Communication method and apparatus, and system

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of communications. Provided are a communication method and apparatus, and a system. In the method, when a predicted time at which a terminal has received uplink resources allocated by a base station to the terminal does not match an actual time at which data actually arrives at a buffer of the terminal, the base station may indicate to the terminal a time deviation between the predicted time and the actual time, so that the base station can adjust an AI model on the basis of the time deviation, thereby improving the accuracy of the AI model in predicting a data buffer status of the terminal, and improving the uplink data transmission efficiency of the terminal.

Description

Communication methods, devices and systems

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202412000316.7, filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on December 31, 2024, entitled "Communication Method, Apparatus and System", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

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

[0003] In a communication network, when a terminal has data to send to the network, it can notify the network device (such as a base station) through an uplink scheduling request (SR). This allows the network device to perform uplink scheduling for the terminal, allocating time-frequency resources to the terminal to carry its data. After receiving the allocated time-frequency resources from the base station, the terminal can send data to the network based on those resources, thus enabling data transmission between the terminal and the network.

[0004] However, the current uplink scheduling method may have the problem of low uplink data transmission efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method, apparatus, and system to improve the accuracy of network devices in predicting the data cache status of terminals, thereby improving the uplink data transmission efficiency of terminals.

[0006] Firstly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal or by a unit / module / component (such as a chip, chip system, logic circuit, or software) configurable in (or usable in) the terminal. The following explanation uses the execution of this method by a terminal as an example.

[0007] The method includes: a terminal receiving first information, the first information being used to schedule the terminal to transmit uplink data; the terminal sending second information, the second information being used to indicate the time deviation between a first time and a second time, wherein the first time is the time corresponding to the first information or the time corresponding to a first uplink resource, the first information also being used to indicate the first uplink resource, and the second time is the time when the data arrives at the terminal's buffer.

[0008] According to the above scheme, after the network device performs uplink scheduling, the terminal can report the time deviation between the current uplink scheduling and the terminal's expected uplink scheduling to the network device. This allows the network device to improve the accuracy of its prediction of the terminal's data cache state based on the time deviation reported by the terminal. If the network device receives the second information and obtains the time deviation, it can adjust the accuracy of its prediction of the terminal's data cache state accordingly. For example, if the network device uses an artificial intelligence (AI) model to predict the terminal's data cache state, it can adjust (or optimize) the AI ​​model to more accurately predict the terminal's data cache state in the future, thereby improving the terminal's uplink data transmission efficiency.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some embodiments of the first aspect, the second time is specifically the time when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold.

[0010] The first data volume threshold may be predefined by the protocol or preconfigured by the network device for the terminal via signaling. The unit of the first data volume threshold may be bytes, bits, etc., and this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0011] According to the above scheme, a certain amount of data can be accumulated in the terminal's buffer during the uplink scheduling process before being transmitted all at once. This can reduce the extra overhead caused by frequent small-scale transmissions during the uplink scheduling process, help save uplink resources, and improve the data transmission efficiency of the terminal.

[0012] Optionally, the terminal may send second information to the network device if the time deviation meets a preset condition. This may include, but is not limited to, the following implementation methods:

[0013] Method 1: If the terminal's cache does not contain data at the first time, and data arrives in the cache after the first time, the terminal sends the second information.

[0014] That is, if the second time is later than the first time, the terminal can send the second information to the network device. Alternatively, if the second time is specifically the time when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold, then this method 1 can also be replaced by: if the data in the terminal's cache has not reached the first data volume threshold at the first time, and the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold after the first time, then the terminal sends the second information to the network device.

[0015] Method 2: If the time deviation is greater than the time deviation threshold, the terminal sends the second information.

[0016] If the time deviation is greater than a time deviation threshold, for example, the time deviation of the first time being earlier than the second time being greater than a preset threshold a (the preset threshold a is an example of a time deviation threshold), or the time deviation of the first time being later than the second time being greater than a preset threshold b (the preset threshold b is another example of a time deviation threshold), then the terminal can also send the second information to the network device.

[0017] Method 3: If the first time is later than the second time, the terminal sends the second information.

[0018] If the first time is later than the time when the data in the terminal's cache arrives, that is, if the terminal has not received the first information or the first uplink resource has not yet arrived when the data in the terminal's cache arrives, the terminal may send the second information to the network device. Alternatively, if the second time is specifically the time when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold, this method 3 can also be described as: if the first time is later than the time when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold, that is, if the terminal has not received the first information or the first uplink resource has not yet arrived when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold, the terminal may send the second information to the network device.

[0019] According to the above scheme, after the network device performs uplink scheduling, the terminal can report the time deviation between the current uplink scheduling and the terminal's expected uplink scheduling (the time corresponding to the terminal's expected uplink scheduling can be the actual time when the data arrives in the terminal's cache) to the network device. This allows the network device to improve the accuracy of predicting the terminal's data cache state based on the time deviation reported by the terminal, thereby helping the network device to predict the terminal's data cache state more accurately in the future.

[0020] To enable the terminal to report the time deviation between the current uplink scheduling and the terminal's expected uplink scheduling to the network device after uplink scheduling, so that the network device can adjust the AI ​​model that predicts the terminal's data cache state, specific implementation methods may include, but are not limited to, the following:

[0021] In one embodiment, the first information includes first indication information, which is used to instruct the terminal to report the time deviation.

[0022] Accordingly, after receiving the first information from the network device, the terminal can determine the reporting time deviation based on the first indication information included in the first information, and then the terminal sends the second information to the network device.

[0023] In another implementation, the first information includes second indication information, which indicates that the first information is an uplink scheduling determined by the network device based on a predicted data cache state of the terminal.

[0024] Accordingly, after receiving the first information from the network device, the terminal can determine that the first information is an uplink scheduling determined by the network device based on the predicted data cache status of the terminal, according to the second indication information included in the first information. Then the terminal can report the time deviation to the network device, or report the time deviation to the network device if the time deviation meets the preset conditions. This application does not limit this.

[0025] According to the above scheme, the network device can instruct / request the terminal to send second information (or report time deviation) to the network device, so that the network device can adjust the accuracy of the AI ​​model that predicts the data cache status of the terminal based on the time deviation reported by the terminal, which helps to improve the accuracy of the network device in predicting the data cache status of the terminal in the future.

[0026] In conjunction with the first aspect, in certain embodiments of the first aspect, when the first uplink resource does not meet the demand, the terminal sends third information, which is used to indicate the data cache status of the terminal, wherein the first uplink resource not meeting the demand includes at least one of the following: after the terminal sends data on the first uplink resource, there is still data in the terminal's cache; or, after the terminal sends data on the first uplink resource, there is still data in the terminal's cache, and the service priority of the data in the cache is higher than or equal to a priority threshold; or, after the terminal sends data on the first uplink resource, the remaining data in the terminal's cache is greater than or equal to a second data volume threshold.

[0027] Specifically, the third piece of information could be, for example, a buffer status report (BSR), which indicates the amount of data in the current terminal's buffer.

[0028] According to the above scheme, if the uplink resources allocated by the network device to the terminal do not meet the demand, the terminal can send third information to the network device so that the network device can understand the actual data cache status of the terminal (that is, the actual amount of cached data that has arrived at the terminal). This allows the network device to perform the next uplink scheduling (i.e., allocate the next uplink resources) for the terminal based on the actual data cache status of the terminal, so that the network device can schedule all the data in the terminal's cache (or the data that meets the service priority).

[0029] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some embodiments of the first aspect, the network device sends a third indication information to the terminal, the third indication information being used to indicate whether the terminal should send the third information if the first uplink resource does not meet the demand. The terminal sending the third information if the first uplink resource does not meet the demand includes: the terminal sending the third information if the first uplink resource does not meet the demand and the third indication information indicates that the terminal should send the third information.

[0030] In one alternative implementation, the third indication information may be included in the first information.

[0031] In another alternative implementation, the third instruction information and the first information can be sent to the terminal separately by the network device.

[0032] For example, the third indication information and the first information may be contained in different DCIs, or the third indication information may be sent to the network device via an RRC message, while the first information is contained in the DCI.

[0033] According to the above scheme, after receiving the first information from the network device, the terminal can determine, based on the third indication information included in the first information, that if the first uplink resources do not meet the demand, the terminal sends the third information to the network device so that the network device can send the next uplink scheduling to the terminal in a timely manner, which helps to reduce the latency of terminal services.

[0034] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some embodiments of the first aspect, the first information is further used to indicate a plurality of uplink resources that do not overlap in the time domain, and the method further includes: the terminal transmitting data on at least one of the plurality of uplink resources based on the time when the data arrives at the terminal's buffer.

