communication devices with base station functions, and 120a-120j in Figure 2A can be called communication devices with terminal device functions.

[0108] Communication between base stations and terminal devices, between base stations, and between terminal devices can be conducted using licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or both simultaneously. Communication can be conducted using spectrum below 6 GHz, spectrum above 6 GHz, or both simultaneously. The embodiments of this application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0109] In the embodiments of this application, the functions of the base station can be executed by modules (such as chips) within the base station, or by a control subsystem that includes base station functions. This control subsystem, including base station functions, can be a control center in the aforementioned application scenarios such as smart grids, industrial control, intelligent transportation, and smart cities. Similarly, the functions of the terminal device can be executed by modules (such as chips or modems) within the terminal device, or by a device that includes terminal device functions.

[0110] In this application, the base station sends downlink signals or downlink information to the terminal device, with the downlink information carried on the downlink channel; the terminal device sends uplink signals or uplink information to the base station, with the uplink information carried on the uplink channel. In order to communicate with the base station, the terminal device needs to establish a radio connection with a cell controlled by the base station. The cell with which the terminal device has established a radio connection is called the serving cell of the terminal device. When the terminal device communicates with this serving cell, it is also subject to interference from signals from neighboring cells.

[0111] The core network involved in this application embodiment may include network devices that process and forward user signaling and data. For example, it includes core network devices such as access and mobility management functions (AMF), session management functions (SMF), user plane gateways, and location management devices. The user plane gateway can be a server with functions such as mobility management, routing, and forwarding of user plane data, generally located on the network side, such as a serving gateway (SGW), packet data network gateway (PGW), or user plane function (UPF). AMF and SMF are equivalent to the mobility management entity (MME) in a long-term evolution (LTE) system. AMF is mainly responsible for admission aspects, and SMF is mainly responsible for session management. Of course, the core network may also include other network elements, which are not listed here.

[0112] Figure 2B exemplarily illustrates a schematic diagram of an O-RAN system architecture provided by an embodiment of this application. The O-RAN system in the embodiments provided by this application may include components other than those shown in Figure 2B. As shown in Figure 2B, the access network device (RAN, for example, may be an eNB, a next-generation NodeB (gNB), or an access network device in a future mobile communication system) communicates with the core network (CN) via a backhaul link and with user equipment (UE) via an air interface. For example, the baseband unit (BBU) in the access network device communicates with the core network via a backhaul link, and the radio unit (RU) in the access network device communicates with at least one UE via an air interface. The BBU communicates with at least one RU via a fronthaul link; the BBU and RU may or may not be co-located. The BBU includes at least one control unit (CU) and at least one distributed unit (DU), which can communicate via at least one midhaul link.

[0113] Figure 2C exemplarily illustrates a schematic diagram of an O-RAN system architecture provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 2C, O-RAN may include O-CU-CP, O-CU-UP, O-DU, and O-RU. This system architecture may also include an open cloud (O-cloud), a service management and orchestration framework, an open eNB (O-eNB), a near-real-time (RT) RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), and a non-real-time RIC. The non-RT RIC can monitor, configure, manage, and control radio resources of at least one of multiple O-CU-CP, O-CU-UP, DU, or O-eNB. As shown in Figure 2C, the interfaces defined by 3GPP include, for example: E1, F1 (e.g., F1-c, F1-u), NG (e.g., NG-c, NG-u), Xn (e.g., Xn-c, Xn-u), and X2 (e.g., X2-c, X2-u). For example, O-RAN communication systems also include interfaces such as O1, O2, E2, A1, Open-Fronthaul (FH)-plane (e.g., Open FH M-plane), and Open FH Control, User, and Synchronization (CUS)-plane. The names of the interfaces and the connection methods of the units shown in Figure 2C are just examples. In practical applications, O-RAN systems may include more or fewer interfaces, or more or fewer units.

[0114] Based on the content shown in Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C, Figure 2D also exemplarily illustrates a system architecture diagram applicable to another embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 2D, the communication system includes a terminal device (e.g., a UE), a network device (e.g., a base station), and a relay device. The UE shown in Figure 2D can be replaced by any of the terminal devices shown in Figures 2A, 2B, or 2C. The base station shown in Figure 2D can be replaced by the network device (e.g., an access network device) shown in Figures 2A, 2B, or 2C. The relay device shown in Figure 2D can be the network device shown in Figures 2A, 2B, or 2C, and this relay device has the ability to forward data. Data can be sent and received in the form of signals; therefore, in this embodiment, signals can be replaced by data, and data can also be replaced by signals.

[0115] Figure 2D illustrates this using a network-controlled repeater (NCR) as an example. The NCR can act as a UE access base station (parent node) to receive control signaling from the base station (the control signaling controls the NCR's data forwarding behavior). The NCR can also amplify and forward signals between the UE and the base station.

[0116] Based on the content shown in Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, Figure 2E also exemplarily illustrates a system architecture diagram applicable to another embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 2E, the communication system includes a terminal device (e.g., a UE), a network device (e.g., a base station), and a relay device. The UE shown in Figure 2E can be replaced by any of the terminal devices shown in Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, or 2D. The base station shown in Figure 2D can be replaced by the network device (e.g., an access network device) shown in Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, or 2D. The relay device shown in Figure 2E can be the network device shown in Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, or 2D, and this relay device has the ability to forward data.

[0117] As shown in Figure 2E, a relay device (such as an NCR, satellite, or other relay device) includes two functional entities: a mobile termination (MT) entity (the relay device is an NCR, and the MT entity can also be called an NCR MT entity or NCR-MT entity) and a forwarding (Fwd) entity (the relay device is an NCR, and the forwarding entity can also be called an NCR Fwd entity or NCR-Fwd entity).

[0118] A relay unit (MT) can be defined as a functional entity that communicates with the base station via a control link (C-link) to exchange control information. The C-link can be based on the NR Uu interface, meaning the NCR-MT entity and the gNB are connected via the Uu interface. The base station uses the C-link to control the relay device. For example, the relay device can receive control information from the base station (e.g., side information for controlling the forwarding entity), beam control information (e.g., beam control information for the control link, backhaul link, or access link), relay device on / off status (the NCR's on and off state), or NCR signal transmit power control, etc. The relay device amplifies and forwards data between the base station and the UE, without needing to decode or perform other data processing on the forwarded data. Furthermore, the C-link can also be based on other radio interfaces, such as the Future Mobile Communication Interface (MWCMI).

[0119] A forwarding entity is defined as a functional entity that performs amplification and forwarding of uplink (UL) / downlink (DL) radio frequency (RF) signals between the base station and the UE via the backhaul link and access link. The behavior of the forwarding entity can be controlled based on control information received from the base station.

[0120] Figure 2F illustrates an exemplary architecture diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2F uses an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) communication system architecture as an example for illustration.

[0121] The purpose of IAB is to support wireless backhaul and relay links, enabling flexible and very dense deployment of NR cells without proportionally encrypting the wired transmission network. Typical deployment scenarios include supporting outdoor small cell deployment, indoor small cell deployment, and even mobile relay (e.g., on buses or trains).

[0122] As shown in Figure 2F, the communication system includes a UE and a network device. The UE in Figure 2F can be a terminal device or a chip (or chip system, processor, circuit, or functional module) within the terminal device. For example, the network device can include an IAB-host and an IAB-node. The IAB-donor supports the gNodeB with IAB additional functions, connects to the core network via a non-IAB connection, and can provide access to the UE or IAB-node (e.g., through a backhaul link or an access link). The IAB-node can support NR access (e.g., through an access link) and backhaul (e.g., through a backhaul link). In this embodiment, the host can be written as "donor," and the node can be written as "node." Correspondingly, the IAB-host can be written as "IAB-donor," and the IAB-node can also be written as "IAB-node." The substitution methods for other terms are similar, and will not be repeated elsewhere. Either the IAB-donor or IAB-node shown in Figure 2F can be a satellite device or a chip (or chip system, processor, circuit, or functional module) inside a satellite device, or a ground-deployed network device (such as a ground base station) or a chip (or chip system, processor, circuit, or functional module) inside a network device (such as a ground base station).

[0123] Figure 2G illustrates a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture applicable to an embodiment of this application. The network architecture shown in Figure 2G can be the network architecture involved in IAB-donor and IAB-node in Figure 2F, and related content can also be found in the description in Figure 2F above.

[0124] As shown in Figure 2G, this communication system includes the UE and the 5G Core Network (5GC). 5GC / base station / parent node / gNB can be network devices. As shown in Figure 2G, this communication system also includes base stations (e.g., gNobeB), hosts (illustrated as IAB-host in Figure 2G, which can also be written as IAB-donor), and nodes (illustrated as IAB-node in Figure 2G, which can also be written as IAB-node).

[0125] As shown in Figure 2G, the IAB-node supports NR access and backhaul functions and can include an IAB-node-mobile termination (MT) (IAB-node-MT can also be called IAB-node-MT) and an IAB-node-DU (IAB-node-DU can also be called IAB-node-DU). The IAB-node-MT can connect as a regular terminal device to its parent node or host CU or DU, acting as a control link. The IAB-node-MT sends or receives beam direction information for control backhaul / control link / access link, switches forwarding transmission information, routing-related information, etc. The IAB-node-DU can provide blind spot coverage for access-side pole cells under the IAB-node, providing access for regular UEs or lower-level IAB-node-MTs to establish lower-level control links.

[0126] The IAB-donor can support gNodeBs (also known as gNodeB-donors) with IAB-node additional functions and can connect to the core network (e.g., via non-IAB connections), such as fiber optic cables. The IAB-donor can include IAB-host-CU (also known as IAB-donor-CU) and IAB-host-DU (also known as IAB-donor-DU). The IAB-donor-CU provides connectivity for the IAB-donor-DU and IAB-node-DU. The IAB-donor-CU can act as a base station connecting to other base stations (e.g., via the Xn-C interface), allowing the base station to access the 5GC, or the IAB-donor-CU can directly access the 5GC (e.g., via the NG interface). The IAB-donor-DU can provide coverage for access-side pole-mounted cells under the IAB-donor, providing access for ordinary UEs or IAB-nodes to establish lower-level control links.

[0127] The F1 interface is used for the connection between IAB-node-DU and IAB-donor-CU, and is fully inherited from the F1 interface of DU and CU. The Uu interface (e.g., NR Uu interface) is used for the connection between IAB-donor-DU and IAB-node-MT. It can also be used for the connection between IAB-node and UE. As shown in Figure 2G, the IAB-node accesses the IAB-donor as a terminal device and establishes a Uu interface connection. The UE can connect to the IAB-node and then access the IAB-donor-DU.

[0128] Figures 2H and 2I exemplarily illustrate network architecture diagrams of several communication systems applicable to embodiments of this application. The communication system may include satellites, network devices, and terminal devices, etc. The communication system may also include gateways and core network devices. Figures 2H and 2I exemplarily illustrate a converged network architecture of NTN and terrestrial networks. A description is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0129] The satellite can be a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellite, a geosynchronous orbit (GSO) satellite, a geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite, a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite, or a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite. This application does not limit the satellite's operating mode; for example, the satellite can operate in transparent mode or regenerative mode. Figure 2H illustrates the example of a satellite operating in transparent mode, and Figure 2I illustrates the example of a satellite operating in regenerative mode.

[0130] When a satellite operates in transparent mode, it provides transparent relay forwarding functionality. A gateway possesses the functions of a network device (such as a base station) or some of the functions of a network device (such as a base station); in this case, the gateway can be considered a network device (such as a base station). Alternatively, the network device (such as a base station) can be deployed separately from the gateway. In this case, the feeder link latency includes both the latency from the satellite to the gateway and the latency from the gateway to the gNB. The transparent mode discussed later assumes that the gateway and gNB are located together or close to each other. For cases where the gateway and gNB are far apart, the feeder link latency is simply the sum of the latency from the satellite to the gateway and the latency from the gateway to the gNB.

[0131] When a satellite is operating in regenerative mode, it has data processing capabilities and functions as a network device (such as a base station) or partially functions as a network device (such as a base station). In this case, the satellite can be regarded as a network device (such as a base station).

[0132] Satellites can communicate wirelessly with terminal devices via broadcast communication signals and navigation signals. Optionally, each satellite can provide communication, navigation, and positioning services to terminal devices through multiple beams. For example, each satellite uses multiple beams to cover the service area, and the relationship between different beams can be one or more of time-division, frequency-division, and space-division.

