Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and an apparatus. The method comprises: a terminal acquiring a feature of a first data unit, and determining a first CQI index on the basis of the feature of the first data unit, the feature of the first data unit comprising an importance level of the first data unit or a service type of the first data unit; the terminal sending first information, the first information indicating the first CQI index; and receiving second information, the second information indicating a first MCS index, and the first MCS index being associated with the first CQI index. By means of determining a corresponding CQI on the basis of the feature of a data unit, and obtaining an MCS index associated with the CQI index, the method can achieve joint source-channel coding in light of the feature of the data unit, thereby improving transmission performance.

Description

A communication method and apparatus

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411638604.9, filed on November 14, 2024, entitled "A Communication Method and Apparatus", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0004] When the source satisfies the asymptotic distribution property, separate source coding and channel coding can achieve optimal performance. For example, for image or video compression, such as H.265 / H.264 formats, source and channel codes can be designed independently. However, for biased or memory-based sources, channel coding and decoding can utilize redundant information in the source code to reduce the overall error rate and gain performance. In such cases, separate source and channel coding cannot achieve optimal performance; joint source and channel coding is necessary to improve performance.

[0005] In scenarios involving joint source-channel coding, effectively improving transmission performance is a crucial issue. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a communication method and apparatus to effectively improve transmission performance.

[0007] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be applied to a terminal side, such as a terminal or a communication module / processing module in the terminal, or a circuit or chip in the terminal responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core or a system-in-package (SIP) chip), or a circuit or chip in the terminal responsible for processing functions (such as a graphics processing unit (GPU)). Taking the application of this method to a terminal as an example, in this method, the terminal obtains the characteristics of a first data unit; wherein, the characteristics of the first data unit include the importance level of the first data unit or the service type of the first data unit, determines a first CQI index based on the characteristics of the first data unit, sends first information, the first information indicating the first CQI index, receives second information, the second information indicating a first MCS index, and the first MCS index is associated with the first CQI index.

[0008] Using the above method, the terminal's application layer can provide the relevant information required for source-channel joint coding to the terminal's modulation and demodulation layer. This relevant information can be characteristics of the source; for example, this application can provide characteristics of each data unit. The characteristics of a data unit can be its importance level or its service type. Then, the terminal's modulation and demodulation layer can determine the corresponding CQI index based on the data unit's characteristics, send the CQI index to the access network device, and receive the MCS index associated with the CQI index. By combining the characteristics of the data units to determine the corresponding CQI and obtaining the MCS index associated with the CQI index, source-channel joint coding can be performed based on the characteristics of the data units, thereby improving transmission performance.

[0009] In one possible design, the source coding rate indicated by the first MCS index is greater than or equal to the source coding rate indicated by the first CQI index.

[0010] In one possible design, the first information also indicates a second CQI index; the characteristics of the second data unit are obtained, the first data unit and the second data unit belong to the same transport block, and the second CQI index is determined based on the characteristics of the second data unit.

[0011] In one possible design, the second information also indicates a second MCS index, which is associated with the second CQI index.

[0012] In one possible design, the importance level of the first data unit is either a first level or a second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the first CQI index is less than or equal to a first preset value. When the importance level of the first data unit is the second level, the first CQI index is greater than the first preset value. The source coding rate corresponding to CQI indices less than or equal to the first preset value is greater than or equal to the source coding rate corresponding to CQI indices greater than the first preset value.

[0013] It is understandable that the higher the importance of a data unit, the higher the requirement for accurate transmission of that data unit, or the lower the requirement for bit error rate, or the higher the requirement for recovery quality.

[0014] For example, when the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the source coding code rate corresponding to the first data unit or the source coding code rate corresponding to the first CQI index can be greater than the entropy rate, so that the terminal does not compress the first data unit according to the entropy rate, and the first data unit retains more redundant content.

[0015] When the importance level of the first data unit is second level, the source coding code rate corresponding to the first data unit or the source coding code rate corresponding to the first CQI index can be less than or equal to the entropy rate, so that the terminal retains less redundant content when compressing the first data unit. The redundant content of each data unit can be added by the application layer in the terminal.

[0016] In one possible design, the first information further indicates a set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the first data unit, the set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the first data unit including the first CQI index.

[0017] In one possible design, a first indication message is sent, indicating a feature of the first data unit; a second indication message is received, indicating the CQI set corresponding to the feature of the first data unit.

[0018] In one possible design, the importance level of the first data unit is either a first level or a second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the first data unit's importance level is the first level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the first level; when the first data unit's importance level is the second level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the second level. Wherein, the source coding code rates in the CQI sets corresponding to the first level are all greater than or equal to the source coding code rates in the CQI sets corresponding to the second level.

[0019] In one possible design, the service type of the first data unit is one of M service types, wherein the M service types correspond one-to-one with M CQI sets, and each CQI index in the M CQI sets indicates a source coding rate.

[0020] In one possible design, the first data unit may comprise one or more frames, or one or more slices, or one or more macroblocks.

[0021] Secondly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to the network side, such as an access network device, a module (e.g., circuit, chip, or chip system) within the access network device, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the access network device. Taking the application of this method to an access network device as an example, in this method, the access network device receives first information, the first information indicating a first CQI index, the first CQI index corresponding to a first data unit; determines a first MCS index based on the first CQI index; the first MCS index is associated with the first CQI index; wherein the source coding code rate indicated by the first MCS index is greater than or equal to the source coding code rate indicated by the first CQI index; and sends second information, the second information indicating the first MCS index.

[0022] Using the above method, the terminal sends a first CQI index to the access network device and receives an MCS index associated with the CQI index. The source coding rate indicated by the first MCS index is greater than or equal to the source coding rate indicated by the first CQI index, which can improve transmission performance.

[0023] In one possible design, the first information also indicates a second CQI index, which corresponds to a second data unit, and the first data unit and the second data unit belong to the same transport block; the second information also indicates a second MCS index, which is associated with the second CQI index.

[0024] In one possible design, the importance level of the first data unit is either a first level or a second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the first CQI index is less than or equal to a first preset value. When the importance level of the first data unit is the second level, the first CQI index is greater than the first preset value. The source coding rate corresponding to CQI indices less than or equal to the first preset value is greater than or equal to the source coding rate corresponding to CQI indices greater than the first preset value.

[0025] In one possible design, the first information also indicates a set of CQIs corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit, the set of CQIs corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit including the first CQI index, and the characteristics of the first data unit including the importance level of the first data unit or the business type of the first data unit.

[0026] In one possible design, before receiving the first information, the access network device receives first indication information, which indicates the characteristics of the first data unit, including the importance level of the first data unit or the service type of the first data unit; and sends second indication information, which indicates the CQI set corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit.