[0035] According to the above scheme, when the network device's prediction accuracy of the terminal's data cache state is inaccurate (or the prediction's temporal granularity is not fine enough), the network device can indicate multiple uplink resources to the terminal. This allows the terminal to send data to the network device promptly through a portion of these multiple uplink resources, rather than waiting for the uplink resources to arrive. This helps reduce latency for terminal services and improves the efficiency of uplink data transmission.

[0036] Secondly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a communication device, which may be a network device (such as a base station) or a module (such as a chip) configured in (or used in) a network device. The following description uses the example of the communication method being executed by a network device.

[0037] The method includes: a network device sending first information, the first information being used to schedule a terminal to transmit uplink data; the network device receiving second information, the second information being used to indicate the time deviation between a first time and a second time, wherein the first time is the time corresponding to the first information or the time corresponding to a first uplink resource, the first information also being used to indicate the first uplink resource, and the second time is the time when the data arrives at the terminal's buffer.

[0038] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some embodiments of the second aspect, the second time is specifically the time when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold.

[0039] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some embodiments of the second aspect, the network device receives the second information when the terminal's cache does not contain data at the first time and data arrives at the cache after the first time; or, the network device receives the second information when the time deviation is greater than a time deviation threshold.

[0040] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some embodiments of the second aspect, the first information is an uplink schedule determined by the network device based on the predicted cache state of the terminal.

[0041] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some embodiments of the second aspect, the first information further includes first indication information, which is used to instruct the terminal to report the time deviation; or, the first information includes second indication information, which is used to indicate that the first information is an uplink scheduling determined by the network device based on the predicted cache state of the terminal.

[0042] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some embodiments of the second aspect, the first information further includes third indication information, which is used to indicate whether the terminal should report the cache status when the first uplink resource does not meet the demand. The first uplink resource not meeting the demand includes at least one of the following: after the terminal sends data on the first uplink resource, there is still data in the terminal's cache; or, after the terminal sends data on the first uplink resource, there is still data in the terminal's cache, and the service priority of the data in the cache is higher than or equal to a priority threshold; or, after the terminal sends data on the first uplink resource, the remaining data in the terminal's cache is greater than or equal to a second data volume threshold.

[0043] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some embodiments of the second aspect, when the third indication information instructs the terminal to report the cache status, the network device receives third information, which is used to indicate the cache status of the terminal.

[0044] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some embodiments of the second aspect, the first information is further used to indicate a plurality of uplink resources that do not overlap in the time domain, and the method further includes: the network device receiving data from the terminal on at least one of the plurality of uplink resources.

[0045] According to the above scheme, after the network device performs uplink scheduling for the terminal, it can receive the time deviation between the current uplink scheduling reported by the terminal and the uplink scheduling expected by the terminal. This allows the network device to improve the accuracy of predicting the terminal's data buffer status based on the time deviation reported by the terminal.

[0046] Thirdly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a network device (such as a base station) or by a unit / module / component (such as a chip, chip system, logic circuit, or software) configurable in (or usable in) a network device. The following explanation uses a network device as an example.

[0047] The method includes: a network device sending first information to trigger a terminal to report its actual cache state; and the network device receiving second information to indicate the actual cache state of the terminal.

[0048] Specifically, the network device may send the first information to the terminal if the prediction accuracy of the terminal's cache state is less than or equal to the accuracy threshold.

[0049] The accuracy threshold can be predefined in the protocol, and this application does not impose any restrictions on it.

[0050] Optionally, the network device can determine the prediction accuracy based on the total number of times the terminal's cache state is predicted and the number of times the terminal's cache state is inaccurate. The network device can determine that the terminal's cache state is inaccurate by the mismatch between the data sent by the terminal and the uplink resources allocated to the terminal by the network device.

[0051] Specifically, a mismatch between the data sent by the terminal and the uplink resources allocated to the terminal by the network device can include at least one of the following: the terminal fails to send uplink data at the time corresponding to the uplink resources allocated by the network device; or, when the network device receives a scheduling request from the terminal, the network device's AI model fails to predict that data will arrive at the terminal's cache; or, the network device still receives a scheduling request or cache status report from the terminal after allocating uplink resources to the terminal; or, the amount of uplink data actually sent by the terminal using the uplink resources allocated to it by the network device is less than the amount of data that the uplink resources can carry.

[0052] According to the above scheme, when the network device believes that the accuracy of its AI model's prediction of the amount of data cached by the terminal has decreased, it can instruct the terminal to report its actual cache state (i.e., the actual amount of data in the terminal's cache, or the data volume deviation between the predicted and actual data volumes at the same time). Furthermore, the network device can adjust its AI model based on this actual cache state to improve the accuracy of its AI model's prediction of the amount of data cached by the terminal. This improves the accuracy of predicting the uplink scheduling time and allows for the allocation of appropriate uplink resources to the terminal, reducing the latency of terminal services.

[0053] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some embodiments of the third aspect, the first information is a first downlink control information (DCI), the first DCI including a first field, the first field being used to trigger the terminal to report the cache status.

[0054] Specifically, when the first field is the preset value 'a' (which can also be understood as the first DCI including the fifth indication information in the following text), it means that the network device instructs the terminal to report the cache status. When the first field is the preset value 'b', it means that the network device instructs the terminal not to report the cache status.

[0055] Accordingly, the terminal receives the first DCI from the network device. Based on the first field in the first DCI being a preset value 'a', the terminal determines the reporting cache status and then sends the second information to the network device.

[0056] According to the above scheme, network devices can proactively instruct terminals to report their actual data cache status. Correspondingly, after receiving the actual data cache status from the terminal, the network device can adjust its prediction accuracy based on this status, such as optimizing the AI ​​model to improve its accuracy in predicting the terminal's data cache status, thus helping to reduce data transmission latency.

[0057] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some embodiments of the third aspect, the second information includes the amount of data in the terminal's cache; or, the second information includes a data volume deviation, which is the deviation between a first data volume and a second data volume, wherein the first data volume is the amount of data in the terminal's cache predicted by the network device, and the second data volume is the actual amount of data in the terminal's cache, wherein the first information is also used to indicate the first data volume.

[0058] According to the above scheme, after receiving the second information from the terminal, the network device can determine the actual amount of data in the terminal's cache at the first time based on the actual cache state of the terminal indicated by the second information (such as the first data amount or data amount deviation), and adjust the prediction accuracy of the terminal's cache state based on the actual data amount (for example, adjusting the AI ​​model of the base station) so that the network device can predict the terminal's cache state with higher accuracy.

[0059] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some embodiments of the third aspect, the method further includes: the network device adjusting the prediction accuracy of predicting the cache state of the terminal based on the actual cache state of the terminal.

[0060] According to the above scheme, when the network device believes that the accuracy of its prediction of the amount of data cached by the terminal has decreased, it can instruct the terminal to report its actual cache state. Furthermore, the network device can adjust the prediction accuracy of the terminal's cache state based on this actual cache state (e.g., adjusting the accuracy of the AI ​​model's prediction of the amount of data cached by the terminal), thereby improving the accuracy of predicting the uplink scheduling time and allocating appropriate uplink resources to the terminal, thus reducing the latency of terminal services.

[0061] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some embodiments of the third aspect, the first data volume is specifically the data volume in the cache of the terminal corresponding to the first time predicted by the network device, and the second data volume is the actual data volume in the cache of the terminal corresponding to the first time.

[0062] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the first time is determined based on the first information.

[0063] Optionally, the first time can be the time corresponding to the first information, that is, the amount of data in the cache reported by the terminal can be the time corresponding to the first information. The time corresponding to the first information can be the start time, intermediate time, or end time of the time domain resource carrying the first information.

[0064] Alternatively, the first information may also indicate a second duration, where the first time is the time after the second duration following the time corresponding to the first information.

[0065] Alternatively, the first information can also directly indicate a future moment as the first time.

[0066] The specific method for determining the first time can be predefined by the protocol or preconfigured by the network device, so that the terminal and the network device can determine the first time in the same way and reach a consensus on the first time. This application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0067] According to the above scheme, after receiving the second information from the terminal, the network device can determine the actual amount of data in the terminal's cache at the first time based on the actual cache state of the terminal indicated by the second information (such as the first data volume or data volume deviation). The network device can adjust the prediction accuracy of the terminal's cache state based on the actual data volume, which helps to improve the data transmission efficiency of the terminal.