[0133] A gateway (also known as a ground station, earth station, or gateway) is a network device used to connect satellites and ground-based network equipment (such as ground base stations). One or more satellites can connect to one or more ground-based network devices (such as ground base stations) through one or more gateways; this is not a limitation. The link between the satellite and the terminal device is called a service link, and the link between the satellite and the gateway is called a feeder link. Network equipment can be deployed separately from the gateway; therefore, the latency of the feeder link can include both the latency from the satellite to the gateway and the latency from the gateway to the network equipment.

[0134] The network devices in this application embodiment may include network devices deployed on satellites (such as satellite base stations), network devices deployed on gateways, or network devices deployed on the ground (such as ground base stations). For example, the network devices may be radio access network (RAN) nodes, RAN nodes in O-RAN systems, etc., as shown in Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, or 2I. Related details are described above and will not be repeated here.

[0135] The core network (CN) device in this embodiment is a device located on the ground that can communicate with NTN devices in the NTN system. For example, the CN can be the CN shown in Figure 2A, Figure 2B, Figure 2C, Figure 2D, Figure 2E, Figure 2F, Figure 2G, Figure 2H, or Figure 2I. For relevant details, please refer to the foregoing description and will not be repeated here.

[0136] The terminal device in the embodiments of this application may be the terminal, terminal equipment or terminal device involved in Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H or 2I. For relevant content, please refer to the foregoing description and will not be repeated here.

[0137] The embodiments of this application can also be applied to other communication system architectures, such as air-to-ground (ATG) communication systems, which include at least one network device and at least one high-altitude terminal device. High-altitude terminal devices include, for example, high-altitude aircraft and onboard terminal devices. The satellites in Figures 2F and 2G can also be replaced with other relay devices, such as high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) or other NTN devices. The communication system shown in Figure 2F or 2G is merely an example and does not limit the communication systems to which the methods provided in the embodiments of this application are applicable.

[0138] This application's embodiments can also be applied to air-to-ground (ATG) communication systems. As an example, please refer to Figure 2J, which is a schematic diagram of the network architecture of another communication system to which this application's embodiments apply. This communication system includes at least one network device and at least one high-altitude terminal device. Data forwarding between the network device and the high-altitude terminal device can also be achieved through relay devices. High-altitude terminal devices include, for example, high-altitude aircraft and onboard terminal devices.

[0139] In another example, the embodiments of this application can also be extended to satellite relay and ground relay backhaul forwarding scenarios. Figures 2K and 2L exemplify two scenarios to which the embodiments of this application can be applied. In these two scenarios, ground relays can be used to expand congested ISLs, thereby increasing system capacity and reducing transmission path length. This application can replace or supplement existing inter-satellite links (ISLs) with on-demand deployed ground relay equipment and satellite-to-ground forwarding links, reducing satellite payload costs and improving the economics of low-Earth orbit satellite network deployment. As shown in Figure 2L, in this scenario, the ISL is partially congested, and ground relays are deployed to expand inter-satellite backhaul capacity. The ground relay can be relay equipment such as NCR / IAB / WAB. A WAB device can be understood as a combination of a gNB and a MT. Compared to the combination of DU and MT in an IAB, the WAB device adds a CU module, which better realizes the functions of a gNB. As shown in Figure 2L, for low-cost satellites that may not have inter-satellite links, ground relays can be deployed to quickly form a backhaul network, enabling low-cost satellite network backhaul.

[0140] Figure 3A illustrates, exemplarily, another communication system architecture applicable to embodiments of this application. As shown in Figure 3A, the communication system includes a gateway, a satellite, a ground-based relay device, a ground-based UE, a high-altitude UE (e.g., a high-altitude aircraft or onboard terminal device), and a high-altitude relay device (e.g., the satellite shown in Figure 3A, which can be an NCR / integrated access and backhaul (IAB)-MT entity).

[0141] As shown in Figure 3A, the gateway can transmit base station signals via satellite to ground-based relay equipment. Ground-based relay equipment can then forward the base station signals to UEs on the ground or in the sky / space (e.g., satellites such as NCR-MT, IAB-MT, or WAB-MT, which can be considered MTs). Ground-based relay equipment can also forward base station signals to the next relay equipment, which can be deployed on the ground or in the air. Figure 3A illustrates this with an example of a satellite in the air acting as the next relay equipment. This satellite can act as an NCR, forwarding received data (or forwarding it to other UEs or other relay equipment). Base station signals can originate from ground-based base stations or satellite base stations.

[0142] In another example, the gateway can transmit base station signals via satellite to ground-based relay equipment. The ground-based relay equipment can forward signals from UEs (e.g., ground-based UEs, aircraft in the air, or satellites configured to include IAB-MT entities) or other relay equipment (e.g., satellites configured as NCR in the diagram) to the gateway (e.g., forwarded via satellite or sent directly to the gateway). The gateway then forwards the received UE signals to the base station. The UE signals can originate from ground-based UEs or UEs in the air.

[0143] Figure 3A schematically illustrates relay devices #1, #2, #3, and #4. The relay devices and the terminal devices may be in the same cell or different cells. For example, relay device #2 and terminal device #1 may be in different cells. Alternatively, relay device #4 and terminal device #1 may be in the same cell, and relay device #4 can also act as a terminal device to access the network provided by relay device #3. For instance, relay device #4, acting as a MT (e.g., relay device #4-MT), can receive signals from cell #1 (e.g., signal #1) and access cell #1. Therefore, relay device #4-MT can receive broadcast messages from cell #1. Relay device #4 forwards signals from cell #1 to the ground (e.g., the area where terminal device #1 is located). The relay devices in this embodiment can also be considered as terminal devices and can be referred to as relay devices or relay devices-MT.

[0144] The relay device in this application embodiment may include an amplify and forward (AF) relay and / or a decode and forward (DF) relay. An amplify and forward relay may refer to a relay device receiving a signal and then directly forwarding it to the next device without decoding or encoding the signal. A decode and forward relay may refer to a relay node receiving a signal, decoding the signal, re-encoding the decoding result, and then forwarding it to the next device.

[0145] Figure 3B illustrates a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture applicable to embodiments of this application. As shown in Figure 3B, the communication system includes a UE and a 5G Core Network (5GC). 5GC / base station / parent node / gNB can also be considered as several possible examples of network devices. As shown in Figure 3B, the communication system also includes one or more relay devices, represented in Figure 3B as network-controlled transparent nodes (NCTN). Transparent forwarding nodes have Amplify-and-Forward (AF) relay functionality, where Amplify-and-Forward relay refers to the relay node receiving a signal but not decoding or encoding it, and directly forwarding the received signal to the destination node. As shown in Figure 3B, the communication system also includes a base station (e.g., gNobeB) and a parent node (e.g., gNobeB-NCTN-donor).

[0146] As shown in Figure 3B, this communication system includes relay devices, which can be devices within the NG-RAN. The relay devices support NR access and backhaul functions and can include NCTN-mobile termination (MT) and NCTN-DU. The NCTN-MT can connect to its parent node's CU or NCTN-DU as a control link, acting as a regular terminal device. The NCTN-MT sends or receives beam direction information for control backhaul / control link / access link, switches forwarded transmission information, routing-related information, etc. The NCTN-DU can provide access for the NCTN-MT / network controlled regenerative node (NCRN)-MT, establishing lower-level control links. The relay device can also include forwarding functionality, providing amplified forwarding (e.g., transparent forwarding) of UL / DL radio frequency signals between the parent node (gNB-donor) / regenerative node and the terminal device.

[0147] The parent node can be a gNodeB (also known as a gNodeB-donor) that supports additional functions of relay devices and can connect to the core network, such as fiber optic cables. The parent node can include NCTN-parent node-CU (also known as NCTN-donor-CU) and NCTN-parent node-DU (also known as NCTN-donor-DU). The NCTN-parent node-CU provides connectivity for the NCTN-parent node-DU and the NCTN-DU of the relay device. The NCTN-parent node-CU can act as a base station connecting to other base stations (e.g., via the Xn-C interface), allowing the base station to access the 5GC, or the NCTN-parent node-CU can directly access the 5GC (e.g., via the NG interface). The NCTN-parent node-DU can provide access for terminal devices or NCTN-MT.

[0148] The F1 interface is used for the connection between NCTN-DU and NCTN-parent node-CU, and is fully inherited from the F1 interface of DU and CU. The Uu interface (e.g., NR Uu interface) is used for the connection between NCTN-parent node-DU and NCTN-MT. It can also be used for the connection between the relay network and the UE. As shown in Figure 3B, the NCTN accesses the parent node as a terminal device and establishes a Uu interface connection. As shown in Figure 3B, the UE can connect to the NCTN forwarding connection, various NCTN forwarding connections, and access the NCTN-parent node-DU.

[0149] Figures 3C, 3D, and 3E exemplarily illustrate several communication system architectures applicable to embodiments of this application.

[0150] The difference between Figure 3C and Figure 3B is that all three relay devices in Figure 3B are NCTN, while only one relay device in Figure 3C is an NCRN. As shown in Figure 3B, an NCRN can include NCRN-MT and NCRN-DU. An NCRN-MT can connect to its parent node's DU / NCTN-DU / NCRN-DU as a regular terminal device, serving as a control link and a wireless backhaul link (providing digital forwarding or regenerative forwarding functions, supporting RLC layer forwarding or MAC layer forwarding). An NCRN has decode-and-forward (DF) relay functionality, meaning that after receiving a signal, the relay node decodes the signal, re-encodes the decoded result, and then forwards it to the destination node. An NCRN-DU can provide access for lower-level NCTN-MT / NCRN-MT / terminal devices. Other details in Figure 3C are described in Figure 3B above and will not be repeated here.

[0151] Compared to Figure 3B, the difference in Figure 3D is that the relay devices in Figure 3D include forwarding and NCTN-MT, but not NCTN-DU. The NCTN-MT can connect to its parent node's DU / NCTN-DU / NCRN-DU as a regular terminal device, serving as a control link. It can also send / receive control return / control link / access link beam direction information, switch forwarded transmission information, routing-related information, etc. Forwarding can provide amplified forwarding (transparent forwarding) of UL / DL radio frequency signals between the gNB-donor / NCRN and the terminal device. Other details in Figure 3D are described in Figure 3B above and will not be repeated here.

[0152] The difference between Figure 3E and Figure 3C is that the NCTN in Figure 3E includes forwarding and NCTN-MT, but does not include NCTN-DU. Other details in Figure 3E are described in Figures 3B, 3C, and 3D above, and will not be repeated here.

[0153] Figure 4 exemplarily illustrates the relationship between uplink and downlink time units on the network device side according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 4 uses the example of the network device in Figure 3A sending signaling to relay device #2 (e.g., NCR-MT) in the downlink time slot as an example. Figure 4 illustrates this signaling as MAC CE#1, but it can also be other signaling, and may be referred to as control signaling. Control signaling can, for example, configure beam and / or resource information. Relay device #2 (e.g., NCR-MT) can forward messages according to the control signaling after it takes effect, such as forwarding information from the network device or forwarding information to the network device. The network device receives the response information corresponding to the control signaling from relay device #2 (e.g., NCR-MT) in the uplink time slot (Figure 4 illustrates this response information as a hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK)). The response information in this embodiment can also be replaced by control signaling decoding results, control signaling reception results, etc. Figure 4 illustrates the use of time units as time slots, but the time units in this embodiment can be replaced with other content.

[0154] The timing relationship between the DL and UL signals is described below from the perspectives of relay device #2 (e.g., NCR-MT), the synchronization reference point, and the network device. The following description uses NCR-MT as an example for relay device #2; however, NCR-MT can be replaced with other devices.

[0155] As shown in Figure 4(a), the NCR-MT receives MAC CE#1 in the downlink time slot. The NCR-MT decodes this MAC CE#1 and feeds back the decoding result in the uplink time slot n. This feedback decoding result can be called the response information corresponding to the control information. If the decoding is correct, then in the time slot... The control signaling is executed starting in the first time slot thereafter (starting the execution of the control signaling can also be replaced by signaling taking effect). If a decoding error occurs, the NCR-MT does not need to execute the control signaling. Since the NCR-MT needs to advance the timing of its uplink signal transmission, the timing advance in this scenario is equal to the round-trip time delay between the NCR-MT and the synchronization reference point. As shown in Figure 4, the uplink time slot n of the NCR-MT is advanced compared to the downlink time slot n. In this embodiment, time slot n is the time slot in which the NCR-MT transmits the response information (e.g., HARQ-ACK) corresponding to the control signaling (the HARQ-ACK corresponding to the PDSCH carrying the MAC CE signaling). This indicates the number of time slots included in a subframe. μ is the subcarrier spacing (SCS) configuration parameter, such as the SCS configuration parameter for carrying the HARQ-ACK channel (e.g., SCS = 2^μ * 15 kilohertz (kHz), where "^" in this embodiment represents exponentiation or multiplication, and "*" represents multiplication).