[0027] In one possible design, the importance level of the first data unit is either a first level or a second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the first level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the second level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the second level. Wherein, the source coding rates in the CQI sets corresponding to the first level are all greater than or equal to the source coding rates in the CQI sets corresponding to the second level.

[0028] In one possible design, the service type of the first data unit is one of M service types, wherein the M service types correspond one-to-one with M CQI sets, and each CQI index in the M CQI sets indicates a source coding rate.

[0029] In one possible design, the first data unit may comprise one or more frames, or one or more slices, or one or more macroblocks.

[0030] Thirdly, this application provides a communication device, which includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The device can be a terminal, a module within a terminal, etc. The transceiver unit is used to acquire characteristics of a first data unit; wherein the characteristics of the first data unit include the importance level of the first data unit or the service type of the first data unit; the processing unit is used to determine a first Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) index based on the characteristics of the first data unit; the transceiver unit is used to transmit first information indicating the first CQI index and receive second information indicating a first Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) index, wherein the first MCS index is associated with the first CQI index.

[0031] In one possible design, the source coding rate indicated by the first MCS index is greater than or equal to the source coding rate indicated by the first CQI index.

[0032] In one possible design, the first information also indicates a second CQI index; the transceiver unit is further configured to acquire characteristics of the second data unit, wherein the first data unit and the second data unit belong to the same transport block; the processing unit is further configured to determine the second CQI index based on the characteristics of the second data unit.

[0033] In one possible design, the second information also indicates a second MCS index, which is associated with the second CQI index.

[0034] In one possible design, the importance level of the first data unit is either a first level or a second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the first CQI index is less than or equal to a first preset value. When the importance level of the first data unit is the second level, the first CQI index is greater than the first preset value. The source coding rate corresponding to CQI indices less than or equal to the first preset value is greater than or equal to the source coding rate corresponding to CQI indices greater than the first preset value.

[0035] In one possible design, the first information further indicates a set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the first data unit, the set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the first data unit including the first CQI index.

[0036] In one possible design, the transceiver unit is further configured to send first indication information, the first indication information indicating the characteristics of the first data unit; and receive second indication information, the second indication information indicating the CQI set corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit.

[0037] In one possible design, the importance level of the first data unit is either a first level or a second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the first data unit's importance level is the first level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the first level; when the first data unit's importance level is the second level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the second level. Wherein, the source coding code rates in the CQI sets corresponding to the first level are all greater than or equal to the source coding code rates in the CQI sets corresponding to the second level.

[0038] In one possible design, the service type of the first data unit is one of M service types, wherein the M service types correspond one-to-one with M CQI sets, and each CQI index in the M CQI sets indicates a source coding rate.

[0039] In one possible design, the first data unit may comprise one or more frames, or one or more slices, or one or more macroblocks.

[0040] Fourthly, this application provides a communication device, which includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The device can be an access network device on the network side, a module within the access network device, etc. The transceiver unit is configured to receive first information, the first information indicating a first CQI index, the first CQI index corresponding to a first data unit; the processing unit is configured to determine a first MCS index based on the first CQI index, the first MCS index being associated with the first CQI index, wherein the source coding code rate indicated by the first MCS index is greater than or equal to the source coding code rate indicated by the first CQI index; the transceiver unit is further configured to send second information, the second information indicating the first MCS index.

[0041] In one possible design, the first information also indicates a second CQI index, which corresponds to a second data unit, and the first data unit and the second data unit belong to the same transport block; the second information also indicates a second MCS index, which is associated with the second CQI index.

[0042] In one possible design, the importance level of the first data unit is either a first level or a second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the first CQI index is less than or equal to a first preset value. When the importance level of the first data unit is the second level, the first CQI index is greater than the first preset value. The source coding rate corresponding to CQI indices less than or equal to the first preset value is greater than or equal to the source coding rate corresponding to CQI indices greater than the first preset value.

[0043] In one possible design, the first information also indicates a set of CQIs corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit, the set of CQIs corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit including the first CQI index, and the characteristics of the first data unit including the importance level of the first data unit or the business type of the first data unit.

[0044] In one possible design, before receiving the first information, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive first indication information, the first indication information indicating the characteristics of the first data unit, the characteristics of the first data unit including the importance level of the first data unit or the service type of the first data unit; and send second indication information, the second indication information indicating the CQI set corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit.

[0045] In one possible design, the importance level of the first data unit is either a first level or a second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the first level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the second level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the second level. Wherein, the source coding rates in the CQI sets corresponding to the first level are all greater than or equal to the source coding rates in the CQI sets corresponding to the second level.

[0046] In one possible design, the service type of the first data unit is one of M service types, wherein the M service types correspond one-to-one with M CQI sets, and each CQI index in the M CQI sets indicates a source coding rate.

[0047] In one possible design, the first data unit may comprise one or more frames, or one or more slices, or one or more macroblocks.

[0048] Fifthly, this application provides a communication device that has the functions of the first aspect described above. For example, the communication device includes modules, units, or means that perform the operations involved in the first aspect. These modules, units, or means can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0049] In a sixth aspect, this application provides a communication device that has the functions of the second aspect described above. For example, the communication device includes modules, units, or means that perform the operations involved in the second aspect described above. These modules, units, or means can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0050] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a communication device including an interface circuit and one or more processors. The one or more processors are coupled to a memory. The memory stores part or all of the necessary computer program or instructions for implementing the functions described in the first aspect. The one or more processors are executable to carry out the computer program or instructions, causing the communication device to implement the methods in any possible design or implementation of the first aspect. The interface circuit is used to implement the communication functions within the communication device and / or the communication functions between the communication device and other devices or components.

[0051] In one possible design, the processor is used to communicate with other devices or components through the interface circuit.

[0052] In one possible design, the communication device may also include the memory.

[0053] The aforementioned communication device may be a terminal, or a communication / processing module in the terminal, or a chip in the terminal responsible for communication functions such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip containing a modem module, or a circuit or chip in the terminal responsible for processing functions (such as a GPU).

[0054] Eighthly, this application provides a communication device including an interface circuit and one or more processors. The one or more processors are coupled to a memory. The memory stores part or all of the necessary computer program or instructions for implementing the functions described in the second aspect above. The one or more processors are executable to carry out the computer program or instructions, causing the communication device to implement the methods in any possible design or implementation of the second aspect above. The interface circuit is used to implement the communication functions within the communication device and / or the communication functions between the communication device and other devices or components.

[0055] Ninthly, this application provides a communication system including an access network device and a terminal, wherein the access network device is configured to perform the method in any possible design of the second aspect described above, and the terminal is configured to perform the method in any possible design of the first aspect described above.

[0056] In a tenth aspect, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when read and executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform any of the possible designs in the first to second aspects described above.