[0068] Fourthly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal or by a unit / module / component (such as a chip, chip system, logic circuit, or software) configurable in (or usable in) the terminal. The following explanation uses a terminal as an example.

[0069] The method includes: a terminal receiving first information from a network device, the first information being used to trigger the terminal to report its actual cache state; and the terminal sending second information, the second information being used to indicate the terminal's actual cache state.

[0070] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the first information is a first downlink control information (DCI), the first DCI including a first field, the first field being used to trigger the terminal to report the cache status.

[0071] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the second information includes the amount of data in the terminal's cache; or, the second information includes a data volume deviation, which is the deviation between a first data volume and a second data volume, wherein the first data volume is the amount of data in the terminal's cache predicted by the network device, and the second data volume is the actual amount of data in the terminal's cache, wherein the first information is also used to indicate the first data volume.

[0072] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the second information includes the data volume deviation; the terminal sending the second information includes: when the data volume deviation is greater than or equal to a data volume deviation threshold, the terminal sends the second information.

[0073] Optionally, the data volume deviation threshold can be predefined by the protocol, or it can be configured by the network device for the terminal via signaling.

[0074] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the first data volume is specifically the data volume in the cache of the terminal corresponding to the first time predicted by the network device, and the second data volume is the actual data volume in the cache of the terminal corresponding to the first time.

[0075] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the first time is determined based on the first information.

[0076] According to the above scheme, the terminal can send its timing cache state to the network device. Correspondingly, after receiving the actual cache state from the terminal, the network device can adjust its AI model for predicting the terminal's cache state based on this actual cache state. This improves the accuracy of the network device's AI model in predicting the terminal's cache state, thus helping to improve the terminal's data transmission efficiency.

[0077] Fifthly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal or by a unit / module / component (such as a chip, chip system, logic circuit, or software) configurable in (or usable in) the terminal. The following explanation uses the execution of this method by a terminal as an example.

[0078] The method includes: a terminal sending first information to determine uplink scheduling; and a terminal receiving second information to schedule the transmission of uplink data. The first information includes the amount of cached data corresponding to a third time and the rate at which data arrives at the cache. Alternatively, the first information includes multiple times and multiple amounts of cached data predicted by the terminal, one of the multiple cached data amounts corresponding to one of the multiple times. For example, the first information may be determined by the terminal based on a predicted future cache state. For instance, the terminal can predict its future cache state using an AI model.

[0079] The specific first information may include, but is not limited to, the following implementation methods:

[0080] Method 1: The first piece of information includes the amount of cached data corresponding to the third time and the rate at which data arrives at the cache.

[0081] The third time can be the time corresponding to the first information, or the time after the first information and a third duration, or the first information can also indicate the third time. For details, please refer to the description below, which will not be elaborated here.

[0082] Specifically, if the network device can perform uplink scheduling for the terminal at the third time, the network device can allocate appropriate uplink resources to the terminal based on the amount of cached data corresponding to the third time. If the network device fails to perform uplink scheduling for the terminal at the third time, the network device can select a scheduling time after the third time, determine the amount of cached data corresponding to the selected scheduling time based on the amount of cached data corresponding to the third time and the rate at which data arrives at the cache, and allocate appropriate uplink resources to the terminal based on the amount of cached data corresponding to the scheduling time.

[0083] Method 2: The first information indicates multiple times and multiple cached data volumes predicted by the terminal, one of which corresponds to one of the multiple times.

[0084] Specifically, based on the information provided by the terminal, the network device can determine the amount of cached data of the terminal at multiple times, and the network device can select one of these multiple times to perform uplink scheduling on the terminal and the amount of cached data of the terminal at that time (the amount of cached data is predicted by the terminal based on the AI ​​model).

[0085] According to the above scheme, network devices can allocate appropriate uplink resources to terminals when they are able to schedule them, thereby reducing the latency of terminal services and improving the utilization efficiency of uplink resources.

[0086] Sixthly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a communication device, which may be a network device (such as a base station) or a module (such as a chip) configured in (or used in) a network device. The following description uses the example of the communication method being executed by a network device.

[0087] The method includes: a network device receiving first information for determining uplink scheduling; the network device sending second information for scheduling the terminal to transmit uplink data, wherein the first information includes the amount of cached data corresponding to a third time and the rate at which data arrives at the cache; or, the first information includes multiple times and multiple amounts of cached data predicted by the terminal, one of the multiple amounts of cached data corresponding to one of the multiple time data.

[0088] Seventhly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal or by a unit / module / component (such as a chip, chip system, logic circuit, or software) configurable in (or usable in) the terminal. The following explanation uses the execution of the method by a terminal as an example.

[0089] The method includes: a terminal receiving first information, the first information indicating a first duration; the terminal sending second information at a first time, the second information indicating the amount of cached data predicted by the terminal at a second time, wherein the second time is after the first time, and the time interval between the second time and the first time is the first duration.

[0090] According to the above scheme, network devices can allocate uplink resources to terminals during the time when they can schedule the terminals, which can carry the amount of cached data corresponding to that time. This helps to reduce the latency of terminal services and improve the utilization efficiency of uplink resources.

[0091] In conjunction with the seventh aspect, in some embodiments of the seventh aspect, the terminal sends third information, which is used to indicate that the terminal supports the amount of cached data for predicting future moments.

[0092] Specifically, if the terminal supports predicting the amount of cached data for future moments, the network device can indicate this amount to the terminal. After predicting the amount of cached data for future moments based on the first duration indicated by the network device, the terminal sends this predicted amount to the network device. Correspondingly, after receiving the amount of cached data for future moments from the terminal, the network device can allocate uplink resources to the terminal within a time when it is able to schedule the terminal, enough to carry the amount of cached data corresponding to that time.

[0093] Eighthly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a communication device, which may be a network device (such as a base station) or a module (such as a chip) configured in (or used in) a network device. The following description uses the example of the communication method being executed by a network device.

[0094] The method includes: a network device sending first information, the first information indicating a first duration; receiving second information at a first time, the second information indicating a terminal's predicted amount of cached data at a second time, wherein the second time is after the first time, and the time interval between the second time and the first time is the first duration.

[0095] In conjunction with the eighth aspect, in some embodiments of the eighth aspect, the method further includes: the network device receiving third information, the third information being used to indicate that the terminal supports a cached amount of data for predicting future moments.

[0096] A ninth aspect provides a communication device. In one design, the device may include modules corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect. These modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In one design, the device includes a transceiver unit for receiving first information, which is used to schedule the terminal to transmit uplink data. Optionally, the transceiver unit is further configured to send second information, which indicates a time deviation between a first time and a second time. The first time is the time corresponding to the first information or the time corresponding to a first uplink resource. The first information also indicates the first uplink resource. The second time is the time when data arrives at the terminal's buffer.

[0097] In a tenth aspect, a communication device is provided. In one design, the device may include modules corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the second aspect or any embodiment of the second aspect. These modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In one design, the device includes a transceiver unit configured to transmit first information, which is used to schedule the transmission of uplink data by a terminal. Optionally, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive second information, which indicates a time deviation between a first time and a second time. The first time is the time corresponding to the first information or the time corresponding to a first uplink resource. The first information also indicates the first uplink resource. The second time is the time when data arrives at the terminal's buffer.

[0098] Eleventhly, a communication device is provided. In one design, the device may include modules corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the third aspect or any embodiment of the third aspect. These modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In one design, the device includes: a transceiver unit for transmitting first information, which triggers a terminal to report its actual buffer state. The transceiver unit is also configured to receive second information, which indicates the actual buffer state of the terminal.

[0099] In a twelfth aspect, a communication device is provided. In one design, the device may include modules corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the fourth aspect or any of the embodiments of the fourth aspect. These modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In one design, the device includes a transceiver unit configured to receive first information from a network device, the first information being used to trigger the terminal to report its actual cache state. Optionally, the transceiver unit is further configured to send second information, the second information being used to indicate the actual cache state of the terminal.

[0100] In a thirteenth aspect, a communication device is provided. In one design, the device may include modules corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the fifth aspect or any embodiment of the fifth aspect. These modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In one design, the device includes a transceiver unit configured to transmit first information for determining uplink scheduling. Optionally, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive second information for scheduling the terminal to transmit uplink data. The first information includes a buffered data amount corresponding to a first time and a data arrival rate at the buffer; or, the first information may include multiple times and multiple buffered data amounts predicted by the terminal, one of the multiple buffered data amounts corresponding to one of the multiple times.