[0156] As shown in Figure 4(b), the frame boundaries of the downlink and uplink signals at the synchronization reference point are aligned (i.e., the boundaries of uplink time slot n and downlink time slot n are aligned). Figure 4(b) is one possible example; the frame boundaries of the downlink and uplink signals at the synchronization reference point can also have a fixed, small offset (which can be set by the network side).

[0157] As shown in Figure 4(c), due to the establishment of a synchronization reference point, the network device needs to perform post-compensation for the uplink signal delay. That is, when receiving the UL signal, a delayed reception window is required. Therefore, the boundaries of the DL and UL signal frames of the network device will not be aligned. For example, the time difference between the DL and UL signal frame boundaries may be greater than or equal to the round-trip time between the network device and the synchronization reference point (e.g., without considering processing delay). For example, in a satellite-to-ground network, the round-trip time between the network device and the synchronization reference point may be large. For instance, if the synchronization reference point is located at LEO 1200 km (kilometer, KM) in the air (or on a satellite), the time difference between the downlink and uplink signal frame boundaries on the network device side (denoted by t1 in Figure 4) may reach 8-16 ms. However, if the NCR-MT is a HARQ-ACK transmitted in time slot n, then in time slot n... The control signaling (e.g., MAC CE#1) takes effect in the first time slot thereafter. The value can be equal to the time difference t2 in Figure 4, which is typically 3ms. It can be seen that t1 is greater than t2. This causes the network device to receive the response information (which can be called decoding result feedback, such as HARQ-ACK) later than the control signaling takes effect, resulting in timing discrepancies.

[0158] The above description uses the example of a network device sending control signaling to relay device #2. Similarly, other relay devices may encounter similar problems. For example, if a network device sends control signaling to relay device #3, and the synchronization reference point is deployed on the ground or at relay device #2, the response information received by the network device from relay device #3 may be later than the effective time of the control signaling, resulting in timing discrepancies.

[0159] Timing errors can cause several problems. For example, network devices may be unable to determine whether the NCR-MT has correctly received the control signaling even after it has already taken effect, thus preventing them from deciding whether the control signaling should be activated. Furthermore, this timing error can affect backhaul and / or access links. For instance, regarding the backhaul link, if the NCR-MT fails to receive the control signaling (e.g., the control signaling instructs the NCR-MT to switch the backhaul link beam to beam #1), and the network device sends a signal to the NCR-MT using beam #1 at the start of the activation time before receiving HARQ feedback, this will cause a misalignment of the beams used by the network device and the NCR-MT for the downlink signal of the backhaul link, resulting in the NCR-MT being unable to correctly receive the backhaul link signal. For another example, regarding the access link, if the NCR-MT fails to receive the control signaling (such as the control signaling instructing the NCR-MT to switch the access link beam to beam #2), and the network device sends the signal corresponding to beam #2 to the NCR-MT at the start of the effective time before receiving HARQ feedback, the relay device will be unable to use beam #2 to forward the signal, and it will cause interference to the UE using the source beam.

[0160] To address the problems caused by the aforementioned timing discrepancies, this application provides a possible implementation method in which the network device can determine the effective time of the first configuration information based on a first duration. The first duration is associated with the round-trip time delay of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point, or with the offset between the downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network device. This scheme can make the effective time of the first configuration information more reasonable, meet timing requirements, and avoid timing discrepancies. For example, in terms of timing, the effective time of the first configuration information is located after the time unit where the response information of the first configuration information is located. It can be seen that this scheme avoids the timing discrepancy between the effective time of the first configuration information and the reception time of the response information of the first configuration information. By enhancing the timing offset value of the control signaling's effective timing, the network device can receive the response information of the first configuration information first, and then confirm whether the first configuration information is effective based on the response information. If it is confirmed to be effective, the network device confirms the effectiveness of the first configuration information at its effective time.

[0161] The solution provided in this application can resolve the timing discrepancy between the effective time of control signaling and the response information received by the network device from the control signaling in scenarios with high latency (such as scenarios with deployed synchronization reference points). It is also compatible with ground relay scenarios. Therefore, the solution provided in this application supports the introduction of synchronization reference points and ground-based relay devices in high-latency scenarios, thereby reducing the deployment of ground stations and other equipment and reducing costs. Furthermore, the introduction of synchronization reference points reduces the signal compensation required on the relay terminal side, thus improving communication performance.

[0162] Based on the content shown in at least one of Figures 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 2I, 2J, 2K, 2L, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, or 4, and the other content described above, Figure 5 exemplarily illustrates a possible flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of this application. For ease of understanding, Figure 5 uses the interaction between a relay device and a network device as an example for illustration.

[0163] A relay device can be a relay equipment or a chip (or chip system, circuit, or module unit) inside a relay equipment. Relay equipment can be satellite equipment or network equipment deployed on the ground.

[0164] A network device can be a network equipment or a chip (or chip system, circuit, or module unit) within a network equipment. Network equipment can be deployed on the ground or in the air. For example, a network device can include access network equipment, ground stations, gateways, relay equipment, base stations, hosts, parent nodes, or nodes. Another example is that a network device can include an IAB, an NCR, or a WAB. In the embodiments of this application, the access network equipment and the gateway can be deployed in one device or separately. In this application, the network device and the relay device may or may not include other relay devices, or may include one or more other relay devices.

[0165] The embodiments of this application can be applied to NTN scenarios, such as when the relay device and / or network device is an NTN device, or when the communication link between the relay device and the network device includes an NTN device, such as when the relay device communicates with the network device through an NTN device (e.g., a satellite).

[0166] NTN devices may include NTN equipment or chips (or chip systems, circuits, or module units) within NTN equipment. For example, NTN equipment may include satellites, drones, or high-altitude platforms. Alternatively, NTN equipment may include aircraft (or other flying vehicles), terminals on aircraft (or other flying vehicles), ground-based mobile terminals, drone terminals, aircraft terminals, satellites, or satellite terminals. The satellite or satellite terminal may operate in transparent or regenerative mode. Another example is that NTN equipment may include IAB-MT, NCR-MT, or WAB-MT. Finally, NTN equipment may include IAB, NCR, or WAB.

[0167] The following explanation is based on Figure 5.

[0168] Step 501: The network device sends the first configuration information.

[0169] Correspondingly, the relay device receives the first configuration information.

[0170] The first configuration information is used to instruct the relay device to forward information from the network device. In this embodiment, the information from the network device includes information received from the network device and / or information sent to the network device. In this embodiment, the relay device forwarding information from the network device may include: the relay device receiving information from the network device and forwarding the information to other devices (e.g., terminal devices, other relay devices, or other network devices); and / or, the relay device receiving information from other devices (e.g., terminal devices, other relay devices, or other network devices) and forwarding the information to the network device. The information from the network device forwarded by the relay device may include, for example, information corresponding to service data transmitted between the network device and the terminal device, broadcast data, or information corresponding to control commands sent by the network device to the terminal device.

[0171] In this embodiment, the relay device's forwarding of information may include transparent forwarding and / or regenerative forwarding. For example, the relay device may have AF relay functionality, whereby after receiving information, the relay device does not decode or encode the information but directly forwards the received information to the next hop (e.g., a network device or a terminal device). Alternatively, the relay device may have DF relay functionality, where after receiving information, the relay device decodes the information, then re-encodes the decoding result and forwards the re-encoded information to the next hop (e.g., a network device or a terminal device). In this embodiment, the relay device's forwarding of information can be replaced by the relay device sending information; for example, the relay device forwarding information from a network device can be replaced by the relay device sending information from the network device.

[0172] The first configuration information may include information indicating that the relay device needs to forward information from the network device. For example, the first configuration information may include at least one of the following: resources (information A1), beam (information A2), transmission address (information A3), transmission path (information A4), transmission direction (information A5), transmission mode (information A6), frequency (information A7), power (information A8), port (information A9), or reference signal (information A10) corresponding to the information transmitted (or forwarded) by the relay device.

[0173] Information A1 is information used to indicate the resources of information sent (or forwarded) by the relay device.

[0174] Information A1 may include or be replaced with: information on the resources used to indicate the information forwarded by the relay device.

[0175] In this embodiment of the application, the information forwarded by the relay device may include, for example, information received by the relay device from the network device and to be forwarded, and / or information that the relay device needs to forward to the network device.

[0176] For example, information A1 may include time-domain resource information and / or frequency-domain resource information. Time-domain resource information may include, for example, information indicating the time-domain start position of the second time unit; and / or, information indicating the length of time-domain resources occupied by the second time unit. Frequency-domain resource information may include, for example, information such as the starting RB index and / or the number of RBs. When the relay device subsequently forwards information from the network device according to the first configuration information, it can use the resources indicated by information A1 to forward the information from the network device.

[0177] For example, time-domain resource information can be used to indicate: frames / time slots / symbols of downlink forwarding network device signals, and / or frames / time slots / symbols of uplink forwarding terminal device signals.

[0178] For example, frequency domain resource information can be used to indicate: frequency domain sub-bands or frequency domain resource blocks of downlink forwarding network device signals, and / or frequency domain sub-bands or frequency domain resource blocks of uplink forwarding terminal device signals.

[0179] Information A2 is information used to indicate the beam of information transmitted (or forwarded) by the relay device.

[0180] Information A2 may include, for example, or be replaced by, information indicating the beam used to indicate information forwarded by the relay device (e.g., information received by the relay device from the network device and to be forwarded, and / or information that the relay device needs to forward to the network device).

[0181] For example, information A2 includes at least one of: a transmitting beam index, transmitting beam direction information, a receiving beam index, or a receiving beam direction. For example, when the relay device subsequently forwards information from the network device according to the first configuration information, it can use the receiving beam information indicated by information A2 (e.g., the receiving beam index and / or the receiving beam direction information) to receive the information to be forwarded, and then use the transmitting beam information indicated by information A2 (e.g., the transmitting beam index and / or the transmitting beam direction information) to transmit the information to be forwarded.

[0182] Information A3 is used to indicate the sending / receiving address corresponding to the information sent (or forwarded) by the relay device.

[0183] The sending address information indicates the address of the receiving end of the information forwarded by the relay device, or the address information corresponding to the next node to which the relay device forwards the information. The receiving address information indicates the address of the sending end of the information forwarded by the relay device, or the address information corresponding to the previous node to which the relay device forwards the information.

[0184] For example, information A3 may include the sending address of the relay device's forwarding information. This sending address informs the relay device where the information needs to be forwarded. For instance, the sending address could be the target address of the forwarded information on the relay device's side. This sending address could be, for example, the address of the next hop, the address of a network device, the address of a terminal device, the address of another relay device, or the address of another network device, etc. As another example, information A3 may include the receiving address of the relay device's forwarding information. This receiving address informs the relay device where to receive the information to be forwarded. For instance, this receiving address could be, for example, the address of the previous hop, the address of a network device, the address of a terminal device, the address of another relay device, or the address of another network device, etc.

[0185] Information A4 is used to indicate the transmission path corresponding to the information sent (or forwarded) by the relay device.

[0186] Information A4 may include or be replaced with information indicating the path used by the relay device to forward information. In this embodiment, the path may be replaced with a route; for example, the sending path may be replaced with a sending route, and the path information may be replaced with routing information.

[0187] For example, information A4 may include at least one of the following: the identifier of the path of the information forwarded by the relay device, the address of each node on the path, or the address of the updated node on the path.

[0188] Information A5 is used to indicate the transmission direction of the information sent (or forwarded) by the relay device.

[0189] Information A5 may include or be replaced with: information used to indicate the forwarding direction of information forwarded by the relay device.

[0190] For example, the transmission direction of information forwarded by a relay device may include uplink or downlink. Uplink transmission direction refers to the transmission direction from the terminal device to the network device, while downlink transmission direction refers to the transmission direction from the network device to the terminal device. The first configuration information may indicate the transmission direction of the information that the relay device is about to send (or forward).

[0191] Information A6 is information used to indicate the method of transmission of information sent (or forwarded) by the relay device.

[0192] For example, the methods by which a relay device sends information (such as relay device forwarding information) include transparent forwarding or regenerative forwarding. This can also be understood as the relay device operating in transparent forwarding mode or regenerative forwarding mode.