[0057] In one aspect, this application provides a computer program product that, when read and executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the possible designs in the first to second aspects described above. Attached Figure Description

[0058] Figure 1 shows a possible, non-limiting system schematic diagram;

[0059] Figure 2A shows a possible schematic diagram of separate source coding and channel coding;

[0060] Figure 2B shows one possible schematic diagram of a JSCC;

[0061] Figure 3 shows an overview flowchart of a communication method provided in this application;

[0062] Figure 4 shows a second possible schematic diagram of JSCC;

[0063] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in this application;

[0064] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0065] The specific implementations of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments. However, the implementations of this application may also include combining these embodiments without departing from the scope of this application, such as using other embodiments and making structural changes. Therefore, the detailed description of the following embodiments should not be understood in a limiting sense. The terminology used in the embodiment section of this application is only used to explain the specific embodiments of this application and is not intended to limit this application.

[0066] Figure 1 illustrates a possible, non-limiting system diagram. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 10 includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (110a and 110b in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal (120a-120j in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 120). RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 1). Terminal 120 is wirelessly connected to RAN node 110. RAN node 110 is wirelessly or wired connected to core network 200. The core network equipment in core network 200 and RAN node 110 in RAN 100 can be different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device integrating core network logical functions and radio access network logical functions.

[0067] RAN 100 can be a cellular system related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 4G, 5G mobile communication systems, or future-oriented evolution systems. RAN 100 can also be an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. RAN 100 can also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0068] RAN node 110, sometimes referred to as access network equipment, RAN entity, or access node, constitutes part of the communication system and assists terminals in achieving wireless access. Multiple RAN nodes 110 in communication system 10 can be of the same type or different types. In some scenarios, the roles of RAN node 110 and terminal 120 are relative. For example, network element 120i in Figure 1 can be a helicopter or drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminals 120j accessing RAN 100 through network element 120i, network element 120i is a base station; however, for base station 110a, network element 120i is a terminal. RAN node 110 and terminal 120 are sometimes both referred to as communication devices. For example, network elements 110a and 110b in Figure 1 can be understood as communication devices with base station functions, and network elements 120a-120j can be understood as communication devices with terminal functions.

[0069] In one possible scenario, the RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system. The RAN node can be a macro base station (as shown in Figure 1, 110a), a micro base station or indoor station (as shown in Figure 1, 110b), a relay node or donor node, or a radio controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, the RAN node can also be a server, wearable device, vehicle, or in-vehicle equipment. For example, the access network equipment in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can be a roadside unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of the RAN node in this application can also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). The RAN node can also be equipped with communication modules, circuits, or chips that perform corresponding communication functions. The RAN node can also be configured with program instructions for performing corresponding communication functions, as well as corresponding program instructions. The RAN node in this application can also be a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the RAN node's functions.

[0070] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, with each RAN node performing a portion of the base station's functions. For example, RAN nodes can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), CU-control plane (CPs), CU-user plane (UPs), or radio units (RUs), etc. CUs and DUs can be separate entities or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs).

[0071] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an ORAN system, CU can also be called O-CU (open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules.

[0072] It is understood that RAN nodes can be described in different ways. Unless otherwise specified in this application, the term "access network device" will be used.

[0073] A terminal can be a device or module that accesses the aforementioned communication system and has corresponding communication functions. A terminal can also be called a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. Terminals 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. Terminals can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, transportation vehicles with wireless communication capabilities, communication modules, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the device form of the terminal. A terminal typically contains a communication module, circuit, or chip that performs the corresponding communication function. The terminal can also be configured with program instructions for performing the corresponding communication function.

[0074] The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or device form used in the terminal. It is understood that a terminal can be referred to as a communication device. For example, a terminal can be understood as a device with terminal functions. For example, a device with terminal functions can be a terminal itself; it can also be a device capable of supporting the terminal in implementing that function, such as a chip system, hardware circuit, software module, or hardware circuit plus software module. This device can be installed in a terminal or can be used in conjunction with a terminal.

[0075] In this application, "sending information" can be understood as one device sending information to another device, or it can also be understood as one logical module within a device sending information to another logical module. For example, "access network device sending information" can be understood as the access network device sending information to another device (such as a terminal), or it can be understood as logical module 1 in the access network device sending information to logical module 2 in the access network device.

[0076] In this application, "receiving information" can be understood as one device receiving information from another device, or it can also be understood as a logical module within a device receiving information from another logical module. For example, "access network device receiving information" can be understood as the access network device receiving information from another device (such as a terminal), or it can be understood as logical module 1 in the access network device receiving information from logical module 2 in the access network device.

[0077] In this application, phrases such as "sending information to... (e.g., a terminal)" or related illustrations in the accompanying drawings can be understood as indicating that the destination of the information is a terminal. This can include sending information directly or indirectly to a terminal. Similarly, phrases such as "receiving information from... (e.g., a terminal)," "receiving information from... (e.g., a terminal)," or "receiving information sent by (e.g., a terminal)," or related illustrations in the accompanying drawings, can be understood as indicating that the source of the information is a terminal. This can include receiving information directly or indirectly from a terminal. Information may undergo necessary processing between the source and destination, such as format changes, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be interpreted similarly and will not be elaborated further here.

[0078] The following is a brief introduction to the technical concepts involved in this application:

[0079] 1. Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) Table: A CQI table may include at least one CQI, and each CQI has a corresponding index (i.e., CQI index). See Table 1 below for details. In Table 1, each CQI index corresponds to the following: modulation scheme, coding rate, and spectral efficiency. In this application, the CQI table and the CQI set can be interchanged.

[0080] 2. Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) Table: An MCS table may include at least one MCS, and each MCS has a corresponding index (i.e., MCS index). See Table 2 below for details. In Table 2, each MCS index corresponds to the following: modulation order, coding rate, and spectral efficiency. In this application, the MCS table and the MCS set can be interchanged.

[0081] For example, different modulation orders represent different modulation schemes. In the CQI and MCS tables below, modulation order 1 corresponds to binary phase shift keying (BPSK), modulation order 2 corresponds to quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), modulation order 4 corresponds to quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), and modulation order 6 corresponds to 64QAM. The relationship between the parameters can be found in the following formula: Spectral efficiency = Code rate / 1024 * Modulation order.

[0082] It is understood that Tables 1 and 2 below are currently supported by 5G systems and are not intended to limit this application.

[0083] Table 1: CQI Table

[0084] Table 2: MCS Table

[0085] 3. Entropy rate

[0086] Entropy rate is a concept that describes the change in the uncertainty of a sequence of random variables over time. In information theory, entropy rate is used to measure the change in the uncertainty of a stochastic process over time. Specifically, entropy rate is defined as the limiting value of the entropy of a sequence of random variables as the sequence length increases.

[0087] Figure 2A shows a possible schematic diagram of separate source coding and channel coding. In the process shown in Figure 2A, transform, quantization, and entropy coding are optimized independently. Entropy coding can be understood as a module or type of source coding. In Figure 2A, source coding and channel coding are designed separately; however, channel coding is not shown.