[0101] In a fourteenth aspect, a communication device is provided. In one design, the device may include modules corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the sixth aspect or any embodiment of the sixth aspect. These modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In one design, the device includes a transceiver unit configured to receive first information for determining uplink scheduling. Optionally, the transceiver unit is further configured to send second information for scheduling the terminal to transmit uplink data. The first information includes a buffered data amount corresponding to a first time and a data arrival rate at the buffer; or, the first information may include multiple times and multiple buffered data amounts predicted by the terminal, one of the multiple buffered data amounts corresponding to one of the multiple time data.

[0102] In a fifteenth aspect, a communication device is provided. In one design, the device may include modules corresponding to each of the methods / operations / steps / actions described in any of the embodiments of the seventh or fifth aspect. These modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In one design, the device includes a transceiver unit configured to receive first information indicating a first duration. Optionally, the transceiver unit is further configured to transmit second information at a first time, the second information indicating a predicted amount of buffered data at a second time, wherein the second time is after the first time, and the time interval between the second time and the first time is the first duration.

[0103] In a sixteenth aspect, a communication device is provided. In one design, the device may include modules corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the eighth aspect or any embodiment of the eighth aspect. These modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In one design, the device includes a transceiver unit for transmitting first information, the first information indicating a first duration. Optionally, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive second information at a first time, the second information indicating a predicted amount of buffered data at a second time, wherein the second time is after the first time, and the time interval between the second time and the first time is the first duration.

[0104] In a seventeenth aspect, a communication device is provided, including a processor. The processor can implement the methods of the first to eighth aspects and any possible implementations thereof. Optionally, the communication device further includes a memory, and the processor is coupled to the memory and can be used to execute instructions in the memory to implement the methods of the first to eighth aspects and any possible implementations thereof. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface. In the embodiments of this application, the communication interface may be a transceiver, a pin, a circuit, a bus, a module, or other types of communication interface, and is not limited thereto.

[0105] In one implementation, the communication device is a communication equipment (such as a terminal or access network equipment). When the communication device is a communication equipment, the communication interface can be a transceiver, or an input / output interface.

[0106] In another implementation, the communication device is a chip configured within a communication device. When the communication device is a chip configured within a communication device, the communication interface can be an input / output interface.

[0107] Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0108] Eighteenth aspect: A processor is provided, comprising: an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive signals through the input circuit and transmit signals through the output circuit, causing the processor to execute the methods described in the first to eighth aspects and any possible implementation thereof.

[0109] In specific implementation, the processor can be one or more chips, the input circuit can be input pins, the output circuit can be output pins, and the processing circuit can be transistors, gate circuits, flip-flops, and various logic circuits. The input signal received by the input circuit can be received and input by, for example, but not limited to, a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit can be, for example, but not limited to, output to and transmitted by a transmitter. Furthermore, the input circuit and the output circuit can be the same circuit, which is used as both the input circuit and the output circuit at different times. This application does not limit the specific implementation of the processor and various circuits.

[0110] Nineteenth aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising: a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when run, causes a computer to perform the methods described in the first to eighth aspects and any possible implementation thereof.

[0111] In a twentieth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided that stores a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the methods described in the first to eighth aspects and any possible implementation thereof.

[0112] In a twenty-first aspect, a chip system is provided, which is applied to an electronic device. The chip system includes one or more processors, which are configured to invoke computer instructions to cause the electronic device to perform the methods described in the first to eighth aspects and any possible implementation thereof.

[0113] In a twenty-second aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising at least one reader / writer and at least one passive terminal as described above.

[0114] It should be understood that the beneficial effects of the features corresponding to the first aspect in the second to twenty-second aspects can be referred to the relevant description of the first aspect above, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0115] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0116] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an access network device with a CU-DU separation architecture provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0117] Figure 3 shows a schematic flowchart of an uplink scheduling method;

[0118] Figure 4 shows a schematic flowchart of another uplink scheduling method;

[0119] Figure 5 is a first schematic flowchart of the communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0120] Figure 6 is a second schematic flowchart of the communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0121] Figure 7 shows a schematic flowchart of another uplink scheduling method;

[0122] Figure 8 is a third schematic flowchart of the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0123] Figure 9 is a fourth schematic flowchart of the communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0124] Figure 10 is the fifth schematic flowchart of the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0125] Figure 11 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0126] Figure 12 is a schematic structural diagram of another example of the communication device provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0127] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, the following points will be explained first:

[0128] In this application, "instruction" can include direct instruction, indirect instruction, explicit instruction, and implicit instruction. When describing a certain instruction information for the purpose of instructing A, it can be understood that the instruction information carries A, directly instructs A, or indirectly instructs A.

[0129] In this application, " / " can indicate that the objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can mean A or B. "And / or" can be used to describe three relationships between the related objects. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. A and B can be singular or plural.

[0130] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more, such as three, four, or more. Similar expressions (such as at least one, at least one, etc.) are used in the same way. "At least one of the following," "one or more of the following," or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, which may include only a single item or a combination of multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, or b, or c; a and b; or a and c; or b and c; or a, b, and c. Where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0131] In this application, for the convenience of describing the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the terms "first" and "second" may be used to distinguish them. The terms "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or execution order, and the terms "first" and "second" are not necessarily different.

[0132] In this application, the words "exemplary," "example," or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary," "example," or "for example" should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. The use of the words "exemplary," "example," or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner to facilitate understanding.

[0133] In this application, "sending information / data" only indicates the direction of information / data transmission, including direct transmission via the device's communication interface (such as an air interface, or simply air interface). "Sending" can also be understood as the "output" of a module interface. "Sending" can include indirect transmission by the processing unit through the communication interface, meaning that after the processing unit outputs information / data through the module interface, it is transmitted to the device's communication interface and then sent out. "Receiving information / data" only indicates the direction of information / data transmission, including direct reception via the communication interface. "Receiving" can also be understood as the "input" of a module interface. "Receiving information / data" can include indirect reception by the processing unit through the communication interface, meaning that after the communication interface receives information / data, it is transmitted to the processing unit's module interface and then input to the processing unit. "Sending information / data to… (such as a terminal)" can be understood as the destination of the information being the terminal. It can include sending information / data directly or indirectly to the terminal. "Receiving information / data from… (such as a terminal)" can be understood as the source of the information being the terminal, and can include receiving information / data directly or indirectly from the terminal. Information / data may undergo necessary processing, such as format changes, between the source and destination, but the destination can understand the valid information / data from the source. Similar statements in this application can be understood in a similar way, and will not be repeated here.

[0134] The technical solutions of this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, 5th Generation (5G) communication systems, satellite communication systems, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) systems, and the solutions provided in this application can also be applied to future communication systems or other communication systems. This application does not limit these applications.

[0135] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system applicable to the communication method provided in this application. Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a possible, non-limiting system architecture. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 100 includes a radio access network (RAN) 10 and a core network (CN) 20. Optionally, the communication system 100 also includes an Internet 30. The RAN 10 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). The RAN 10 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 1). The terminal 120 is wirelessly connected to the RAN node 110. The RAN node 110 is wirelessly or wiredly connected to the core network 20. The core network devices in the core network 20 and the RAN node 110 in the RAN 10 can be different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device integrating core network logical functions and radio access network logical functions.

[0136] RAN 10 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 10 can also be an open access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system. RAN 10 can also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0137] RAN node 110, sometimes also referred to as access network equipment, RAN entity, or access node, is part of the communication system and is used to help terminals achieve wireless access. Multiple RAN nodes 110 in communication system 100 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 10 through network element 120i, network element 120i is a base station; but 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.

[0138] In one possible scenario, a 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 next-generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system. A 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, a 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).

[0139] 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).

[0140] 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.

[0141] In some deployments, access network nodes may include CUs (Control Units) and DUs (Devices). A CU can implement some protocol layer functions of the access network equipment, and so can a DU. As shown in Figure 2, a CU can handle non-real-time protocols and services; for example, a CU can implement functions of the radio resource control (RRC) layer, the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer. A DU can handle physical layer protocols and real-time services; for example, it can implement functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, or the physical (PHY) layer. A DU can connect to only one CU or to multiple CUs, while a CU can connect to multiple DUs. Communication between CUs and DUs can be achieved through the F1 interface.

[0142] 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, etc.

[0143] In the embodiments of this application, the terminal and network device can be hardware devices, or software functions running on dedicated hardware, or software functions running on general-purpose hardware, such as virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., cloud platform), or entities that include dedicated or general-purpose hardware devices and software functions. This application does not limit the specific form of the terminal and network device.

[0144] To better understand the methods provided in the embodiments of this application, the terms involved in this application will be briefly explained below.