[0193] Information A7 is used to indicate the frequency point corresponding to the information transmitted (or forwarded) by the relay device.

[0194] Information A7 may include or be replaced with: information used to indicate the frequency point for relaying information.

[0195] For example, the frequency corresponding to the information sent by the relay device (such as information forwarded by the relay device) may include 20 gigahertz (GHz) or 30 GHz. The relay device can forward information on these frequencies. Alternatively, the frequency of the information received by the relay device may be different from the frequency on which the relay device forwards the information; the relay device can convert the frequency of the information.

[0196] Information A8 is used to indicate the power corresponding to the information transmitted (or forwarded) by the relay device.

[0197] For example, information A8 may include: transmission power information for relay device forwarding information, or transmission power control information for relay device forwarding information. For example, the relay device may use the power forwarding information indicated by information A8.

[0198] Information A9 is used to indicate the port information corresponding to the information sent (or forwarded) by the relay device.

[0199] For example, information A9 may include: information about the transmitting port used by the relay device to forward information, or information about the receiving port of the relay device to receive information that needs to be forwarded. For example, the relay device may use the receiving port indicated by information A9 to receive information that needs to be forwarded, and / or forward the information through the transmitting port indicated by information A9.

[0200] Information A10 is used to indicate the reference signal corresponding to the information sent (or forwarded) by the relay device.

[0201] The relay device can obtain information about receiving or transmitting reference signals through information A10, and then obtain channel state information between the network device and the previous or next node through receiving / transmitting these reference signals.

[0202] The first configuration information can be carried in a medium access control element (MAC CE) or other signaling, such as radio resource control (RRC) signaling, downlink control information (DCI) signaling (this scheme can be used when DCI signaling requires feedback of decoding results), etc. In addition to the above-mentioned scheme, this application embodiment can also be applied to other scenarios where the receiver needs to provide feedback of decoding results. For example, the first configuration information can be replaced with control signaling that requires the receiver to provide feedback of decoding results. The related schemes are similar to those provided in this application embodiment and will not be described again.

[0203] Step 502: The relay device sends a response message in the first time unit.

[0204] Correspondingly, the network device receives response information in the first time unit. The response information can indicate whether the first configuration information was successfully received. In this embodiment, the response information includes / is information indicating successful reception of the first configuration information for illustrative purposes. When the response information indicates that the first configuration information failed to be received, subsequent network devices and relay devices will not enable the first configuration information; for example, the network device can resend configuration information. This embodiment does not limit the implementation of this situation. In this embodiment, the response information includes HARQ-ACK as an example.

[0205] The first time unit in this application embodiment can be, for example, a symbol or a time slot. For a description of the time unit, please refer to the foregoing content. This application embodiment will be described using a time slot as the first time unit.

[0206] Step 503: The network device acquires the first duration.

[0207] In this application embodiment, the network device can obtain the first duration in various ways. For example, the network device can determine the first duration itself. For instance, the network device can obtain the round-trip time of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point, and / or the offset between the downlink frame timing and the uplink frame timing of the network device, and then determine the first duration based on this information. Alternatively, the network device can receive information from a relay device or other device indicating the first duration, and then determine the first duration based on that information.

[0208] In this embodiment, the first duration can be configured empirically. For example, the first duration can be associated with multiple parameters (e.g., the first duration is determined based on these parameters), such as the first duration being associated with the round-trip time of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point (Implementation B1), or the first duration being associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and the uplink frame timing of the network device (Implementation B2). The setting of the first duration is quite flexible, and it can also be associated with various factors, such as the round-trip time of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point, and the offset between the downlink frame timing and the uplink frame timing of the network device. Related solutions can also be found in Implementations B1 and B2.

[0209] In implementation B1, the first duration is associated with the round-trip time of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point.

[0210] For example, the first duration is determined based on the location information of the synchronization reference point and the network device. Since the locations of the synchronization reference point and the network device are related to the round-trip time delay of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point, and also related to the offset between the downlink and uplink frame timings of the network device, a more reasonable first duration can be determined based on the location of the synchronization reference point and the network device. This, in turn, allows for a more reasonable second time unit, thereby minimizing timing discrepancies and improving communication success rate.

[0211] The first duration is associated with the delay between the synchronization reference point and the network device (e.g., signal transmission round-trip time). In one possible implementation, the network device can calculate the first duration based on the delay between the synchronization reference point and the network device (e.g., signal transmission round-trip time). For example, the first duration is greater than or equal to the signal transmission round-trip time between the network device and the synchronization reference point. Thus, in terms of timing, the downlink second time unit determined by the subsequent network device based on the first duration will be later than the uplink first time unit, thereby avoiding timing errors on the network device side and enabling successful information transmission between the network device and the relay device based on the first configuration information. In another possible implementation, the first duration may also be less than the signal transmission round-trip time between the network device and the synchronization reference point. The network device can use other methods (e.g., the second time unit can be set according to other parameters) to ensure that the final second time unit meets the timing relationship, avoiding timing errors.

[0212] The unit of the first duration can be a time unit or other units (e.g., milliseconds, seconds, etc.). For example, the first duration can be one or more time units or several milliseconds. When the unit of the first duration is not a time unit, the unit of the first duration can be converted to a time unit, which can also be understood as converting the first duration into the number of time units corresponding to the first duration. For example, the number of time units corresponding to the first duration can be the quotient of the first duration and the duration of one time unit. The network device can calculate the second time unit based on the first duration, or it can calculate the second time unit based on the number of time units corresponding to the first duration.

[0213] This application uses an example with a first duration of ΔT. For example, it uses an example with a first duration of ΔT.

[0214] For example, the first duration satisfies any of the following:

[0215] or,

[0216] In the embodiments of this application, This indicates rounding up. RTD (Network Device, Synchronization Reference Point) represents the time delay between the network device and the synchronization reference point (such as signal transmission round-trip time). slot_duration represents the length of a time unit (or duration, such as slot length, frame length, subframe length, symbol length, or a certain time length (e.g., 1 millisecond)). The meanings of the same parameters in other positions are the same, and the meanings of the parameters will not be described again.

[0217] In implementation B2, the first duration is associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and the uplink frame timing of the network device.

[0218] In implementation B2, the first duration can be determined based on a scheduling offset. In this embodiment, the scheduling offset is represented as kmac. kmac can also be written as Kmac. kmac is associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network device. Since the timing disorder problem is caused by the time interval between the uplink frame timing and downlink frame timing on the network device side, and since the scheduling offset is associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network device, the second time unit determined based on the first duration determined by the scheduling offset is more reasonable, thereby minimizing the timing disorder problem and improving the communication success rate. On the other hand, since the scheduling offset is a parameter in the existing standard, this scheme can reduce the number of new parameters, thereby reducing the resource overhead caused by transmitting new parameters.

[0219] In this embodiment, downlink frame timing can be written as "downlink frame timing" in the standard. Uplink frame timing can be written as "uplink frame timing" in the standard. The offset between downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network device can also be: including / replaced as the offset between the frame boundary (e.g., the time domain start position or time domain end position of the frame) of the downlink f1-th frame (the downlink frame with index number f1, or downlink frame f1) and the uplink f1-th frame (the downlink frame with index number f1, or downlink frame f1); or including / replaced as the offset between the frame boundary (e.g., the time domain start position of the frame) of the downlink f2-th time slot (the downlink time slot with index number f2, or downlink time slot f2) and the uplink f2-th time slot (the uplink frame with index number f2, or uplink time slot f2), where f1 and f2 can both be positive integers.

[0220] The frame boundary in this application embodiment may include / be replaced by: frame timing, frame boundary timing, time slot boundary, time slot timing, time slot boundary timing, frame start position, time slot start position, or frame time domain start position, or frame time domain end position, or the time of receiving the frame, or the time of receiving the time slot, etc.

[0221] For example, the first duration can reuse the scheduling offset value. Alternatively, the first duration can be determined based on the scheduling offset value and a first value. The first value can be predefined by the protocol or a value indicated by the network device to the relay device. The first value can also be called by other names, such as an adjustment value.

[0222] Let the first duration be △T, for example, the first duration is any of the following: △T = kma; △T = (kma + first value); or △T = (kma - first value).

[0223] For example, the first duration can be calculated using other formulas for kmac and the first value, such as a product. Since the relay device can reuse kmac as the first duration, the network device does not need to send additional signaling to configure the first duration, thus saving signaling overhead. The unit of kmac can be a time unit or other units (e.g., milliseconds, seconds), for example, the first duration can be one or more time units or several milliseconds. When calculating the second time unit based on kmac, the time unit used by kmac can also be converted to the corresponding number of time units.

[0224] In this embodiment, the kmac can be broadcast by the network device. For example, if the downlink and uplink frame timings are not aligned on the network device side, the network device sends the kmac to the terminal device. The time unit of the kmac can be milliseconds, or it can be a time slot length of 15 kHz subcarrier spacing. The kmac can also be updated; for example, as the offset between the downlink and uplink frame timings of the network device changes, the kmac can be updated accordingly. The network device can use the updated kmac to calculate the time units used for subsequent information forwarding.

[0225] Step 504: The relay device acquires the first duration.

[0226] There are several ways for the relay device in this application embodiment to obtain the first duration. For example, the relay device can obtain the round-trip time of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point, and / or the offset between the downlink frame timing and the uplink frame timing of the network device. Then, the relay device determines the first duration based on this information.

[0227] Alternatively, the network device or other device may send information indicating the first duration to the relay device, and the relay device may receive the information indicating the first duration. For example, the information indicating the first duration received by the relay device may be sent directly to the relay device by the network device, or it may be sent to the relay device by the network device through other devices (such as other relay devices). Furthermore, the information indicating the first duration and the aforementioned first configuration information may be carried in the same signaling message, or they may be carried in two separate signaling messages and sent separately. There is no absolute order of transmission between the information indicating the first duration and the first configuration information. For the relevant schemes for the relay device to determine the first duration based on the information indicating the first duration, please refer to the relevant descriptions of the aforementioned embodiments B1 and B2, which will not be repeated here.

[0228] For example, the information used to indicate the first duration includes at least one of the following:

[0229] First duration;

[0230] Information on the round-trip time delay of signal transmission between network devices and synchronization reference points;

[0231] The scheduling offset value is associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network device; or,

[0232] The scheduling offset value and the first value are associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network device, and the first value is indicated by the network device.

[0233] When the information used to indicate the first duration includes the first duration itself, the relay device can directly obtain the first duration based on this information, which reduces the operational complexity of the relay device. The first duration included in the information used to indicate the first duration can be the value of the duration itself, or it can be information about the time unit corresponding to the first duration. For example, the information used to indicate the first duration might be: 2 milliseconds. Another example is that the information used to indicate the first duration might be 2 time slots; this example uses time units as time slots. The relay device determines the first duration based on the received information indicating the first duration.

[0234] The relay device can determine the first duration based on the information used to indicate the first duration, thereby reducing the implementation complexity on the network device side and reducing the complexity of the scheme. When the information used to indicate the first duration includes a scheduling offset value, which is a parameter defined in the existing standard, the scheme can reuse parameters in the existing table, thereby reducing the degree of modification to the existing scheme and avoiding or reducing the resource overhead caused by adding new parameters.

[0235] Step 505: The network device and the relay device transmit information in the second time unit.

[0236] For example, step 505 includes: the network device sending information to the relay device in a second time unit according to the first configuration information; correspondingly, the relay device receiving information in the second time unit according to the first configuration information. As another example, step 505 includes: the relay device receiving information from a terminal device, other relay devices, or other network devices according to the first configuration information, and forwarding the information to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receiving information from the relay device.

[0237] The following example illustrates how a network device sends information to a relay device in a second time unit, and the relay device forwards that information. For instance, the network device sends the information using resources or beams indicated by the first configuration information in the second time unit. The relay device receives this information using the resources or beams indicated by the first configuration information. Further, the relay device forwards this information (which can be referred to as downlink information) according to the first configuration information. For example, the relay device forwards the information to a terminal device, other relay devices, or other network devices according to the first configuration information. For example, the relay device forwards the information to a terminal device, other relay devices, or other network devices using resources or beams indicated by the first configuration information. The relay device's forwarding of this information can include regenerative forwarding or transparent forwarding; the relevant details are described in the aforementioned step 501 and will not be repeated here.

[0238] The second time unit in this application embodiment can be, for example, a symbol or a time slot. For a description of the time unit, please refer to the foregoing content. This application embodiment takes a time slot as the second time unit as an example. In these examples, the time slot can also be replaced with other time units, such as a symbol.