[0088] In Figure 2A above, the transformation and quantization can be performed at the application layer of the terminal, while entropy coding can be performed at the modulation and demodulation layer of the terminal. Here, x represents the residual of the source input; for example, taking video coding as an example, the residual of the source input is the difference between the data in the video frame and the prediction result of the data in the video frame. y represents the transform output; for example, a commonly used transform is the discrete cosine transform (DCT). y' represents the quantization output, which is used to convert floating-point numbers into integers. z represents the entropy-coded output, which is used to encode integers into a sequence represented by 0s and 1s.

[0089] Figure 2B illustrates a possible joint source-channel coding (JSCC) method. In Figure 2B, the transform and quantization can be performed at the application layer of the terminal, while source coding and channel coding can be performed at the modulation and demodulation layer of the terminal. The values ​​of x, y, and y' are consistent with those in Figure 2A. z' represents the output after source coding, which encodes integers into a sequence represented by 0s and 1s. c represents the output after channel coding, which is also a sequence represented by 0s and 1s.

[0090] The communication method and apparatus will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is understood that in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the execution subjects for the interactive illustration are described using the access network device and the terminal as examples. However, this application does not limit the execution subjects for the interactive illustration. For example, the method executed by the access network device in this application can also be implemented by a module (e.g., circuit, chip, or chip system) in the access network device, or a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the access network device; the method executed by the terminal in this application can also be implemented by a communication / processing module in the terminal, or a circuit or chip in the terminal responsible for communication / processing functions (such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip), or a SoC chip containing a modem core, or a SIP chip, or a GPU). In this application, the source coding bit rate and compression rate can be interchanged, where the compression rate refers to the ratio of the compressed data to the uncompressed data.

[0091] Based on the above, in order to effectively improve the transmission performance in the scenario of joint source-channel coding, this application provides a communication method, which includes:

[0092] Step 300: The terminal acquires the features of the first data unit.

[0093] For example, the application layer in the terminal can determine the characteristics of the first data unit and send the characteristics of the first data unit to the modem layer in the terminal.

[0094] For example, the first data unit can be any one of a plurality of data units. For instance, a transport block or codeword may include multiple data units. The following description uses only the first data unit as an example. The first data unit may include one or more frames, one or more slices, or one or more macroblocks. Referring to Figure 2B above, the data unit involved in this application can be understood as a data unit that has undergone transformation and quantization processing.

[0095] The characteristics of the first data unit include its importance level or its service type. This application does not limit the specific implementation method by which the terminal obtains the characteristics of the first data unit.

[0096] In one example, the importance level of the first data unit may include at least two levels. For example, the importance level of the first data unit may be either a first level or a second level, wherein the first level is more important than the second level. It is understood that a higher importance level for a data unit implies a higher requirement for accurate transmission, a lower bit error rate requirement, or a higher recovery quality requirement. This application does not limit the specific number of importance levels; the following explanation uses an example where the importance levels include a first level and a second level, and the first level is more important than the second level.

[0097] In another example, the business type of the first data unit may include text, images, voice, or video, etc. For example, the business type here can be understood as the business type corresponding to the specific content included in the first data unit.

[0098] Step 310: The terminal determines the first CQI index based on the characteristics of the first data unit.

[0099] For example, the terminal determines a first CQI index based on the characteristics of the first data and the channel quality (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio, SNR). The channel quality can be obtained by the terminal measuring a reference signal transmitted by the access network device.

[0100] The terminal can determine the first CQI index based on the characteristics of the first data in several possible ways, including but not limited to the following:

[0101] Method 1: The terminal determines the first CQI index based on the importance level of the first data. For example, the terminal determines the first CQI index based on the importance level of the first data and the channel quality.

[0102] The importance level of the first data unit is either Level 1 or Level 2, with Level 1 being more important than Level 2. For example, the source coding rate corresponding to Level 1 is greater than the source coding rate corresponding to Level 2. Alternatively, the higher the importance level, the higher the source coding rate. Or, the source coding rate indicated by the CQI index for a data unit with an importance level of Level 1 is greater than or equal to the source coding rate indicated by the CQI index for a data unit with an importance level of Level 2.

[0103] In one possible implementation, when the importance level of the first data unit is first, the source coding rate corresponding to the first data unit or the source coding rate corresponding to the first CQI index can be greater than the entropy rate, so that the terminal does not compress the first data unit according to the entropy rate, and the first data unit retains more redundant content.

[0104] When the importance level of the first data unit is second level, the source coding code rate corresponding to the first data unit or the source coding code rate corresponding to the first CQI index can be less than or equal to the entropy rate, so that the terminal retains less redundant content when compressing the first data unit. The redundant content of each data unit can be added by the application layer in the terminal.

[0105] In method 1, the specific situations can be further divided into the following categories:

[0106] Case a: When the importance level of the first data unit is level one, the first CQI index is less than or equal to the first preset value; when the importance level of the first data unit is level two, the first CQI index is greater than the first preset value.

[0107] In one possible implementation, the source coding code rate corresponding to CQI indices less than or equal to a first preset value is greater than or equal to the source coding code rate corresponding to CQI indices greater than the first preset value. Alternatively, it can be described as the compression ratio corresponding to CQI indices less than or equal to a first preset value being greater than or equal to the compression ratio corresponding to CQI indices greater than the first preset value. The first preset value can be specified by a protocol or configured in advance for the terminal by the access network device.

[0108] For example, the CQI table adds information related to the source coding rate compared to the existing Table 1. For instance, each CQI index can correspond to a source coding rate. Specific implementation details can be found in Tables 3 and 4 below, which are merely examples and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0109] For example, a new column can be added to the current CQI table, which is the source coding rate or compression rate. That is, the CQI table involved in this application can include not only the relevant content of Table 1 above, but also new content, as shown in Table 3 below.

[0110] For example, the contents of the CQI table are redefined. In the redefined CQI table, the contents corresponding to each CQI index include the first coding rate (or first-level coding rate) and the second coding rate (or second-level coding rate) of the joint coding. The first coding rate of the joint coding can be understood as the source coding rate (or compression rate), and the second coding rate of the joint coding can be understood as the coding rate (or channel coding rate) in Table 1. For details, please refer to Table 4 below.

[0111] Furthermore, the number of CQIs can be expanded, that is, several rows can be added compared to the existing Table 1. This application does not limit the specific number of CQIs to be added. For example, in Tables 3 and 4 below, the value of N is greater than or equal to 15.