[0145] 1. Buffer Status Report (BSR)

[0146] BSR (Backup Response Scheduler) is an important mechanism in wireless communication systems for optimizing uplink (UL) resource allocation and data transmission efficiency. Terminals report their uplink buffer status by sending BSRs to network devices (such as base stations). Upon receiving the BSR from the terminal, the network device understands the terminal's buffer status and can then determine when to schedule uplink data transmission and how much uplink resources to allocate. This enables more precise resource scheduling based on actual needs.

[0147] 2. Scheduling request (SR)

[0148] SR (Signaling Request) is a key control signaling mechanism used by terminals to request uplink resource allocation from network devices. When a terminal needs to send data but has not obtained uplink transmission resources, it notifies the network device of its transmission request via SR, allowing the network device to allocate uplink transmission resources to the terminal. Optionally, the terminal can send SR to the network device via the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

[0149] 3. Uplink scheduling

[0150] Uplink scheduling refers to the network device scheduling the transmission of uplink data by the terminal. Uplink scheduling can instruct the network device to allocate uplink resources for the terminal's uplink data transmission, as well as modulation and coding related information. Uplink resources indicate the frequency and time domain resources that the terminal can use, meaning the terminal can send uplink data to the network device on these resources. Modulation and coding related information indicates the modulation scheme and coding rate used by the terminal for data transmission. However, this application is not limited to this; for example, uplink scheduling can also instruct the network device to allocate power control related information for the terminal, etc. For simplicity, these are not listed here.

[0151] In some scenarios, uplink scheduling can also be called uplink grant (UL grant). Network devices (such as base stations) can send uplink scheduling (or uplink grant) to terminals via downlink control information (DCI), which can be carried on the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[0152] The following uses a network device as a base station to illustrate the uplink scheduling process currently used in networks. Figure 3 shows a schematic flowchart of an uplink scheduling method. As shown in Figure 3, the uplink scheduling process may include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0153] S301, the terminal detects that uplink data (or uplink service data) has arrived, and the terminal triggers the BSR reporting process.

[0154] When a terminal detects uplink data to be sent in its buffer, it triggers a BSR reporting process. Specifically, the reporting process involves the terminal generating a BSR, which indicates the terminal's buffer status (such as the amount of uplink data to be sent in the buffer) and preparing to send the BSR to the base station.

[0155] In a communication network, a terminal can send a BSR (Browser Response Report) via a media access control (MAC) control element (CE). Specifically, when a terminal triggers a BSR reporting process, it detects the arrival of uplink data, generates a BSR MAC CE, and sends this BSR MAC CE to the network device to indicate the terminal's buffer status.

[0156] S302, if the terminal has no available (or insufficient) uplink resources to send BSR MAC CE, the terminal triggers the SR procedure.

[0157] Specifically, the terminal triggers the SR process by notifying the base station via SR that the terminal has an uplink transmission requirement, in order to request the base station to allocate uplink resources for the terminal.

[0158] S303, the terminal uses the pre-configured PUCCH resources associated with the SR to send the SR to the base station.

[0159] Correspondingly, after receiving the SR from the terminal, the base station can determine that the terminal has uplink data to be sent. However, since the SR does not indicate the specific amount of uplink data to be sent by the terminal, the base station cannot determine how much uplink resources should be allocated to the terminal to transmit the uplink data to be sent. Therefore, the base station can choose to execute S304.

[0160] S304, the base station allocates a small amount of uplink resources to the terminal, which can carry the BSR MAC CE sent by the terminal.

[0161] S305, the terminal sends BSR MAC CE using a small amount of uplink resources.

[0162] Accordingly, after receiving the BSR MAC CE from the terminal, the base station can determine the terminal's buffer state (such as the amount of uplink data to be sent in the terminal's buffer) based on the BSR MAC CE. Further, the base station can execute S306.

[0163] S306, the base station allocates an appropriate amount of uplink resources to the terminal.

[0164] The base station can allocate an appropriate amount of uplink resources to the terminal based on the BSR (Background Status Request). This appropriate amount of uplink resources can carry the uplink data to be transmitted in the terminal's buffer. In other words, the base station can allocate uplink resources to the terminal based on the BSR that match the amount of data in the terminal's buffer.

[0165] S307, The terminal sends uplink data to the base station using the uplink resources allocated to the terminal by the base station.

[0166] According to steps S301 to S307, the terminal can request uplink resources from the base station and send uplink data to the base station. However, there may be a significant time delay between the terminal detecting the arrival of uplink data and the terminal sending the uplink data. For example, in the steps described above, the terminal may have already generated the uplink data to be sent at step S301, but it can only send the uplink data to the base station at step S307. This delay may cause the terminal to be unable to transmit uplink data to the network in a timely manner, resulting in service interruption.

[0167] To address the aforementioned issues, a method is proposed whereby the terminal or network device can predict the future data cache state of the terminal (i.e., the amount of data cached by the terminal at a future time). Based on this prediction, the network device can allocate uplink resources to the terminal in a timely manner to reduce the latency of the terminal sending service data. For example, the terminal or network device can use an artificial intelligence (AI) model to predict the future data cache state of the terminal. The following description, using Figure 4 as an example with the network device as a base station, illustrates an implementation method where the base station uses an AI model to predict the future data cache state of the terminal.

[0168] Figure 4 shows a schematic flowchart of another uplink scheduling method. The uplink scheduling method shown in Figure 4 involves the base station predicting the data buffer state of the terminal. As shown in Figure 4, this uplink scheduling method may include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0169] In S401, the base station uses an AI model to predict the data cache status of the terminal.

[0170] For example, the AI ​​model can be a neural network model, a deep learning model, etc. The base station can obtain the pre-trained AI model from the network (e.g., from a core network node or other nodes in the network), or the base station can train the AI ​​model using collected training data to obtain a trained AI model. Optionally, the training data can include, but is not limited to, historical network traffic, terminal behavior patterns, mobility data, etc. Historical network traffic can include the uplink data transmission volume of the terminal in different time periods, which allows the AI ​​model to understand the trend of uplink data transmission. Terminal behavior patterns can include the terminal's historical behavior, such as terminal usage habits, data transmission frequency, and service type (e.g., voice data upload, video data upload, or file upload). Mobility data can include the terminal's movement trajectory, speed, or direction.

[0171] Furthermore, the base station can use this AI model to predict the data cache status of the terminal. When the base station predicts that the terminal has uplink data to be sent, the base station can perform uplink scheduling for the terminal, that is, the base station executes S402.

[0172] S402, the base station allocates uplink resources to the terminal.

[0173] The uplink resources allocated by the base station to the terminal are determined by the base station based on the prediction results of the terminal's data cache status using the AI ​​model. In other words, the base station allocates uplink resources to the terminal according to the prediction results of the AI ​​model.

[0174] When the AI ​​model's prediction results can include the amount of data in the terminal's cache at a future point in time, the base station can allocate uplink resources to the terminal that match that amount of data.

[0175] S403, the terminal uses the allocated uplink resources to send uplink service data.

[0176] It should be understood that the prediction accuracy of the AI ​​models used by the aforementioned base stations may decrease as the network environment and terminal behavior patterns change.

[0177] If the base station's predicted data arrival time in the buffer is inaccurate—for example, if the base station predicts the data arrival time in the terminal's buffer is too late compared to the actual data arrival time, or if the base station predicts the data in the terminal's buffer will reach a certain amount too late compared to the actual time—this will increase the terminal's data transmission latency (i.e., the terminal will be able to send uplink data to the base station later). Alternatively, if the base station predicts the amount of uplink data to be sent by the terminal is less than the actual amount of uplink data to be sent by the terminal, the base station may allocate less uplink resources to the terminal, causing some uplink data to fail to be sent to the base station in a timely manner, which will also increase the latency of the terminal's services.

[0178] For example, if the base station predicts that the data will arrive in the buffer too early, such as when the predicted data has already arrived in the terminal buffer but the actual terminal buffer does not contain the data, the base station may allocate uplink resources to the terminal too early, resulting in wasted uplink resources. Alternatively, if the base station predicts that the amount of uplink data to be transmitted by the terminal is greater than the actual amount of uplink data to be transmitted by the terminal, the base station may allocate more uplink resources to the terminal (i.e., excessive uplink scheduling resources), which may also lead to wasted resources and reduced resource utilization.