[0239] In this embodiment, the second time unit can belong to a time unit in which the first configuration information takes effect. For example, the second time unit can be the time unit in which the first configuration information begins to take effect (the first configuration information begins to take effect in the second time unit), or the second time unit can be a time unit after the time unit in which the first configuration information begins to take effect (the first configuration information has already taken effect in the time unit before the second time unit). In this embodiment, the time unit in which the first configuration information takes effect can be called the effective time, effective timing, application timing, application time, activation time, activation timing, application time, application timing, effective time, effective timing, activation time, or activation timing, etc. For example, the first configuration information is also effective (or always effective) within a time period after the effective time. For example, the first configuration information is also effective (or always effective) within a time period after the second time unit.

[0240] For example, the second time unit is determined based on the first duration and the first time unit. For instance, the index value of the second time unit is determined based on the index value of the first time unit and the number of time units corresponding to the first duration. In this embodiment, the index value of the time unit may include, for example, the index of the time unit or the identifier of the time unit, such as a time slot number, frame number, etc. These solutions can increase the interval between the second time unit (the time when the first configuration information takes effect or is used) and the response information (the first time unit), thereby avoiding timing errors and enabling successful information transmission between the network device and the relay device based on the first configuration information.

[0241] In another possible implementation, the second time unit is further determined based on the second value, the value of K, or the value of S0. For example, the index value of the second time unit is determined based on the index value of the first time unit and the sum of at least one of the following: The number of corresponding time units, the number of time units corresponding to the first duration, the number of time units corresponding to the value of K, or the number of time units corresponding to the value of S0. This scheme provides a specific method for determining the second time unit, which can reduce the complexity of determining the second time unit.

[0242] The second value in the embodiments of this application can be represented as: a is a positive integer. This represents the number of time units included in a subframe. For example, 'a' can be 3. 'μ' is the SCS configuration parameter, such as the SCS configuration parameter for carrying response information (e.g., the HARQ-ACK channel) (e.g., SCS = 2^μ * 15kHz). On one hand, this scheme is more compatible with existing technologies. For example, the value of 'a' can be 3. This is a parameter defined in the existing standard. In this way, the solution can avoid modifying the parameter range supported by the ground relay device and does not require the ground relay device (small delay scenario) to support the large delay scenario, thus avoiding increasing the capability of the ground relay device.

[0243] The value of K is associated with the latency of the relay device processing uplink information and / or downlink information, or K can be a specified value. The latency of the relay device processing uplink and / or downlink information may include, for example, the time required to adjust beam pointing and data processing time. The latency of the relay device processing uplink information and downlink information may be equal or unequal. For example, the first configuration information may also indicate the value of K. When the second time unit is associated with the value of K, the time interval between the time for transmitting information according to the first configuration information (i.e., the second time unit) and the time interval between the network device receiving the information indicating successful reception of the first configuration information can be further increased by the value of K, thereby further avoiding timing errors and improving communication performance.

[0244] In this embodiment, S0 can be a predefined value or a value configured by the network device. The unit of S0 can be a time unit or other time length unit (e.g., milliseconds). For example, S0 of 1 indicates the number of 1 time units. This makes it more compatible with existing standards.

[0245] In this embodiment, taking the determination of a second time unit by a network device as an example, the network device can determine the second time unit based on a downlink time slot with the same index value as the first time unit (Implementation C1). Alternatively, the network device can also determine an uplink fourth time unit based on the index value of the first time unit, and then determine the second time unit based on a downlink time unit with the same index value as the uplink fourth time unit (Implementation C2). The index value of the fourth time unit is based on the index value of the first time unit and the first duration. At least one of K, or S0, is determined. The duration of an upward time unit and a downward time unit may be the same or different. Implementation C1 is applicable to cases where the duration of an upward time unit and a downward time unit are the same or different. Implementation C2 is applicable to cases where the duration of an upward time unit and a downward time unit are the same or different. When the duration of an upward time unit and a downward time unit are different, in implementation C2, since the upward fourth time unit is determined first based on the upward first time unit, and then the downward second time unit is determined, and the determination of the fourth time unit takes the above into account, the position of the second time unit determined by this implementation can satisfy the timing relationship with a higher probability, thereby avoiding timing errors with a higher probability.

[0246] In implementation C1, the index value of the second time unit is determined based on the index value of the first time unit and at least one of the following: The number of corresponding time units, the number of time units corresponding to the first duration, the number of time units corresponding to the value of K, or the number of time units corresponding to the value of S0.

[0247] Taking the first duration as ΔT and the first time unit as time unit (e.g., time slot) n as an example, the second time unit (or the effective time of the first configuration information) can be any of the following:

[0248] Time unit

[0249] Time unit (n+ΔT);

[0250] Time unit

[0251] Time unit (n + ΔT + K);

[0252] Time unit

[0253] Time unit (n+△T+S0);

[0254] Time unit (n+ΔT+K+S0); or,

[0255] Time unit

[0256] In the above formula, △T can be replaced with kmac, (kmac + first value), or (kmac - first value). The above example uses △T, The example of S0 using a time unit (e.g., a time slot) as an example is given.

[0257] For example, based on the formula for the possible second time unit mentioned above, the second time unit could be a time unit. This can be replaced with: the second time unit starts at The S0th time slot following the first time slot. The second time unit can be the effective time of the first configuration information, or a time after the effective time. For example, the effective time of the first configuration information is starting from... The S0th time slot following the previous time slot. S0 can be zero or a positive integer. In one possible implementation, S0 can be replaced with or set to a fixed value (e.g., 1) instead of a dynamically changing value. For example, S0 can be replaced with 1, and the value of a is 3. For example, the second time unit starts at... The first time slot after the first time slot. For example, the effective time of the first configuration information starts from... The first time slot following a time slot. For example, the second time unit (or the effective time of the first configuration information) is the first time slot starting from (n+ΔT). For example, the second time unit (or the effective time of the first configuration information) is the first time slot starting from... The first time slot after the first time slot. This example uses S0 as 1; in practical applications, S0 can have other values, and the related content is similar and will not be elaborated further.

[0258] In this embodiment, △T can represent a first duration. When the unit of △T is a time unit, △T can also represent the number of time units corresponding to the first duration. Similarly, when When the unit is a time unit, It can also mean The number of corresponding time units. Similarly, when K is in time units, K can also represent the number of time units corresponding to K. Likewise, when S0 is in time units, S0 can also represent the number of time units corresponding to S0. If the units of these parameters are not time units, they can be converted to time units, and the above parameters can be replaced with the corresponding number of time units. For example, ΔT can be replaced with the number of time units corresponding to ΔT. Replace with the number of time units corresponding to △T, replace K with the number of time units corresponding to K, and replace S0 with the number of time units corresponding to S0.

[0259] For example, if the value of 'a' is 3, the first duration is denoted as ΔT, the index of the first time unit is n, and the second time unit and the first time unit are time slots. For example, the second time unit begins at... The S0th time slot after the previous time slot. For example, the effective time of the first configuration information starts from... The S0th time slot following the previous time slot. S0 can be zero or a positive integer. In one possible implementation, S0 can be replaced with or set to a fixed value (e.g., 1) instead of a dynamically changing value. For example, S0 can be replaced with 1. For example, the second time unit begins at... The first time slot after the first time slot. For example, the effective time of the first configuration information starts from... The first time slot after the first time slot.

[0260] Figure 6 illustrates, exemplarily, the relationship between uplink and downlink time units on the relay device side according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 6, the relay device receives first configuration information in time slot n (for ease of understanding, the figure uses MAC CE#1 as an example for illustration). The network device receives response information (e.g., HARQ-ACK) in time slot n. This response information is used to indicate that the relay device has successfully received the first configuration information (e.g., MAC CE#1), or to indicate that the relay device has successfully decoded the first configuration information (e.g., MAC CE#1). The second time unit (or the effective time of the first configuration information) determined by the network device and the relay device is any one of the above formulas, for example, the second time unit (or the effective time of the first configuration information) is time slot n. The first time slot afterwards. Time slot m is marked in Figure 6 as the time slot where MAC CE#1 begins to take effect, and the time difference between time slot m and time slot n is marked as t3. As can be seen from Figure 6, since the network device determines the resources used for forwarding information based on the first duration, even in scenarios with large latency, the time when MAC CE#1 begins to take effect will not be earlier than the time when the response information (e.g., HARQ-ACK) is received. Consequently, in high-latency communication scenarios, the success rate of relay devices in forwarding information can be improved.

[0261] In this embodiment of the application, the parameters used to calculate the second time unit (such as n, ΔT, ...) The units of multiple terms in K or S0 may be consistent or inconsistent, or the parameters used to calculate the time slot (such as n, ΔT, etc.) may also differ. The unit of K or S0 (multiples in K or S0) can also be the length of a time unit (e.g., a time slot) corresponding to different subcarrier intervals. In this case, the units of the parameters used to calculate the second time unit can be converted to a consistent unit for calculation, for example, all converted to the length of a time unit (e.g., a time slot) corresponding to the same subcarrier interval. Alternatively, these parameters can be converted to a unified unit for calculation first, for example, all parameters used to calculate the second time unit (e.g., n, ΔT, ...) can be converted to a consistent unit for calculation. All multiple terms in K or S0 are converted to time (e.g., milliseconds) for calculation, and then the time slot in which the obtained time value is located is used as the second time unit.

[0262] The duration of an uplink time unit and a downlink time unit can be the same or different. The above scheme can be used regardless of whether the durations of the uplink and downlink time units are the same or different. For example, if the durations of the uplink and downlink time units are different, ΔT can be set based on the relationship between their durations. For instance, if the length of an uplink time unit is greater than the length of a downlink time unit, ΔT can be set larger so that the effective duration of the first configuration information is after the response information received by the network device in the timing sequence.

[0263] In another possible implementation, since the durations of an uplink time unit and a downlink time unit are different, unit conversion can be performed. This will be illustrated by the following implementation C1.1.

[0264] In implementation C1.1, the index value of the second time unit is determined based on the sum of the index value of the first time unit and at least one of the following: The number of corresponding time units, the number of time units corresponding to ΔT, the number of time units corresponding to the value of K, or the number of time units corresponding to the value of S0. Multiple parameters used to calculate the second time unit (e.g., first duration, ...). The units of K (or multiple units in S0) may differ. In such cases, unit conversion can be performed on these parameters. Let's take the control link (C-link) between a network device and a relay device as an example. For instance, within a C-link link, the uplink timeslot length differs from the downlink timeslot length, and conversion can be performed.

[0265] For example, parameters can be given for calculating the second time unit (e.g., the index n of the first time unit, ΔT, etc.). A coefficient (e.g., a scaling factor) is set for at least one of K, or S0, for example, the coefficient corresponding to the index n of the first time unit is S1, the coefficient corresponding to ΔT is S2, and the coefficient corresponding to K is S3. The corresponding coefficient is S4. The parameters in the formula used to calculate the second time unit can be substituted; for example, n can be replaced with... or Or n*S1, etc. Similarly, △T can be replaced with or Or △T*S2, etc. Similarly, K can be replaced with or Or K*S3, etc. Similarly, It can be replaced with or or wait.

[0266] For example, the second time unit can be any of the following:

[0267] Time unit

[0268] Time unit

[0269] Time unit

[0270] Time unit

[0271] Time unit

[0272] Time unit

[0273] Time unit or,

[0274] Time unit

[0275] In the above formula, △T can be replaced with kmac, (kmac + first value), or (kmac - first value). The above replacement schemes are some examples. The parameters in the above formula used to determine the second time unit can all be replaced in a similar way to these examples, and will not be repeated here.

[0276] Similar to the aforementioned content, the second time unit is a time unit. This can be replaced with: the second time unit starts at The S0th time slot following the first time slot. The second time unit can be the effective time of the first configuration information, or a time after the effective time. For example, the effective time of the first configuration information is starting from... The S0th time slot following the previous time slot. S0 can be zero or a positive integer. In one possible implementation, S0 can be replaced with or set to a fixed value (e.g., 1) instead of a dynamically changing value. For example, S0 can be replaced with 1, and the value of a is 3. For example, the second time unit starts at... The first time slot after the first time slot. For example, the effective time of the first configuration information starts from... The first time slot after the first time slot. The contents of the other formulas are similar and will not be repeated here.