[0112] Table 3: CQI Table

[0113] Table 4: CQI Table

[0114] Taking the CQI table shown in Table 3 as an example, assuming N = 31 and the first preset value is 15, if the importance level of the first data unit is level one, then the first CQI index is one of 1 to 15, for example, 8. If the importance level of the first data unit is level two, then the first CQI index is one of 16 to 31, for example, 20. The specific value of the first CQI index needs to be determined in conjunction with channel quality. The source coding code rate corresponding to any CQI index from 1 to 15 is greater than or equal to the source coding code rate corresponding to any CQI index from 16 to 31.

[0115] Case b: When the importance level of the first data unit is level one, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to level one; when the importance level of the first data unit is level two, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to level two.

[0116] Different importance levels correspond to different CQI sets. For example, the importance level of the first data unit is either a first level or a second level, with the first level being more important than the second level; the first level corresponds to the first CQI set, and the second level corresponds to the second CQI set, and the source coding code rate in the first CQI set is greater than or equal to the source coding code rate in the second CQI set.

[0117] In one possible design, the mapping relationship between different importance levels and corresponding CQI sets can be configured in advance by protocol rules or by the access network device. For example, the first information further indicates the CQI set corresponding to the importance level of the first data unit, and the CQI set corresponding to the importance level of the first data unit includes a first CQI index. That is, the first information indicates the first CQI index and the CQI set corresponding to the importance level of the first data unit; or, the first information indicates the first CQI index and the importance level of the first data unit; or, the first information indicates the first CQI index and the CQI set including the first CQI index.

[0118] For example, similar to case a above, the CQI table used here adds information related to the source coding rate compared to the existing Table 1. For instance, each CQI index can correspond to a source coding rate. Simultaneously, the CQI table adds information related to importance levels compared to the existing Table 1, as shown in Table 5 below. Table 5 can also be split into two tables, corresponding to the first and second levels respectively. This application does not limit the specific implementation method. Furthermore, the number of CQIs can be expanded, i.e., several rows can be added. This application does not limit the specific number of CQIs added. For example, in Table 5 below, the value of M1 is greater than or equal to 15, and the value of M2 is greater than or equal to 15.

[0119] Table 5: CQI Table

[0120] Taking the CQI table shown in Table 5 as an example, assuming the importance level is level 1 (represented by 0) and level 2 (represented by 1), if the importance level of the first data unit is level 1, then the first CQI index is one from 1 to M1. For example, assuming the first CQI index is 3, the first information can be recorded as (0,3). If the importance level of the first data unit is level 2, then the first CQI index is one from 0 to M2. For example, assuming the first CQI index is 3, the first information can be recorded as (1,3). The specific value of the first CQI index needs to be determined in conjunction with channel quality. (0,3) and (1,3) represent different CQI indices located in different CQI sets, and the source coding rate indicated by (0,3) is greater than the source coding rate indicated by (1,3).

[0121] In another possible design, the terminal may also send first indication information to the access network device. This first indication information indicates the importance level of the first data unit. The access network device can determine the CQI set corresponding to the importance level of the first data unit and send second indication information to the terminal. This second indication information indicates the CQI set corresponding to the importance level of the first data unit. Exemplarily, the second indication information includes an index of the CQI set corresponding to the importance level of the first data unit. Exemplarily, the first indication information can be carried via a radio resource control (RRC) message, and the second indication information can be carried via downlink control information (DCI) or an RRC message. Furthermore, the first information in this case may not need to indicate the CQI set corresponding to the importance level of the first data unit, or the first information may indicate the CQI set corresponding to the importance level of the first data unit.

[0122] For example, similar to case a above, the CQI table used here adds information related to the source coding rate compared to the existing Table 1. For instance, each CQI index can correspond to a source coding rate. Simultaneously, the CQI table adds information related to the CQI set index compared to the existing Table 1, as shown in Table 6 below. Table 6 can also be split into two tables, and this application does not limit its specific implementation. Furthermore, the number of CQIs can be expanded, i.e., several rows can be added compared to Table 1. This application does not limit the specific number of CQIs added. For example, in Table 6 below, the value of K1 is greater than or equal to 15, and the value of K2 is greater than or equal to 15.

[0123] Table 6: CQI Table

[0124] Taking the CQI table shown in Table 6 as an example, assuming the importance level is level 1, the terminal sends a first indication information to the access network device, indicating that the importance level of the first data unit is level 1. The access network device sends a second indication information to the terminal device, indicating that the index of the CQI set corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit is 0. Then, the terminal determines the first CQI index from the CQIs with indices 1 to K1 according to the second indication information.

[0125] Understandably, for scenario a, the terminal can determine a CQI index from the CQI set based on the importance level of the first data unit, and use this index as the first CQI index. Alternatively, if the importance level of the first data unit is first, the terminal determines a CQI index from the CQI set based on the first level; if the importance level of the first data unit is second, the terminal determines a CQI index from the same CQI set based on the second level. That is, the number of CQI sets can be one in this case.

[0126] In scenario b, the terminal can determine a CQI index from the corresponding CQI set based on the importance level of the first data unit, and use this index as the first CQI index. Alternatively, if the importance level of the first data unit is level one, the terminal determines a CQI index from the CQI set corresponding to level one; if the importance level of the first data unit is level two, the terminal determines a CQI index from the CQI set corresponding to level two. The CQI set corresponding to level one is different from the CQI set corresponding to level two. That is, in this case, the number of CQI sets is the same as the number of importance levels.

[0127] Method 2: The terminal determines the first CQI index based on the service type of the first data. For example, the terminal determines the first CQI index based on the service type and channel quality of the first data.

[0128] The service type of the first data unit can include text, image, voice, or video, and different service types correspond to different CQI sets. For example, text corresponds to CQI set A, image corresponds to CQI set B, voice corresponds to CQI set C, and video corresponds to CQI set D.

[0129] In one possible design, the mapping relationship between different service types and their corresponding CQI sets can be configured in advance by protocol rules or by access network equipment.

[0130] For example, the first information further indicates a CQI set corresponding to the service type of the first data unit, and the CQI set corresponding to the service type of the first data unit includes a first CQI index. That is, the first information indicates a first CQI index and a CQI set corresponding to the service type of the first data unit; or, the first information indicates a first CQI index and a service type of the first data unit; or, the first information indicates a first CQI index and a CQI set including the first CQI index.

[0131] For example, the CQI table used here adds information related to the source coding bitrate compared to the existing Table 1. For instance, each CQI index can correspond to a source coding bitrate. As another example, the source coding bitrate corresponding to each CQI index in the CQI set for video service type is less than the source coding bitrate corresponding to each CQI index in the CQI set for voice service type.

[0132] Meanwhile, the CQI form adds relevant information on business types compared to the existing Table 1, as shown in Table 7 below. Table 7 can be further divided into multiple tables, each corresponding to different business types; this application does not limit the specific implementation method. Furthermore, the number of CQIs can be expanded, i.e., by adding several rows compared to Table 1; this application does not limit the specific number of CQIs added. For example, in Table 7 below, the value of S1 is greater than or equal to 15, and the value of S2 is greater than or equal to 15.