[0179] As can be understood from the above, when a base station performs uplink scheduling based on prediction results, improving prediction accuracy is key to improving the efficiency of uplink data transmission from the terminal. Therefore, this application proposes that when there is a mismatch between the predicted time when the terminal receives the uplink resources allocated by the base station and the actual time when the data actually arrives in the terminal's cache, the base station can indicate the time deviation between the predicted and actual times to the terminal. This allows the base station to adjust the AI ​​model based on the time deviation, improving the accuracy of the AI ​​model's prediction of the terminal's data cache state, thereby improving the terminal's uplink data transmission efficiency.

[0180] The methods provided in the embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0181] Figure 5 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 5 uses a network device as a base station as an example to illustrate the communication method of this application embodiment. The method may include, but is not limited to, the following S501 and S502.

[0182] S501, the base station sends first information to the terminal, which is used to schedule the terminal to transmit uplink data.

[0183] Alternatively, the first information is used for uplink scheduling or uplink grant (UL grant). The first information can be called uplink scheduling information or uplink grant information. This first information indicates a first uplink resource, which is the uplink resource allocated by the base station to the terminal for transmitting uplink data. Optionally, the first information may also indicate the modulation scheme used for the uplink data, encoding-related information, etc. For example, the first information may be included in the DCI or the first information may be the DCI.

[0184] The first uplink resource can be determined by the base station based on the terminal's predicted data cache state. Specifically, the base station can use an AI model to predict the terminal's data cache state at a future time (i.e., the amount of data in the terminal's cache at a future time) and obtain a prediction result. When the prediction result indicates that the terminal's cache has uplink data to be transmitted at a future time, the base station can generate first information based on the prediction result. The temporal resource of the first uplink resource indicated by the first information can be determined based on the future time indicated by the prediction result, and the resource size of the first uplink resource (the resource size determines the amount of data that the resource can carry) can be determined based on the amount of data to be transmitted indicated by the prediction result (i.e., the predicted amount of data in the terminal's cache at that future time).

[0185] The base station sends this first information to the terminal to enable uplink scheduling of the terminal by the base station. Accordingly, after receiving the first information from the base station, the terminal can determine the first uplink resource allocated by the base station for transmitting uplink data based on the first information.

[0186] It should be understood that the uplink resources allocated to the terminal by the base station are determined based on the base station's prediction of the terminal's data cache state. However, there may be a deviation between the actual data cache state of the terminal and the data cache state predicted by the AI ​​model. For example, the first uplink resource scheduled by the base station through the first information may arrive at the terminal cache too early or too late. To improve the accuracy of the base station's AI model in predicting the terminal's data cache state and to reduce the deviation between the AI ​​model's prediction and the actual data cache state, the terminal can indicate its actual data cache state to the base station. This allows the base station to optimize the AI ​​model based on the actual data cache state, thereby improving the AI ​​model's prediction accuracy. The specific implementation of this process can be shown in S502.

[0187] It should be noted that this application does not limit the AI ​​model used in the base station. The specific AI model used can be flexibly selected according to actual needs and application scenarios to achieve better prediction accuracy.

[0188] S502, the terminal sends second information to the base station, the second information being used to indicate the time deviation between the first time and the second time, wherein the first time is the time corresponding to the first information or the time corresponding to the first uplink resource, and the second time is the time when the data arrives at the terminal's buffer.

[0189] The time-domain resource used to carry the first information is located before the time-domain resource of the first uplink resource. In other words, the base station sends the first information to the terminal before the arrival of the first uplink resource, notifying the terminal through the first information that the later time-frequency resource is the first uplink resource allocated by the base station for transmitting uplink data. Since the time-domain resource of the first information differs from that of the first uplink resource, the terminal can use either the time corresponding to the first information or the time corresponding to the first uplink resource as a reference to notify the base station of the time deviation between the base station's uplink scheduling and the actual arrival time of the data in the terminal's buffer. That is, the first time can be either the time corresponding to the first information or the time corresponding to the first uplink resource. Specifically, whether the first time is the time corresponding to the first information or the time corresponding to the first uplink resource can be predefined by the protocol or pre-configured by the base station through signaling.

[0190] The time corresponding to the first piece of information can be the start, middle, or end time of the time-domain resource carrying the first piece of information. The time corresponding to the first uplink resource can be the start, middle, or end time of the time-domain resource.

[0191] The second time is the time it takes for the data to actually arrive at the terminal's buffer. Ideally, the terminal expects the data to be transmitted as soon as it arrives at its buffer; this second time can also be referred to as the expected uplink scheduling (or uplink resource) time.

[0192] Specifically, the time deviation between the first time and the second time indicated by the second information can be the difference between the first time and the second time, or it can be the difference between the second time and the first time. The specific implementation method for the terminal to determine the time deviation can be predefined by the protocol or pre-configured by the base station through signaling. This application does not limit this.

[0193] For example, the first time (denoted as T1), the second time (denoted as T2), and the time deviation ΔT satisfy: ΔT = T1 - T2

[0194] Alternatively, ΔT, T1, and T2 can also satisfy: ΔT = T2 - T1

[0195] Optionally, the time when the data arrives at the terminal cache can specifically be the time when the data in the terminal cache reaches a first data volume threshold.

[0196] The first data volume threshold can be predefined by the protocol, or it can be preconfigured by the base station for the terminal through signaling. The unit of the first data volume threshold can be bytes, bits, etc., such as A bytes or B bits, etc. This application does not limit this.

[0197] To reduce the overhead caused by frequent small-scale transmissions during uplink scheduling, for data with low latency requirements, a certain amount of data can be accumulated in the terminal's buffer before being transmitted all at once during uplink scheduling. Therefore, the second time can specifically be the time when the data in the terminal's buffer reaches the first data volume threshold. However, this application is not limited to this.

[0198] It should be noted that the second time may be earlier or later than the first time.

[0199] For example, after receiving the first information, the terminal can determine that at the first time, there is no data in the terminal's cache. However, if data arrives in the terminal's cache at a second time after the first time (i.e., the second time is later than the first time), the terminal can determine the time deviation after the second time and send the second information to the base station. Alternatively, if the data in the terminal's cache at the first time has not reached a first data volume threshold, but the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold at a second time after the first time, the terminal can determine the time deviation after the second time and send the second information to the base station.

[0200] For example, if data in the terminal's cache arrives at the terminal's cache at a second time, or if the data in the terminal's cache reaches a first data volume threshold at a second time, and the first time determined by the terminal based on the first information is after the second time (i.e., the second time is earlier than the first time), then the terminal can determine the time deviation based on the first time and the second time and send the second information to the base station.

[0201] Optionally, the terminal may send second information to the base station if the time deviation meets a preset condition. This may include, but is not limited to, the following methods 1, 2, and 3:

[0202] Method 1: If there is no data in the terminal's cache at the first time, and data arrives in the cache after the first time, the terminal sends the second information to the base station, which is used to indicate the time deviation.

[0203] That is, if the second time is later than the first time, the terminal can determine the time deviation ΔT and send the second information to the base station.

[0204] If the second time is the time when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold, then this method 1 can also be replaced by: if the data in the terminal's cache does not reach the first data volume threshold at the first time, and the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold after the first time, then the terminal sends the second information to the base station.

[0205] Method 2: If the time deviation is greater than the time deviation threshold, the terminal sends the second information to the base station.

[0206] It should be understood that the situation where the time deviation is greater than the time deviation threshold can be divided into two cases: the first time is earlier than the second time, and the first time is later than the second time. Specifically, the second time can be the time when the data arrives at the terminal's cache or the time when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold. It can be replaced according to the actual situation, and this application does not impose any restrictions on it. For ease of understanding, these two cases will be explained separately below.

[0207] In scenario 1, if the first time is earlier than the second time, and the time deviation between the first time and the second time is greater than a preset threshold a (the preset threshold a is an example of a time deviation threshold), then the terminal sends the second information to the base station.

[0208] The preset threshold 'a' can be predefined by the protocol or configured by the base station for the terminal via signaling; this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0209] Specifically, if there is no data in the terminal's cache at the first time, but data arrives in the terminal's cache at the second time after the first time, and the time deviation between the first and second times is greater than a preset threshold 'a', the terminal sends the second information to the base station. Alternatively, if the data in the terminal's cache at the first time does not reach the first data volume threshold, but the data in the terminal's cache at the second time after the first time reaches the first data volume threshold, and the time deviation between the first and second times is greater than the preset threshold 'a', then the terminal can send the second information to the base station.

[0210] In this scenario 1, if the time deviation between the first time and the second time is less than a preset threshold a, the terminal may not send the second information to the base station.