[0277] For example, at least one of S1, S2, S3, or S4 can be related to the subcarrier spacing, such as... Where, μ ULThese are the uplink signal SCS configuration parameters, such as the uplink signal subcarrier spacing. μ DL These are the downlink signal SCS configuration parameters, such as the downlink signal subcarrier spacing. μ △T It is related to the subcarrier spacing corresponding to the defined ΔT, that is For example, S3 represents the scaling factor (or conversion factor) for determining K based on the subcarrier spacing or using different time units. For example, S4 represents the scaling factor (or conversion factor) for determining K based on the subcarrier spacing or using different time units. The scaling factor (or conversion factor). In the embodiments of this application... * can represent rounding down, and * can represent multiplication. u can be the subcarrier interval for transmitting uplink or downlink information. n is the index number of the first time unit, and the values ​​of ΔT and K... The definition of S0 can be found in the preceding description and will not be repeated here. The units of the parameters in these formulas can be found in the preceding description of the units of the parameters used to calculate the time slots and will not be repeated here.

[0278] The network device can determine the second time unit according to the content provided in Implementation C1.1, and the relay device can also determine the second time unit according to the content provided in Implementation C1.1.

[0279] In another possible implementation, the subcarrier spacing used by the signal received by the relay device from the network device is different from the subcarrier spacing used by the relay device to forward the signal. In this case, the relay device may or may not perform unit conversion when determining the second time unit. The implementation method of unit conversion by the relay device is described below through implementation method C1.2.

[0280] In implementation C1.2, the subcarrier spacing used by the control signaling signals received by the relay device from the network device is different from the subcarrier spacing used by the relay device to forward signals.

[0281] In implementation C1.2, when determining the second time unit, the relay device may consider the relationship between the subcarrier spacing corresponding to the control link (C-link) and the backhaul link (forwarding link or backhaul link).

[0282] The control link (C-link) is used by network devices (e.g., gNB) to send control signaling to relay devices (e.g., NCR-MT). The forwarding link (or backhaul link) is used to forward signals between network devices (e.g., gNB) and terminal devices (e.g., UE).

[0283] For example, the SCS corresponding to the downlink of the control link (C-link) may differ from the SCS corresponding to the downlink / uplink of the backhaul link. That is, the SCS corresponding to the control link (C-link) between a network device (e.g., gNB) and a relay device (e.g., NCR-MT) may differ from the SCS corresponding to the link between a network device (e.g., gNB) and a terminal device (e.g., UE).

[0284] Figure 7 exemplifies a possible example diagram of a second time unit determined by a relay device. As shown in Figure 7, the subcarrier spacing parameter of the C-link between the network device and the relay device (e.g., relay device-MT) is μ (the relay device receives control signaling signals from the network device via the C-link), and the subcarrier spacing for the relay device to forward signals is μ / 2.

[0285] Parameters used to calculate the second time unit (e.g., the index n, ΔT, of the first time unit) At least one of K, or S0, can be converted. Each parameter can be converted to u. c-link Related to uforwarding, or related to u c-link The relationship between uforwarding and u. c-link The subcarrier spacing parameter is the C-link between the network device and the relay device (e.g., relay device-MT), and uforwarding is the subcarrier spacing of the link between the network device (e.g., gNB) and the terminal device (e.g., UE).

[0286] For example, n can be replaced with Similarly, △T can be replaced with... And so on. Similarly, It can be replaced with Similarly, K can be replaced with... In the embodiments of this application, rounding up in all formulas can be replaced with rounding down, and vice versa.

[0287] For example, the second time unit determined by the relay device is: Figure 7 in the formula also illustrates the effective location of the first configuration information, determined according to the C-link subcarrier spacing, i.e., the time slot. Alternatively, the above rounding up can be replaced with rounding down. The above replacement schemes are some examples. The parameters in the formula used to determine the second time unit can all be replaced, and the replacement methods are similar to these examples, so they will not be repeated here.

[0288] It can be seen that the second time unit determined by considering the relationship between the subcarrier spacing used by the control signaling signals received by the relay device from the network device and the subcarrier spacing of the signals forwarded by the relay device is more reasonable.

[0289] In implementation C2, the index value of the second time unit is determined based on the downlink third time unit, the downlink third time unit is determined based on the uplink fourth time unit, and the uplink fourth time unit is determined based on the sum of the index value of the uplink first time unit and at least one of the following: The number of corresponding time units, the number of time units corresponding to the first duration, the number of time units corresponding to the value of K, or the number of time units corresponding to the value of S0.

[0290] The method for determining the second time unit using a network device is described as an example. The method for determining the second time unit using a relay device is similar and will not be repeated here. For instance, if the network device receives a response message (e.g., HARQ-ACK) in uplink time slot n (the first time unit), the network device can determine the fourth uplink time unit (e.g., denoted as uplink time slot w). The fourth uplink time unit is at least one of the following:

[0291] Time unit

[0292] Time unit (n+ΔT);

[0293] Time unit

[0294] Time unit (n + ΔT + K);

[0295] Time unit

[0296] Time unit (n+△T+S0);

[0297] Time unit (n+ΔT+K+S0); or,

[0298] Time unit

[0299] In the above formula, △T can be replaced by kmac, (kmac + first value), or (kmac - first value). The network device determines the downlink third time unit (e.g., time slot r1) based on the uplink fourth time unit (denoted as uplink time slot w). A moment in the uplink fourth time unit (e.g., the start time, the middle time, or the end time) can belong to a moment in that uplink fourth time unit. The time (or moment) of the start position in the time domain of the uplink fourth time unit (uplink time slot w) belongs to the downlink third time unit (e.g., time slot r1).

[0300] Furthermore, the network device determines the second downlink time unit (e.g., time slot r2) based on the third downlink time unit (e.g., time slot r1). The second time unit can be the third time unit, or a time unit following the third time unit. For example, the second time unit is the S0th time unit after the third time unit.

[0301] Figure 8 illustrates, for example, the effective time of MAC CE#1 when the duration of one uplink time unit and one downlink time unit are different. The time slot at which MAC CE#1 begins to take effect, as shown in Figure 8, can be the second time unit, or the second time unit can be a time slot following the time slot at which MAC CE#1 begins to take effect. MAC CE#1 is a possible example of the first configuration information, and time slot n is the time slot for the response information (e.g., HARQ-ACK) of the first configuration information.

[0302] As shown in Figure 8, the network device determines the uplink time slot w (uplink fourth time unit) based on the uplink time slot n (first time unit). The time difference between uplink time slot w and uplink time slot n is denoted as t4, and the time difference t4 may include, for example, the aforementioned first duration. The duration corresponding to at least one of K, or S0, etc.

[0303] The time (or moment, such as the start time, a specific moment within the time slot, or the end time) of the uplink time slot w (the fourth uplink time unit) corresponds to the downlink time slot r1 (the third downlink time unit). Figure 8 illustrates this using the second time unit as the downlink time slot r2 as an example. In Figure 8, the downlink time slot r2 = (downlink time slot r1 + 1).

[0304] The solution provided in this application can increase the timing interval between the time domain resources of the information to be forwarded (or the effective time of control signaling) and the downlink signaling (such as the first information) used to indicate the control information to be forwarded, thereby solving the problem of insufficient timing offset of the effective time of control information and supporting the needs of high latency scenarios (such as NTN scenarios or satellite-ground fusion scenarios).

[0305] The solution provided in this application is also relatively compatible with existing technologies. For example, the second time unit can be combined with... Association. Compared to directly extending existing parameters. Compared to the previous method, the solution provided in this application can introduce a new parameter, the first duration. This allows the solution to avoid modifying the parameter range supported by the ground-based relay device (i.e., avoid modifying...). The solution does not require ground relay devices (for low-latency scenarios) to support high-latency scenarios, thus avoiding the need to increase the capacity of ground relay devices. The solution provided in this application only requires increasing the capacity of relay devices in high-latency scenarios.

[0306] On the other hand, when the second time unit is associated with the K value, the time interval between the transmission time of information according to the first configuration information (i.e., the second time unit) and the information received by the network device to indicate that the first configuration information has been successfully received can be further increased by the K value, thereby further avoiding timing disorder and improving communication performance.

[0307] The example diagrams in this application illustrate downlink forwarding operations controlled by a network device controlling a relay device. These embodiments can also be applied to uplink communication scenarios. For instance, the network device sends control signaling indicating the uplink beam direction (or uplink transmission port) or uplink forwarding time-domain resources. The effective time of this control signaling can be increased by an effective timing offset value ΔT. This ensures the normal order of the decoding result feedback reception time and the control signaling effective time, and also guarantees sufficient time for the uplink to adjust the uplink beam direction (or uplink transmission port) or uplink forwarding time-domain resources according to the control signaling.

[0308] In one possible implementation, the network device may send multiple configuration information messages to the relay device. The effective time (or second time unit) of subsequent configuration information messages can also refer to the determination scheme of the effective time of the first configuration information message, and the effective time of subsequent configuration information messages can also be determined based on the first duration. As the round-trip delay of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point changes, and / or the offset between the downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network device changes, the first duration may change accordingly. Therefore, to reduce latency, the first duration can be updated as the latency changes, or updated periodically. The network device can determine the effective time of the configuration information based on the updated first duration. The relay device can determine the effective time of the configuration information based on the updated first duration. Updating the first duration can make the subsequently determined effective time of the configuration information more reasonable and more consistent with the actual situation, thereby avoiding timing errors and minimizing the control signaling effective delay or data transmission delay, thus improving communication performance.

[0309] The following describes two schemes for updating the first duration using implementation methods D1 and D2. In implementation method D1, the network device can send information indicating the updated first duration to the relay device. In implementation method D2, the network device and the relay device can determine the updated first duration according to agreed-upon rules or specified rules, thereby reducing signaling transmission overhead.

[0310] In implementation D1, the network device can send information to the relay device to indicate the first duration after the update.

[0311] The network device can determine to update the first duration if it determines that the change in latency between the relay device and the network device is greater than a threshold. In this embodiment, for ease of understanding, the two first durations can be referred to as the first duration before update and the first duration after update, respectively. The first duration before update is updated to obtain the first duration after update.

[0312] In one possible implementation, the network device sends information indicating the updated first duration, and the corresponding relay device receives the information indicating the updated first duration. The relay device can determine the updated first duration based on the information indicating the updated first duration, thereby reducing the complexity of the scheme for determining the updated first duration on the relay device side.

[0313] The information used to indicate the updated first duration may include the updated first duration itself, or the number of time units corresponding to the updated first duration. The relay device directly determines the updated first duration or the number of time units corresponding to the updated first duration based on the third information. In this example, the network device can calculate the updated first duration. In one possible implementation, Wherein, the △T update value represents the first duration after the update. Indicates rounding up; RTD (Network Device, Relay Device) represents the time delay between the synchronization reference point and the network device (e.g., the round-trip time of an updated signal transmission); slot_duration represents the length of a time unit.

[0314] In another possible implementation, the information used to indicate the updated first duration includes information indicating the difference between the first duration before the update and the first duration after the update. This difference can be the time difference between the first duration before the update and the first duration after the update, or it can be the difference between the number of time units corresponding to the first duration before the update and the number of time units corresponding to the first duration after the update. In this example, the network device can calculate the difference between the first duration before the update and the first duration after the update. The relay device can determine the updated first duration or the number of time units corresponding to the updated first duration based on this difference. For example: Updated first duration = (First duration before the update - ΔS). Another example: Updated first duration = (First duration before the update + ΔS). ΔS can be the difference between the first duration before the update and the first duration after the update. Another example: Number of time units corresponding to the updated first duration = (Number of time units corresponding to the first duration before the update - Number of time units corresponding to ΔS). For example: the number of time units corresponding to the first duration after the update = (the number of time units corresponding to the first duration before the update + the number of time units corresponding to ΔS). The relationship between the parameters in these examples can be expressed by the following formula: ΔS = initial value of ΔT - updated value of ΔT, or ΔS = updated value of ΔT - initial value of ΔT, where the initial value of ΔT can be understood as the first duration before the update, and the updated value of ΔT can be understood as the first duration after the update. The relay device can also calculate the first duration after the update based on this relationship, for example, ΔT updated value = initial value of ΔT - ΔS, or ΔT updated value = ΔS + initial value of ΔT.

[0315] In implementation D2, the network device and the relay device can determine the updated first duration according to agreed rules or specified rules, respectively.