[0133] Table 7: CQI Table

[0134] Taking the CQI table shown in Table 7 as an example, assuming the service type is video (represented by 0) and text (represented by 1), if the service type of the first data unit is video, then the first CQI index is one of 1 to S1. For example, assuming the first CQI index is 3, the first information can be recorded as (0,3). If the service type of the first data unit is text, then the first CQI index is one of 0 to S2. For example, assuming the first CQI index is 3, the first information can be recorded as (1,3). The specific value of the first CQI index needs to be determined in conjunction with channel quality. (0,3) and (1,3) represent different CQI indices located in different CQI sets.

[0135] In another possible design, the terminal may also send first indication information to the access network device. This first indication information indicates the service type of the first data unit. The access network device can determine the CQI set corresponding to the service type of the first data unit based on that service type and then send second indication information to the terminal. This second indication information indicates the CQI set corresponding to the service type of the first data unit. For example, the second indication information includes an index of the CQI set corresponding to the service type of the first data unit. For example, the first indication information can be carried via an RRC message, and the second indication information can be carried via a DCI or RRC message. Furthermore, the first information in this case may not need to indicate the CQI set corresponding to the service type of the first data unit, or the first information may also indicate the CQI set corresponding to the service type of the first data unit.

[0136] For example, the CQI table used here adds information related to the source coding rate compared to the existing Table 1. For instance, each CQI index can correspond to a source coding rate. Additionally, the CQI table adds information related to the CQI set index compared to the existing Table 1, as detailed in Table 6 above.

[0137] Taking the CQI table shown in Table 6 as an example, assuming the service type is video, the terminal sends a first indication information to the access network device, indicating that the service type of the first data unit is video. The access network device sends a second indication information to the terminal device, indicating that the index of the CQI set corresponding to the feature of the first data unit is 0. Then, the terminal determines the first CQI index from the CQIs with indices 1 to K1 according to the second indication information.

[0138] In methods 1 and 2, the terminal's application layer can provide the relevant information required for joint source-channel coding to the terminal's modulation and demodulation layer. This relevant information can be characteristics of the source; for example, this application can provide characteristics of each data unit. The characteristics of a data unit can be its importance level or its service type. The terminal's modulation and demodulation layer can then determine the corresponding CQI index based on the characteristics of the data units. By combining the characteristics of the data units to determine the corresponding CQI, joint source-channel coding can be performed based on the characteristics of the data units, thereby improving transmission performance.

[0139] Step 320: The terminal sends first information to the access network device, the first information indicating the first CQI index. Correspondingly, the access network device receives the first information from the terminal.

[0140] For example, the terminal sends a CSI to the access network device, the CSI including a first CQI index. Furthermore, the CSI may include other content, which is not limited in this application.

[0141] Furthermore, in one possible implementation, the first information also indicates a second CQI index. For example, the terminal can obtain the characteristics of the second data unit and determine the second CQI index based on those characteristics, wherein the first and second data units belong to the same transport block. How the terminal determines the second CQI index based on the characteristics of the second data unit can be referred to the relevant content of step 310 above, and will not be repeated here. That is, the first information can indicate the CQI indices corresponding to multiple data units belonging to the same transport block. The first information indicating multiple CQI indices can also be understood as multiple CQI indices being carried through the same information or message.

[0142] Optionally, the first information may also indicate a set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the second data unit. The set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the second data unit includes a second CQI index. That is, the first information indicates a first CQI index and a set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the first data unit, as well as a second CQI index and a set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the second data unit.

[0143] Step 330: The access network device determines the first MCS index based on the first CQI index.

[0144] The first MCS index is associated with the first CQI index, and the source coding rate indicated by the first MCS index is greater than or equal to the source coding rate indicated by the first CQI index.

[0145] For example, the access network device may select an MCS index whose source coding code rate is not lower than the source coding code rate indicated by the first CQI index as the first MCS index. For instance, the access network device may select an MCS index whose source coding code rate is not lower than the source coding code rate indicated by the first CQI index and whose channel coding code rate (i.e., the coding code rate in Table 1) is not higher than the channel coding code rate indicated by the first CQI index as the first MCS index.

[0146] In one possible implementation, since the CQI table adds information related to the source coding rate compared to the existing Table 1 (for example, each CQI index can correspond to a source coding rate), the MCS table also adds information related to the source coding rate compared to the existing Table 2 (for example, each MCS index can correspond to a source coding rate). Specific implementation methods can be referred to in Table 8 or Table 9 below, and Table 8 or Table 9 are merely examples and not intended to limit this application.

[0147] For example, a new column can be added to the current MCS table, which is the source coding rate or compression rate. That is, the CQI table involved in this application can include not only the relevant content of Table 1 above, but also new content. For details, please refer to Table 8 below, which can be related to Table 3 above.

[0148] For example, the contents of the MCS table are redefined. In the redefined MCS table, the contents corresponding to each MCS index include the first coding rate (or first-level coding rate) and the second coding rate (or second-level coding rate) of the joint coding. The first coding rate of the joint coding can be understood as the source coding rate (or compression rate), and the second coding rate of the joint coding can be understood as the coding rate (or channel coding rate) in Table 2. For details, please refer to Table 9 below, which can be related to Table 4 above.

[0149] Furthermore, the number of MCSs can be expanded, that is, several rows can be added compared to the existing Table 2. This application does not limit the specific number of MCSs to be added. For example, in Tables 8 and 9 below, the value of L is greater than or equal to 31.

[0150] Table 8: MCS Table

[0151] Table 9: MCS Table

[0152] Understandably, if the first information indicates multiple CQI indices, the access network device determines the MCS indices associated with each of the multiple CQI indices. In this case, the second information indicates the MCS indices associated with each of the multiple CQI indices; that is, the MCS indices associated with each of the multiple CQI indices are carried in the same message. For example, if the first information indicates a first CQI index and a second CQI index, then the second information indicates a first MCS index and a second MCS index, where the first MCS index is associated with the first CQI index, and the second MCS index is associated with the second CQI index.

[0153] In another possible implementation, since the CQI table adds information related to the source coding rate and importance level (or service type) compared to the existing Table 1, the MCS table also adds information related to the source coding rate and importance level (or service type) compared to the existing Table 2. Specific implementation details can be found in Table 10 or Table 11 below, which are merely examples and not intended to limit the scope of this application. Table 10 can be associated with Table 5 above, and Table 11 can be associated with Table 7 above.

[0154] Table 10: MCS Table

[0155] Table 11: MCS Table

[0156] If the first information can also indicate a CQI set corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit, and the CQI set corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit includes a first CQI index, the access network device can use the corresponding MCS set according to the CQI set index corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit, and determine the first MCS index according to the MCS set. Optionally, the second information can also indicate an MCS set including the first MCS index.