[0211] It should be noted that whether a specific terminal sends the second information to the base station to indicate the time deviation when ΔT equals the preset threshold a can be predefined by the protocol, and this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0212] In scenario 2, if the first time is later than the second time, and the time deviation between the first time and the second time is greater than a preset threshold b (which is another example of a time deviation threshold), then the terminal can also send the second information to the base station.

[0213] The preset threshold b can be predefined by the protocol or configured by the network for the terminal through signaling; this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0214] Specifically, if data arrives at the terminal's cache at a second time, or if the data in the terminal's cache reaches a first data volume threshold at a second time, and the first time determined by the terminal based on the first information is after the second time, and the time deviation between the first time and the second time is greater than a preset threshold b, then the terminal can send second information to the base station, which indicates the time deviation.

[0215] In scenario 2, if the time deviation between the first time and the second time is less than a preset threshold b, the terminal may not need to send the second information to the base station. Similar to scenario 1, whether the terminal sends the second information to the base station to indicate the time deviation when the time deviation equals the preset threshold b is not restricted by this application; such restrictions are not predefined by the protocol.

[0216] The aforementioned preset threshold a and preset threshold b can be the same or different, and this application does not limit this.

[0217] Method 3: If the first time is later than the second time, the terminal sends the second information.

[0218] If the first time is later than the time when the data in the terminal's cache arrives, that is, if the terminal has not received the first information or the first uplink resource has not yet arrived when the data in the terminal's cache arrives, the terminal may send the second information to the network device. Alternatively, if the second time is specifically the time when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold, this method 3 can also be described as: if the first time is later than the time when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold, that is, if the terminal has not received the first information or the first uplink resource has not yet arrived when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold, the terminal may send the second information to the network device.

[0219] It should be noted that the above-described methods 1, 2, and 3 are exemplary descriptions of specific implementation methods for the terminal to send the second information, but this application is not limited thereto. These three methods can be implemented individually (the specific implementation process can be as described in the relevant descriptions above), or the three methods can be combined. For example, if the first time is later than the second time, the terminal can determine whether the later duration is greater than a preset threshold b. If it is greater than the preset threshold b, the terminal sends the second information to the base station (i.e., method 2). If the first time is earlier than the second time, the terminal sends the second information to the base station as soon as the "earlier" condition occurs (i.e., method 1). This application does not limit whether the three methods are implemented individually or in combination (including how they are combined).

[0220] According to the above scheme, after an uplink scheduling operation, the terminal can report the time deviation between the current uplink scheduling and the uplink scheduling expected by the terminal to the base station. This allows the base station to improve the accuracy of its prediction of the terminal's data cache state based on the time deviation reported by the terminal. If the base station receives the second information and obtains the time deviation, it can adjust (or optimize) the AI ​​model based on the time deviation so that the AI ​​model can more accurately predict the terminal's data cache state in subsequent operations.

[0221] Specifically, the base station can also determine a second time, i.e., the actual time when the data arrives at the terminal buffer, based on this time deviation. The base station can then adjust the AI ​​model based on this second time. This application does not limit the specific implementation method for the base station to adjust the AI ​​model.

[0222] Alternatively, as an alternative to S502, the terminal sends a second message to the base station, which may indicate a second time.

[0223] Alternatively, it can be understood that the terminal indirectly indicates the deviation between the first and second times by indicating the second time. Correspondingly, after receiving the second time from the terminal, the base station can optimize the AI ​​model based on this second time. Alternatively, the base station can determine the time deviation based on the first and second times, and then optimize the AI ​​model based on this time deviation. However, this application does not limit this approach.

[0224] After each uplink scheduling, the terminal can send a time deviation to the base station indicating the difference between the current uplink scheduling and the terminal's desired uplink scheduling. This allows the base station to adjust the accuracy of its prediction of the terminal's data buffer status in real time. However, this application is not limited to this. To reduce resource overhead, the base station can also instruct the terminal to report the time deviation as needed after each uplink scheduling. Specifically, this may include, but is not limited to, the following implementation methods one and two:

[0225] In the first implementation method, the first information also includes first indication information, which is used to instruct the terminal to report the time deviation.

[0226] Optionally, the first information includes field A, which indicates whether the terminal reports the time deviation. If field A is a first preset value, it means that the base station instructs the terminal to report the time deviation, i.e., field A with the first preset value is the first indication information. If field A is a second preset value, it means that the base station instructs the terminal not to report the time deviation.

[0227] Accordingly, the terminal receives the first information from the base station. Based on the first preset value of field A in the first information (i.e., the first information includes the first indication information), the terminal determines the reporting time deviation and then sends the second information to the base station.

[0228] In the second implementation, the first information further includes second indication information, which is used to indicate that the first information is an uplink scheduling determined by the base station based on the predicted data cache status of the terminal.

[0229] Optionally, the first information includes field B, which indicates whether the first information is an uplink schedule determined by the base station based on the predicted data cache state of the terminal. If field B is a third preset value, it indicates "yes," meaning the first information is an uplink schedule determined by the base station based on the predicted data cache state of the terminal; in other words, field B with the third preset value is the second indication information. If field B is a fourth preset value, it indicates "no," meaning the first information is not an uplink schedule determined by the base station based on the predicted data cache state of the terminal.

[0230] Accordingly, the terminal receives the first information from the base station. Based on the fact that field B in the first information is a third preset value (i.e., the first information includes second indication information), the terminal can determine that the first information is an uplink scheduling determined by the base station based on the predicted data cache status of the terminal.

[0231] In this second implementation, an uplink scheduling might be determined by the base station based on the predicted data cache state of the terminal, or it might be determined by the base station based on the BSR received from the terminal (e.g., S305 to S306). Therefore, when the base station determines the uplink scheduling based on the predicted data cache state of the terminal, the base station can notify the terminal that the uplink scheduling was determined based on the predicted terminal cache state, so that the terminal can report the time deviation. This allows the base station to adjust its prediction of the terminal's data cache state based on the time deviation reported by the terminal, thereby improving the accuracy of the base station's subsequent predictions of the terminal's data cache state.

[0232] Specifically, the terminal may determine the reporting time deviation and send the second information to the base station if field B in the first information is a third preset value. Alternatively, the terminal may send the second information to the base station if field B in the first information is a third preset value and the time deviation meets a preset condition. This application does not limit this. Specific implementation can be referred to in methods 1 and 2 above, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0233] Furthermore, if the amount of uplink data that the first uplink resource indicated by the first uplink resource information can carry is less than the amount of data in the terminal's cache, that is, the base station actually allocates less uplink resource to the terminal, some data may not be sent to the base station in a timely manner, resulting in a large latency for the terminal. If the amount of uplink data that the first information indicates the uplink resource can carry is more than the amount of data in the terminal's cache, that is, the base station actually allocates more uplink resource to the terminal, it may lead to a waste of uplink resources. Based on this, this application also proposes the following implementation method.

[0234] The second piece of information can also indicate the data volume deviation, which is the deviation between the amount of uplink data that the first uplink resource can carry and the amount of data in the terminal's cache.

[0235] Optionally, the amount of data in the terminal's cache can be the amount of data in the terminal's cache when the terminal receives the first information, or it can be the amount of data in the terminal's cache at the time corresponding to the first uplink resource. For example, assuming the time corresponding to the first uplink resource is T2, the amount of data in the terminal's cache is the amount of data at time T2. If the amount of uplink data that the first uplink resource can carry is B1, and the amount of data in the terminal's cache is B1, then the data volume deviation (denoted as ΔB) can be the difference between B1 and B2, i.e., ΔB, where B1 and B2 satisfy: ΔB = B1 - B2

[0236] Alternatively, ΔB, B1, and B2 can also satisfy: ΔB = B2 - B1

[0237] Similar to the second information indicating time deviation, when the terminal sends this data volume deviation to the base station, it may be implemented in ways including but not limited to the following:

[0238] (1) The terminal can send the data deviation to the base station unconditionally.

[0239] That is, after the terminal receives the first information, if there is a difference between the amount of uplink data that the first uplink resource indicated by the first information can carry and the amount of data in the terminal's buffer at the time corresponding to the first uplink resource, the terminal sends the data amount deviation to the base station without needing to determine whether the data amount deviation meets the preset conditions.

[0240] (2) The terminal can send the data volume deviation to the base station when the data volume meets the preset conditions (such as the data volume deviation being greater than or equal to the preset threshold c).

[0241] That is, after the terminal receives the first information, if the difference between the amount of uplink data that the first uplink resource indicated by the first information can carry and the amount of data in the terminal's buffer at the time corresponding to the first uplink resource (i.e., the data amount deviation ΔB) is greater than a preset threshold c, the terminal can send the data amount deviation to the base station. If the data amount deviation ΔB is less than the preset threshold c, the terminal can choose not to send the data amount deviation to the base station.