[0316] In implementation D2, the network device may not send information indicating the first duration after the update to the relay device, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0317] For example, it can be agreed that both the network device and the relay transpose calculate ΔT based on the round-trip delay between the network device and the synchronization reference point; for example, it can be agreed that they are calculated based on... The formula is determined. That is, both the relay device and the network device know the latest position of the network device relative to the synchronization reference point. The advantage of this method is that it avoids frequent sending of update signaling; it only needs to be calculated based on the latest position of the network device relative to the synchronization reference point. The content of this formula can be found in the foregoing description and will not be repeated here. In all formulas in this application embodiment, rounding up can be replaced with rounding down, and vice versa.

[0318] In this embodiment, the relay device can function as a network device or a terminal device. For example, the relay device can act as a MT to access other network devices. The relay device in this embodiment can also be replaced by a relay device-MT. The relay device and the terminal device may be in the same cell or different cells. Referring to Figure 3A, relay device #2 and terminal device #1 in Figure 3A are in different cells. For example, relay device #4 and terminal device #1 are in the same cell, and relay device #4 can also act as a terminal device to access the network provided by relay device #3. For example, relay device #4, acting as an MT (e.g., relay device #4-MT), can receive signals from cell #1 (e.g., signal #1) and access cell #1. Therefore, relay device #4-MT can receive broadcast messages from cell #1. Relay device #4 forwards the signals from cell #1 to the ground (e.g., the area where terminal device #1 is located). In Figure 3A, terminal device #1 can receive broadcast messages from cell #1 forwarded by relay device #4. Terminal device #1 can also receive broadcast messages from cell #1 and access cell #1. This broadcast message is an example; it can also be replaced with multicast or unicast messages, etc.

[0319] Relay device #4 needs to perform some operations with the satellite (relay device #3) or the base station. Relay device #4 (or relay device #4-MT) needs to use the scheduling offset value corresponding to the relay device to perform these operations. In this embodiment, relay device-MT can use a first duration as the scheduling offset value corresponding to the relay device. The first duration can also have other uses, such as the relay device determining a second time unit based on the first duration. For example, the scheduling offset value (e.g., the first duration) corresponding to the relay device (or relay device-MT) can be used to determine the effective time of the first message associated with the relay device.

[0320] The first message includes at least one of the following:

[0321] Messages used to configure, activate, or deactivate the downlink zero power channel state information reference signal (ZP CSI-RS);

[0322] Messages used to indicate the mapping relationship between the Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) status and code points in the DCI field;

[0323] The message used to activate or deactivate the semi-static channel state information (CSI) reporting configuration;

[0324] Messages used to activate or deactivate the Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) configuration; or,

[0325] Messages used to activate or deactivate the Channel State Information Interference Measurement (CSI-IM) configuration.

[0326] Similarly, some operations need to be performed between terminal device #1 and the satellite (relay device #3) or base station. Terminal device #1 needs to use the scheduling offset value corresponding to the terminal device to perform these operations. The scheduling offset value corresponding to the terminal device can be used to determine the effective time of the first message associated with the terminal device.

[0327] However, the scheduling offset value of a device is related to the round-trip time (RTD) between that device and the base station. Since the RTD between relay device #4 and the base station is different (e.g., less than) the RTD between terminal device #1 and the base station, the scheduling offset value corresponding to the terminal device is different from that corresponding to the relay device. Different parameter values ​​can be used as scheduling offset values. If the terminal device and the relay device use the same scheduling offset value, a larger scheduling offset value is required to meet the scheduling delay requirements of both devices, which will significantly increase the scheduling delay. By using different parameter values ​​as scheduling offset values, the scheduling delay of devices with smaller RTDs can be reduced.

[0328] These analyses show that both terminal device #1 and relay device #4 can receive broadcast messages from cell #1. If the broadcast message contains multiple parameters (such as the scheduling offset value corresponding to the terminal device and the scheduling offset value corresponding to the relay device), the two types of terminals (relay device #4-MT and terminal device #1) cannot currently identify which parameter they are using.

[0329] Based on the above problems, this application provides several possible implementation methods to enable relay devices (or relay devices-MT) and terminal devices to identify the parameters they need to use (e.g., scheduling offset values), thereby improving communication success rates. In these implementation methods, the relay device (or relay device-MT) can use a first duration (e.g., denoted as △T) as the relay device's scheduling offset value, where the value of the first duration is equal to the corresponding scheduling offset value of the relay device. Thus, when the relay device performs some operations with the network device as the MT, using the first duration as the corresponding scheduling offset value can better match the information transmission with the round-trip delay between the relay device and the network device, thereby improving communication performance. In this application embodiment, the first duration is not limited to being used as the relay device's scheduling offset value; it can also be used for other functions. For example, the aforementioned relay device can determine the resources for forwarding second information based on the first duration. Other details of the scenario in Figure 3A can be found in the relevant description of Figure 3A and will not be repeated here. The following examples one and two illustrate these two scenarios.

[0330] Example 1: The relay device (or relay device-MT) and the terminal device are in the same cell.

[0331] Network devices can broadcast (or multicast, or unicast) one or more parameters. Since relay devices and terminal devices are in the same cell, they will receive the same set of parameters (e.g., the same broadcast message). In this case, relay devices and terminal devices can each select the parameters to use based on their own type. For example, a relay device can determine whether it needs to select the scheduling offset value corresponding to itself based on its own type. For example, a relay device determines that it needs to select the scheduling offset value corresponding to itself as its own scheduling offset value if it determines that it meets at least one of the following conditions: the relay device determines that it has some network device capabilities, the relay device determines that it has the capability to act as a relay, or the relay device determines that it is a network device plus a mobile terminal device. Similarly, a terminal device can select the scheduling offset value corresponding to itself as its own scheduling offset value based on its own type. For example, if a terminal device determines that it needs to select the scheduling offset value corresponding to the terminal device as its own scheduling offset value when it determines that it meets at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device determines that it is a regular terminal, or the terminal device determines that it does not have the capability of a network device, or the terminal device determines that it does not have the capability of a relay, or the terminal device determines that it is a mobile terminal, or the terminal device determines that it is a handheld terminal or a directional terminal.

[0332] Referring to Figure 3A as an example, relay device #3 (or network device) sends information indicating a first duration. This information may include, for example, an indication of the first duration; or, a scheduling offset value and a first value. The first duration is represented by △T. The scheduling offset value can be represented as kmac, which can be replaced by the scheduling offset value corresponding to the terminal device. The indication of the first duration can be △T. Alternatively, the first duration can be associated with the scheduling offset value and the first value, for example, first duration = (kmac + first value), or first duration = (kmac - first value). The first value can be predefined by the protocol, or it can be a value indicated by the network device to the relay device. Alternatively, the first duration can be other calculation formulas for kmac and the first value, such as a product. This part can also be referred to in the aforementioned related descriptions and will not be repeated here.

[0333] Based on the above example, relay device #3 (or network device) can send the kmac value and the first value, or replace it with the kmac value and ΔT. In this embodiment, the message used to carry any one or more of kmac, the first value, or ΔT is, for example, a broadcast, multicast, or unicast message, such as an SIB message, an RRC message, or MAC CE signaling. Any one or more of kmac, the first value, or ΔT can be carried in the same signaling message or in multiple signaling messages.

[0334] The relay device (or relay device-MT) determines the value of ΔT (which can be directly received or calculated using kmac and a first value, see the aforementioned formula) as its corresponding scheduling offset value based on its own type. Related usage schemes can be found in the previous description of terminal devices using their corresponding scheduling offset values, and will not be repeated here. The terminal device determines the kmac as its corresponding scheduling offset value based on its own type. It can be seen that this scheme provides a solution for relay devices (or relay devices-MT) and terminal devices in the same cell, enabling them to select appropriate parameters as their own scheduling offset values, thereby improving communication performance.

[0335] Example 2: The relay device (or relay device-MT) and the terminal device are not in the same cell.

[0336] In this example, the network device in the cell where the relay device is located can broadcast (or multicast, or unicast) the parameters corresponding to the relay device to the cell. The relay device can select the parameters to use based on its own type. For example, the relay device can select the scheduling offset value corresponding to the relay device based on its own type, as described in Example 1 above, and will not be repeated here. The network device in the cell where the terminal device is located can broadcast (or multicast, or unicast) the parameters corresponding to the relay device to the cell where the terminal device is located. The terminal device can use the parameters sent by the network device, or the terminal device can select the parameters to use based on its own type, as described in Example 1 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0337] For example, the network device in the cell where the relay device is located can send a message to the cell where the relay device is located. This message includes the kmac value and a first value, or it includes ΔT. This message may be an SIB message, an RRC message, or a MAC CE signaling. The relay device (or relay device-MT) determines whether to use ΔT (which can be received directly or calculated from kmac and the first value, see the aforementioned formula) as the scheduling offset value corresponding to the relay device, based on its own type. Related usage schemes can also be found in the aforementioned description of terminal devices using their corresponding scheduling offset values, and will not be repeated here.

[0338] For example, the network device in the cell where the terminal device is located can send a message to the cell containing the kmac value. This message could be an SIB message, an RRC message, or a MAC CE signaling message. The terminal device uses the kmac as its corresponding scheduling offset value. Alternatively, the terminal device may determine its own kmac as its scheduling offset value based on its own type.

[0339] It can be seen that in these schemes, the relay device (or relay device-MT) and the terminal device can select appropriate parameters as their own scheduling offset values, thereby improving communication performance.

[0340] Similarly, in Examples 1 and / or 2 above, the network device can determine which value to use as the scheduling offset value for a device based on its type. That is, if the network device determines that a device is a relay device, then the network device determines that the device needs to use a first duration as the scheduling offset value for that relay device. As another example, if the network device determines that a device is a terminal device, then the network device needs to use the specified scheduling offset value as the scheduling offset value for that device as the scheduling offset value for that relay device.

[0341] In another possible implementation, the relay device can send information indicating its type to the network device (e.g., the relay device indicates to the network device that it is a relay device), and the network device can receive the information indicating the type of the relay device. Similarly, a terminal device can send information indicating its type to the network device (e.g., the terminal device indicates to the network device that it is a terminal device), and the network device can receive the information indicating the type of the terminal device. After receiving the information indicating the type of each device (e.g., relay devices and / or terminal devices), the network device can determine the type of the device based on this information (e.g., whether the device is a relay device or a terminal device), and then select a more suitable value as the scheduling offset value for each device. In this scheme, since the relay device and / or terminal device can report their own type, it is easier for the network device to determine the type of a device, thereby reducing the complexity of the scheme on the network device side. In another possible implementation, the network device can update the corresponding scheduling offset value according to different device types (e.g., update the first duration of the scheduling offset value as a relay device) to achieve more accurate and efficient scheduling offset value updates.

[0342] In this embodiment, the signaling or information sent by the network device (such as first configuration information, information indicating a first duration, or information indicating an updated first duration, kmac, or at least one of these) can be sent in various ways. For example, any of these signaling or information can be carried in at least one of the broadcast information of system information block (SIB) 1, SIB 19, other system information (OSI), master information block (MIB), physical broadcast channel messages, etc. The signaling or information sent by the network device (such as first configuration information, information indicating a first duration, or information indicating an updated first duration, kmac, or at least one of these) is broadcast, multicast, or unicast by the network device to the relay device. Broadcasting or multicasting the above signaling to the relay device can avoid scheduling different resources for different relay devices in order to send the above signaling, saving the signaling overhead of scheduling resources and reducing the system scheduling complexity.

[0343] In another possible implementation, if transmitted during the radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment phase and subsequent communication, the signaling or information sent by the network device (such as first information, information indicating a first duration, or third information) can be carried in at least one of the following: RRC signaling (e.g., RRC setup message, RRC reconfiguration message, RRC recovery message, etc.), DCI, group DCI, media access control (MAC) control element (CE), and timing advance command (TAC). The signaling or information sent by the network device (such as first configuration information, information indicating a first duration, or information indicating an updated first duration, kmac, or at least one of a first value) can be indicated by information or tables, or sent unicast or multicast to the relay device along with data transmission or in a separately allocated PDSCH bearer. The advantage of sending the above signaling to relay devices individually or in groups is that it allows for flexible control of the parameter values ​​of each / group of relay devices. Different parameter values ​​can be configured for relay devices based on their location or region to optimize system parameters and relay device / system communication performance. For example, different first duration values ​​can be configured for relay devices based on their location to optimize the forwarding delay of each / group of relay devices and improve system communication efficiency.