[0157] Furthermore, if the first information can also indicate the CQI set corresponding to the features of the second data unit, and the CQI set corresponding to the features of the second data unit includes the second CQI index, that is, the first information indicates the first CQI index and the CQI set corresponding to the features of the first data unit, and the second CQI index and the CQI set corresponding to the features of the second data unit, then the second information can indicate the MCS set including the first MCS index and the first MCS index, and the MCS set including the second MCS index and the second MCS index, wherein the first MCS index is associated with the first CQI index, and the second MCS index is associated with the second CQI index.

[0158] In another possible implementation, since the CQI table adds information related to the source coding rate and the CQI set index compared to the existing Table 1, the MCS table also adds information related to the source coding rate and the MCS set index compared to the existing Table 2. Specific implementation details can be found in Table 12 below, which is merely an example and not intended to limit the scope of this application. Table 12 can be related to Table 5 mentioned above.

[0159] Table 12: MCS Table

[0160] If the first information can also indicate a CQI set corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit, and the CQI set corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit includes a first CQI index, the access network device can use the corresponding MCS set according to the CQI set index corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit, and determine the first MCS index according to the MCS set. Optionally, the second information can also indicate an MCS set including the first MCS index.

[0161] Step 340: The access network device sends second information to the terminal, the second information indicating the first MCS index. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the second information from the access network device.

[0162] For example, the second information can be carried via DCI. The terminal determines the corresponding source coding rate based on the first MCS index, performs source coding on the quantized first data unit based on the source coding rate, and determines the corresponding coding rate (or channel coding rate) based on the first MCS index, and performs channel coding on the source-coded first data unit based on the channel coding rate.

[0163] Figure 4 shows a possible schematic diagram of JSCC. The transformation and quantization can be performed at the application layer of the terminal, while the source coding and channel coding can be performed at the modulation and demodulation layer of the terminal. Here, x, y, and y' represent the same values ​​as in Figure 2A. R(z) represents the source coding rate corresponding to the first MCS index, z* represents the output after source coding using R(z), R(c) represents the coding rate (or channel coding rate) corresponding to the first MCS index, and c* represents the output after channel coding using R(c).

[0164] In addition, the terminal can also send the source information probability distribution or entropy rate of the first data unit to the access network device, and then the access network device can decode it by combining the source information probability distribution or entropy rate of the first data unit.

[0165] For example, a probability distribution refers to the probabilistic pattern used to describe the values ​​of a random variable. The modulation and demodulation layer in the terminal can statistically analyze the various values ​​included in the quantization result of the first data unit to obtain the source information probability distribution of the first data unit.

[0166] For example, the source information probability distribution or entropy rate of the first data unit can be carried by any one of the following: service request (SR), buffer status report (BSR), physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for each service transmission, or physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for each signaling transmission. This application does not limit this.

[0167] It is understood that, in order to achieve the functions in the above embodiments, each communication device (e.g., a terminal or access network device) includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to perform 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.

[0168] Figures 5 and 6 are schematic diagrams illustrating the possible communication devices provided in the embodiments of this application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the various communication devices in the above method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments.

[0169] As shown in Figure 5, the communication device 500 includes a processing unit 510 and a transceiver unit 520.

[0170] When the communication device 500 is used to implement the functions of the terminal in the method embodiment shown in FIG3 above:

[0171] The transceiver unit 520 is used to acquire the characteristics of the first data unit; wherein, the characteristics of the first data unit include the importance level of the first data unit or the service type of the first data unit; the processing unit 510 is used to determine the first channel quality indicator (CQI) index based on the characteristics of the first data unit; the transceiver unit 520 is used to send first information, the first information indicating the first CQI index, and receive second information, the second information indicating the first modulation and coding scheme (MCS) index, wherein the first MCS index is associated with the first CQI index.

[0172] In one possible design, the source coding rate indicated by the first MCS index is greater than or equal to the source coding rate indicated by the first CQI index.

[0173] In one possible design, the first information also indicates a second CQI index; the transceiver unit 520 is further configured to acquire the characteristics of the second data unit, wherein the first data unit and the second data unit belong to the same transport block; the processing unit 510 is further configured to determine the second CQI index based on the characteristics of the second data unit.

[0174] In one possible design, the second information also indicates a second MCS index, which is associated with the second CQI index.

[0175] In one possible design, the importance level of the first data unit is either a first level or a second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the first CQI index is less than or equal to a first preset value. When the importance level of the first data unit is the second level, the first CQI index is greater than the first preset value. The source coding rate corresponding to CQI indices less than or equal to the first preset value is greater than or equal to the source coding rate corresponding to CQI indices greater than the first preset value.

[0176] In one possible design, the first information further indicates a set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the first data unit, the set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the first data unit including the first CQI index.

[0177] In one possible design, the transceiver unit 520 is further configured to send first indication information, the first indication information indicating the characteristics of the first data unit; and receive second indication information, the second indication information indicating the CQI set corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit.

[0178] In one possible design, the importance level of the first data unit is either a first level or a second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the first data unit's importance level is the first level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the first level; when the first data unit's importance level is the second level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the second level. Wherein, the source coding code rates in the CQI sets corresponding to the first level are all greater than or equal to the source coding code rates in the CQI sets corresponding to the second level.

[0179] In one possible design, the service type of the first data unit is one of M service types, wherein the M service types correspond one-to-one with M CQI sets, and each CQI index in the M CQI sets indicates a source coding rate.

[0180] In one possible design, the first data unit may comprise one or more frames, or one or more slices, or one or more macroblocks.

[0181] When the communication device 500 is used to implement the function of the access network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG3 above:

[0182] The transceiver unit 520 is configured to receive first information, the first information indicating a first CQI index, the first CQI index corresponding to a first data unit; the processing unit 510 is configured to determine a first MCS index based on the first CQI index, the first MCS index being associated with the first CQI index, wherein the source coding code rate indicated by the first MCS index is greater than or equal to the source coding code rate indicated by the first CQI index; the transceiver unit 520 is further configured to send second information, the second information indicating the first MCS index.

[0183] In one possible design, the first information also indicates a second CQI index, which corresponds to a second data unit, and the first data unit and the second data unit belong to the same transport block; the second information also indicates a second MCS index, which is associated with the second CQI index.

[0184] In one possible design, the importance level of the first data unit is either a first level or a second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the first CQI index is less than or equal to a first preset value. When the importance level of the first data unit is the second level, the first CQI index is greater than the first preset value. The source coding rate corresponding to CQI indices less than or equal to the first preset value is greater than or equal to the source coding rate corresponding to CQI indices greater than the first preset value.

[0185] In one possible design, the first information also indicates a set of CQIs corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit, the set of CQIs corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit including the first CQI index, and the characteristics of the first data unit including the importance level of the first data unit or the business type of the first data unit.

[0186] In one possible design, before receiving the first information, the transceiver unit 520 is further configured to receive first indication information, the first indication information indicating the characteristics of the first data unit, the characteristics of the first data unit including the importance level of the first data unit or the service type of the first data unit; and send second indication information, the second indication information indicating the CQI set corresponding to the characteristics of the first data unit.

[0187] In one possible design, the importance level of the first data unit is either a first level or a second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the first level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the second level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the second level. Wherein, the source coding rates in the CQI sets corresponding to the first level are all greater than or equal to the source coding rates in the CQI sets corresponding to the second level.

[0188] In one possible design, the service type of the first data unit is one of M service types, wherein the M service types correspond one-to-one with M CQI sets, and each CQI index in the M CQI sets indicates a source coding rate.

[0189] In one possible design, the first data unit may comprise one or more frames, or one or more slices, or one or more macroblocks.

[0190] For some possible designs and beneficial effects of the communication device 500, please refer to the relevant content in the embodiment shown in Figure 3 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0191] As shown in Figure 6, the communication device 600 includes a processor 610 and an interface circuit 620. The processor 610 and the interface circuit 620 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 620 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication device 600 may also include a memory 630 for storing instructions executed by the processor 610, or storing input data required by the processor 610 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after the processor 610 executes instructions.

[0192] When the communication device 600 is used to implement the above method embodiment, the processor 610 is used to implement the function of the processing unit 510, and the interface circuit 620 is used to implement the function of the transceiver unit 520.

[0193] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of this application can 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 can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0194] This application provides another example of a device, the notification device including at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one processor and the at least one memory coupled together, the at least one memory for storing instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the communication device to perform the methods described in the above embodiments. Taking a communication device including a processor and a memory as an example, as shown in FIG6, communication device 600 includes a processor 610 and a memory 630. Processor 610 and memory 630 are coupled together, memory 630 stores instructions, and when the instructions stored in memory 630 are executed by processor 610, communication device 600 performs the methods performed by the various communication devices in the above embodiments.

[0195] 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, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium 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 the aforementioned terminal or access network device. The processor and storage medium can also exist as discrete components in the terminal or access network device.

[0196] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are performed entirely or partially. 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, the 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.

[0197] 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.

[0198] 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, and C" can mean: including A; including B; including C; including A and B; including A and C; including B and C; including A, B, and C.

[0199] It is understood that the various numerical designations used in the embodiments of this application are merely for descriptive convenience and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the process numbers described above 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 by comprising: The method includes: Obtain the characteristics of the first data unit; wherein, the characteristics of the first data unit include the importance level of the first data unit or the business type of the first data unit; The first channel quality indicator (CQI) index is determined based on the characteristics of the first data unit. Send a first message, which indicates the first CQI index; Receive second information, the second information indicating a first modulation and coding strategy (MCS) index, the first MCS index being associated with the first CQI index.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The source coding rate indicated by the first MCS index is greater than or equal to the source coding rate indicated by the first CQI index.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The first information also indicates a second CQI index; the method further includes: The characteristics of the second data unit are obtained, and the first data unit and the second data unit belong to the same transport block; The second CQI index is determined based on the characteristics of the second data unit.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The second information also indicates a second MCS index, which is associated with the second CQI index.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The importance level of the first data unit is either the first level or the second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the first CQI index is less than or equal to the first preset value; When the importance level of the first data unit is the second level, the first CQI index is greater than the first preset value; Wherein, the source coding code rate corresponding to the CQI index that is less than or equal to the first preset value is greater than or equal to the source coding code rate corresponding to the CQI index that is greater than the first preset value.

6. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The first information also indicates a set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the first data unit, the set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the first data unit including the first CQI index.

7. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, Also includes: Send a first indication message, the first indication message indicating the characteristics of the first data unit; Receive second indication information, which indicates the CQI set corresponding to the features of the first data unit.

8. The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein, The importance level of the first data unit is either the first level or the second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the first level; When the importance level of the first data unit is the second level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the second level; Wherein, the source coding code rate in the CQI set corresponding to the first level is greater than or equal to the source coding code rate in the CQI set corresponding to the second level.

9. The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein, The service type of the first data unit is one of M service types, wherein the M service types correspond one-to-one with M CQI sets, and each CQI index in the M CQI sets indicates a source coding rate.

10. The method of any one of claims 1-9, wherein, The first data unit includes one or more frames, or one or more slices, or one or more macro blocks.

11. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method includes: Receive first information, the first information indicating a first CQI index, the first CQI index corresponding to a first data unit; A first MCS index is determined based on the first CQI index, and the first MCS index is associated with the first CQI index, wherein the source coding code rate indicated by the first MCS index is greater than or equal to the source coding code rate indicated by the first CQI index. Send a second message, which indicates the first MCS index.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The first information also indicates a second CQI index, which corresponds to a second data unit, and the first data unit and the second data unit belong to the same transport block; The second information also indicates a second MCS index, which is associated with the second CQI index.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein, The importance level of the first data unit is either the first level or the second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the first CQI index is less than or equal to the first preset value; When the importance level of the first data unit is the second level, the first CQI index is greater than the first preset value; Wherein, the source coding code rate corresponding to the CQI index that is less than or equal to the first preset value is greater than or equal to the source coding code rate corresponding to the CQI index that is greater than the first preset value.

14. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein, The first information also indicates a set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the first data unit, the set of CQIs corresponding to the features of the first data unit includes the first CQI index, and the features of the first data unit include the importance level of the first data unit or the business type of the first data unit.

15. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein, Before receiving the first message, it also includes: Receive first indication information, the first indication information indicating the characteristics of the first data unit, the characteristics of the first data unit including the importance level of the first data unit or the service type of the first data unit; Send a second indication message, which indicates the CQI set corresponding to the features of the first data unit.

16. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein, The importance level of the first data unit is either the first level or the second level, with the first level being more important than the second level. When the importance level of the first data unit is the first level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the first level; When the importance level of the first data unit is the second level, the first CQI index is one of the CQI sets corresponding to the second level; Wherein, the source coding code rate in the CQI set corresponding to the first level is greater than or equal to the source coding code rate in the CQI set corresponding to the second level.

17. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein, The service type of the first data unit is one of M service types, wherein the M service types correspond one-to-one with M CQI sets, and each CQI index in the M CQI sets indicates a source coding rate.

18. The method of any one of claims 11-17, wherein, The first data unit includes one or more frames, or one or more slices, or one or more macro blocks.

19. A communications device, characterized by Includes units or modules for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes at least one processor; the at least one processor is configured to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 18.

21. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium includes a program that, when run on the device, causes the device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 18.

22. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes a program or instructions that, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 18.

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