[0344] It is understood that, in order to achieve the functions in the above embodiments, the terminal device, relay device, and network device may include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that, based on the units and method steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed in this application, this application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0345] Based on the content shown in at least one of Figures 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 2I, 2J, 2K, 2L, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, and the other content mentioned above, Figures 9 and 10 are schematic diagrams of possible communication devices provided in the embodiments of this application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the terminal device, relay device, or network device in the method embodiment of Figure 5 above, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects of the method embodiment above. In the embodiments of this application, the communication device can be a relay device or network device as shown in Figures 1A, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 2I, 2J, 2K, 2L, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, and 4.

[0346] As shown in Figure 9, the communication device 1300 includes a processing unit 1310 and a transceiver unit 1320. The transceiver unit 1320 can also be referred to as a communication unit. The transceiver unit 1320 may include a transmitting unit and a receiving unit.

[0347] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG5, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to send first configuration information, the first configuration information is used to instruct the relay device to forward the information of the network device, receive information indicating that the first configuration information has been successfully received in a first time unit, and send information to the relay device or receive information from the relay device according to the first configuration information in a second time unit.

[0348] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG5, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to send information for indicating a first duration.

[0349] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG5, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to send information indicating a first duration after the update.

[0350] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG5, in one possible implementation, the processing unit 1310 is used to determine the effective time of the first configuration information and / or the first message using a first duration according to the type of relay device.

[0351] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the relay device in the method embodiment shown in FIG5, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to receive first configuration information, send information indicating that the first configuration information has been successfully received in a first time unit, and receive information from the network device and forward information from the network device according to the first configuration information in a second time unit, or send information to the network device.

[0352] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the relay device in the method embodiment shown in FIG5, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to receive information for indicating a first duration.

[0353] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the relay device in the method embodiment shown in FIG5, in one possible implementation, the processing unit 1310 is used to determine the second time unit based on the information used to indicate the first duration.

[0354] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the relay device in the method embodiment shown in FIG5, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to receive information indicating a first duration after the update.

[0355] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the relay device in the method embodiment shown in FIG5, in one possible implementation, the processing unit 1310 is used to determine the effective time of the first configuration information and / or the first message using a first duration according to the type of the relay device.

[0356] For a more detailed description of the processing unit 1310 and the transceiver unit 1320, please refer to the relevant description in the method embodiment shown in FIG5.

[0357] As shown in Figure 10, the communication device 1400 includes a processor 1410 and an interface circuit 1420. The processor 1410 and the interface circuit 1420 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 1420 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. The input / output interface is used for inputting and / or outputting information; output can be understood as sending, and input can be understood as receiving. Optionally, the communication device 1400 may also include a memory 1430 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1410, or storing input data required by the processor 1410 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after the processor 1410 executes instructions.

[0358] When the communication device 1400 is used to implement the method shown in FIG5, the processor 1410 is used to implement the function of the processing unit 1310, and the interface circuit 1420 is used to implement the function of the transceiver unit 1320.

[0359] Please refer to Figure 11. The communication device shown in Figure 11 can also be a schematic diagram of a possible baseband architecture. As shown in Figure 11, the communication device may include a processing system, which may include one or more processors. The processors can be used to execute processes, such as process #1...process #N shown in Figure 11.

[0360] A processing system can be implemented using a bus architecture, typically represented by a bus. A bus can include any number of interconnect buses and bridges, depending on the specific application and overall design constraints of the processing system. The bus communicatively couples various circuits together, including one or more processors (typically represented by a processor), memory, and computer-readable media (typically represented by computer-readable media, such as computer-readable media #1…computer-readable media #N shown in Figure 11). The bus can also link various other circuits, such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be described further. The bus interface provides the interface between the bus and transceivers, and between the bus and interfaces.

[0361] The communication device may also include a transceiver (not shown in Figure 11), which may be replaced by interface circuitry or a communication interface, etc. The transceiver provides a communication interface or means for communicating with various other devices via a wireless transmission medium. The transceiver may be coupled to an antenna array, and the transceiver and antenna array may be used together for communication with a corresponding network type. At least one interface (e.g., a network interface and / or a user interface) provides a communication interface or means for communication via an internal bus or via an external transmission medium.

[0362] The processor is responsible for managing the bus and general processing, including executing software stored on a computer-readable medium. When executed by the processor, the software causes the processing system to perform the various functions described below for any particular device. Functions achievable by the processor, memory, and computer-readable medium may include one or more of the following: encoding, decoding, rate matching, rate dematching, scrambling, descrambling, modulation, demodulation, layer mapping, fast fourier transform (FFT), inverse fast fourier transform (IFFT), inverse discrete fourier transform (IDFT), precoding, resource element (RE) mapping, channel equalization, RE demapping, digital beamforming (BF), adding CP, removing CP, etc.

[0363] The signaling involved in the embodiments of this application can be implemented by a processor, a memory, and a computer-readable medium.

[0364] When the communication device shown in FIG11 is used to implement the method shown in FIG5, the processor 1410 is used to implement the function of the processing unit 1310, and the interface circuit 1420 is used to implement the function of the transceiver unit 1320.

[0365] When the aforementioned communication device is a chip used in a relay device, the chip of the relay device implements the functions of the relay device in the above method embodiments. The chip of the relay device receives information from the base station, which can be understood as the information being first received by other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the relay device, and then sent to the chip of the relay device by these modules. The chip of the relay device sends information to the base station, which can be understood as the information being first sent to other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the relay device, and then sent to the base station by these modules.

[0366] When the aforementioned communication device is a chip applied to a base station, the base station chip implements the functions of the network device in the above method embodiments. The base station chip receives information from a relay device, which can be understood as the information being first received by other modules in the base station (such as an RF module or antenna), and then sent to the base station chip by these modules. The base station chip sends information to the relay device, which can be understood as the information being sent down to other modules in the base station (such as an RF module or antenna), and then sent back to the relay device by these modules.

[0367] Based on the same concept, embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implements the method shown in FIG5.

[0368] Based on the same concept, this application also provides a computer program product that stores a computer program, which includes program instructions that, when executed by a computer, can implement the method shown in Figure 5.

[0369] In this application, entity A sends information to entity B, either directly or indirectly through other entities. Similarly, entity B receives information from entity A, either directly or indirectly through other entities. Entities A and B can be RAN nodes or terminals, or modules within RAN nodes or terminals. Information transmission and reception can be between RAN nodes and terminals, such as between a base station and a terminal; between two RAN nodes, such as between a CU and a DU; or between different modules within a single device, such as between a terminal chip and other modules of the terminal, or between a base station chip and other modules of the base station.

[0370] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of this application may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0371] The method steps in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions executable by a processor. The software instructions can consist of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disks, portable hard disks, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and storage medium can reside in an ASIC. Alternatively, the ASIC can reside in a base station or terminal. The processor and storage medium can also exist as discrete components in a base station or terminal.

[0372] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented, in whole or in part, as a computer program product. A computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When a computer program or instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions of the embodiments of this application are performed. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user equipment, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, a computer program or instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless 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 integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; it can also be an optical medium, such as a digital video optical disc; or it can be a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or may include both types of storage media.

[0373] In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features of different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0374] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" 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, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the textual description of this application, the character " / " generally indicates an "or" relationship between the preceding and following related objects; in the formulas of this application, the character " / " indicates a "division" relationship between the preceding and following related objects. "Including at least one of A, B, or C" can mean: including A; including B; including C; including A and B; including A and C; including B and C; including A, B, and C.

[0375] It is understood that the various numbers involved in the embodiments of this application (such as the numerical numbers "first" and "second", and the letter numbers "A1" and "A2") are only for the convenience of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the above-mentioned process numbers does not imply the order of execution; the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is applicable to network devices, and the method includes: Send first configuration information, which instructs the relay device to forward information from the network device, the information from the network device including information from the network device and / or information sent to the network device; The first time unit receives information indicating that the first configuration information has been successfully received. In the second time unit, information is sent to or received from the relay device according to the first configuration information, and the second time unit is determined based on the first time unit and the first duration; The first duration is associated with the round-trip time of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point, or the first duration is associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and the uplink frame timing of the network device.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second time unit is also determined according to the following: a is a positive integer. The number of time units included in a subframe; and / or, The value of K is associated with the latency of the network device in processing uplink information and / or the latency in processing downlink information.

3. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The index value of the second time unit is determined based on the index value of the first time unit and at least one of the following: The The number of corresponding time units, the number of time units corresponding to the first duration, or the number of time units corresponding to the value of K.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The method further includes: Sending information indicating the first duration, wherein the information indicating the first duration includes at least one of the following: The first duration; Information on the round-trip time delay of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point; A scheduling offset value, which is associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network device; or, The scheduling offset value and a first value, the scheduling offset value being associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and the uplink frame timing of the network device, and the first value being indicated by the network device.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send information indicating the first duration after the update; The information used to indicate the updated first duration includes: the updated first duration; or, information used to indicate the difference between the first duration and the updated first duration.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The first duration is greater than or equal to the signal transmission round-trip time between the network device and the synchronization reference point.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The first duration is determined based on the location information of the synchronization reference point and the location information of the network device.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The first duration is also used to determine the effective time of a first message associated with the relay device, the first message including at least one of the following: Messages used to configure, activate, or deactivate the downlink zero-power channel state information reference signal ZP CSI-RS; A message used to indicate the mapping relationship between the transmission configuration indication TCI status and the code points in the downlink control information (DCI) field; Messages used to activate or deactivate the semi-static Channel State Information (CSI) reporting configuration; Messages used to activate or deactivate the Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) configuration; or, Messages used to activate or deactivate the Channel State Information Interface (CSI-IM) measurement configuration.

9. The method as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: The effective time of the first message is determined using the first duration, depending on the type of the relay device.

10. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is applicable to relay devices, and the method includes: Receive first configuration information, which instructs the relay device to forward information from the network device, the information from the network device including information from the network device and / or information sent to the network device; In the first time unit, a message indicating that the first configuration information was successfully received is sent; In the second time unit, information is received from the network device and forwarded from the network device according to the first configuration information, or information is sent to the network device. The second time unit is determined according to the first time unit and the first duration. The first duration is associated with the round-trip time of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point, or the first duration is associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and the uplink frame timing of the network device.

11. The method as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The second time unit is also determined according to the following: a is a positive integer. The number of time units included in a subframe; and / or, The value of K is associated with the latency of the network device in processing uplink information and / or the latency in processing downlink information.

12. The method as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The index value of the second time unit is determined based on the index value of the first time unit and at least one of the following: The The number of corresponding time units, the number of time units corresponding to the first duration, or the number of time units corresponding to the value of K.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10-12, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive information indicating the first duration; The second time unit is determined based on the information used to indicate the first duration; The information used to indicate the first duration includes at least one of the following: The first duration; Information on the round-trip time delay of signal transmission between the network device and the synchronization reference point; A scheduling offset value, which is associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing of the network device; or, The scheduling offset value and a first value, the scheduling offset value being associated with the offset between the downlink frame timing and the uplink frame timing of the network device, and the first value being indicated by the network device.

14. The method according to any one of claims 10-13, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive information indicating the first duration after the update; The information used to indicate the updated first duration includes: the updated first duration; or, information used to indicate the difference between the first duration and the updated first duration.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10-14, characterized in that, The first duration is greater than or equal to the signal transmission round-trip time between the network device and the synchronization reference point.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10-15, characterized in that, The first duration is determined based on the location information of the synchronization reference point and the location information of the network device.

17. The method according to any one of claims 10-16, characterized in that, The first duration is also used to determine the effective time of a first message associated with the relay device, the first message including at least one of the following: Messages used to configure, activate, or deactivate the downlink zero-power channel state information reference signal ZP CSI-RS; A message used to indicate the mapping relationship between the transmission configuration indication TCI status and the code points in the downlink control information (DCI) field; Messages used to activate or deactivate the semi-static Channel State Information (CSI) reporting configuration; Messages used to activate or deactivate the Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) configuration; or, Messages used to activate or deactivate the Channel State Information Interface (CSI-IM) measurement configuration.

18. The method as described in claim 17, characterized in that, The method further includes: The effective time of the first message is determined using the first duration, depending on the type of the relay device.

19. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes modules for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, or modules for performing the method as described in any one of claims 10 to 18.

20. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices and transmit them to the processor or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices, and the processor is used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, or to implement the method as described in any one of claims 10 to 18, through logic circuits or executing code instructions.

21. A communication device, characterized in that, The method includes a processor that uses logic circuitry or executable code instructions to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, or to implement the method as described in any one of claims 10 to 18.

22. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, or the method as described in any one of claims 10 to 18.

23. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product stores a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, or to perform the method as described in any one of claims 10 to 18.

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