[0242] It should be noted that whether a specific terminal sends the second information to the base station to indicate the data deviation when ΔB equals the preset threshold c can be predefined by the protocol, and this application does not impose any restrictions on this. Furthermore, the preset threshold c can also be predefined by the protocol, or it can be configured by the network for the terminal via signaling, and this application does not impose any restrictions on this either.

[0243] Optionally, (1) and (2) above can be implemented individually or in combination, and this application does not impose any restrictions on this. For ease of understanding, the following further explains how (1) and (2) can be implemented in combination. When the amount of uplink data that the first uplink resource can carry (denoted as B1) is less than the amount of data in the terminal's cache (denoted as B2), regardless of whether the data deviation is greater than a preset threshold c, the smaller B1 will cause the data in the terminal's cache to be unable to be uploaded to the base station in a timely manner. Therefore, when B1 is less than B2, the terminal can unconditionally send the data deviation to the base station. On the other hand, when B1 is greater than B2, the larger B1 may cause a waste of uplink resources, but it is highly unlikely that the data in the terminal's cache will be unable to be uploaded to the base station in a timely manner because the amount of data that the uplink resource can carry cannot meet the amount of data in the terminal's cache. Therefore, when B1 is greater than B2, the terminal can determine whether the data deviation ΔB meets the preset threshold c. If ΔB meets the preset threshold c, the terminal sends ΔB to the base station. If the preset threshold c is not met, the terminal may not send ΔB to the base station.

[0244] It should be understood that the above-described Implementation Method 1 (time deviation includes time deviation) and Implementation Method 2 (time deviation includes data volume deviation) can be implemented individually. For example, if the time deviation includes time deviation, after receiving the time deviation from the terminal, the base station can improve the accuracy of the AI ​​model's prediction of the time when data arrives at the terminal (or it can also improve the accuracy of the AI ​​model's prediction of the time when the amount of data in the terminal's cache reaches a first data volume threshold). Alternatively, if the time deviation includes data volume deviation, after receiving the data volume deviation from the terminal, the base station can improve the accuracy of the AI ​​model's prediction of the amount of data in the terminal's cache.

[0245] In some scenarios, after the terminal completes data transmission according to the first uplink resource indicated by the base station, data may still exist in the terminal's buffer. That is, the terminal cannot completely transmit the data in its buffer on the first uplink resource. Based on this, this application also proposes the following implementation method.

[0246] If the first uplink resources do not meet the demand, the terminal sends a third message to the base station, which is used to indicate the data buffer status of the terminal.

[0247] Specifically, the third information can indicate the amount of data in the terminal's buffer after the first uplink resource transmission. Optionally, the third information can be, for example, a BSR, which can indicate the amount of data in the terminal's current buffer. That is, if the first uplink resource does not meet the demand, the terminal can send a BSR to the base station to indicate the terminal's current data buffer status.

[0248] The third information sent by the terminal to the base station can be carried on resources pre-configured by the base station for the terminal. For example, the first information can also indicate the resources used to carry the third information, or it can be resources pre-configured via RRC messages. Alternatively, the process of the terminal sending the third information can adopt the terminal reporting BSR process shown in Figure 3, and this application does not limit this.

[0249] The first uplink resource is not meeting the demand, including at least one of the following:

[0250] (1) After the terminal sends uplink data on the first uplink resource, the data still exists in the terminal's buffer.

[0251] If the amount of data that the first uplink resource can carry is less than the amount of data in the terminal's buffer, and the first uplink resource fails to transmit all the data in the terminal's buffer, resulting in data still not being transmitted in the terminal's buffer after the terminal sends uplink data on the first uplink resource (the amount of uplink data is the amount of data that the first uplink resource can carry), then the terminal considers that the first uplink resource does not meet the requirements, and the terminal needs to send a BSR (the BSR is a third information in a specific example) to the base station to indicate to the base station that the terminal still has data that has not been scheduled, so that the base station can perform the next uplink scheduling in a timely manner so as to schedule all the data in the terminal's buffer.

[0252] (2) After the terminal sends uplink data on the first uplink resource, there is still data in the terminal's cache, and the service priority of the data in the cache is higher than or equal to the priority threshold.

[0253] Service priority refers to assigning different processing priorities to different types of data streams based on the data service needs of the terminal. By setting service priorities, the network can allocate resources more efficiently, prioritizing critical terminal services or those with high real-time requirements. For example, data service priorities can include latency priorities. Higher latency priorities indicate higher latency requirements for the data service, requiring shorter latency, such as real-time video services. Conversely, lower latency priorities indicate lower latency requirements for the corresponding data, such as SMS and push notification services.

[0254] Specifically, if the service priority (such as service latency priority) of the cached data is higher than or equal to the priority threshold, then the cached data has high latency requirements. If this high-latency-requirement data fails to be transmitted, it may lead to increased data transmission latency at the terminal, failing to meet service requirements. In this case, the terminal can consider that the first uplink resource does not meet the requirements, and the terminal needs to send third information to the base station to indicate the terminal's data cache status so that the base station can promptly perform the next uplink scheduling. Conversely, if the service priority of the cached data is lower than the priority threshold, then the first uplink resource can be considered to meet the requirements, and the terminal does not need to send third information to the base station.

[0255] Optionally, the priority threshold may be predefined by the protocol or preconfigured by the network for the terminal via signaling; this application does not limit this.

[0256] (3) After the terminal sends the uplink data, the remaining data in the terminal’s buffer is greater than or equal to the second data volume threshold.

[0257] Specifically, if the remaining data in the terminal's cache is greater than or equal to the second data volume threshold, it is considered that the terminal has a large amount of remaining data in its cache, and the first uplink resource is considered insufficient (i.e., the amount of data that the first uplink resource can carry is too small). The terminal can send a BSR report to the base station to inform the base station that there is still data in the terminal's cache that has not been transmitted, so that the base station can perform the next uplink scheduling. Conversely, if the remaining data in the terminal's cache is less than the second data volume threshold, it is considered that the terminal has a small amount of remaining data in its cache, and the difference between the amount of data that the first uplink resource can carry and the amount of data in the terminal's cache is small. Therefore, the first uplink resource is considered sufficient, and the terminal may not send the third information to the base station.

[0258] Optionally, the second data volume threshold may be predefined by the protocol or preconfigured by the network for the terminal via signaling; this application does not limit this.

[0259] Specifically, the first uplink resource not meeting the requirements can be either predefined by the protocol or configured by the network device for the terminal via signaling; this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0260] The terminal determines whether the first uplink resource meets the requirements, thereby deciding whether to send third information to the base station. This determination can be predefined by the protocol or implemented by the terminal. If the first uplink resource does not meet the requirements, the terminal can implement base station rescheduling through the existing BSR procedure. However, this application is not limited to this; the base station can instruct the terminal to determine whether the first uplink resource meets the requirements and whether to send third information. For ease of understanding, a detailed explanation follows.

[0261] The base station sends a third indication message to the terminal, which is used to indicate whether the terminal should send a third message if the first uplink resource does not meet the requirements.

[0262] In one alternative implementation, the third instruction information and the first information may be sent to the terminal separately by the network device.

[0263] For example, the third indication information and the first information may be contained in different DCIs, or the third indication information may be sent to the network device via an RRC message, while the first information is contained in the DCI.

[0264] In one optional implementation, the third indication information may be included in the first information. Optionally, the third indication information may be indicated by field C included in the first information (e.g., the first information may be DCI). For example, if field C is a fifth preset value, it indicates that the base station instructs the terminal to send third information when the first uplink resources do not meet the requirements; that is, field C of the fifth preset value is the third indication information. If field C is a sixth preset value, it indicates that the base station instructs the terminal not to send third information.

[0265] Accordingly, after receiving the first information, the terminal can determine whether the first uplink resource meets the requirements based on the fact that field C in the first information is a fifth preset value (i.e., the first information includes the third indication information). If the first uplink resource does not meet the requirements, the terminal needs to send the third information to the base station. The implementation method for the terminal to determine whether the first uplink resource does not meet the requirements can be referred to the description above, and will not be repeated here. In one implementation, the third indication information can be understood as the base station expecting to schedule all data in the terminal's cache, or in other words, the base station expecting that this uplink scheduling can schedule all data in the terminal's cache. After receiving the first information, the terminal determines that the first information includes the third indication information. Therefore, the terminal determines that the base station expects to schedule all data in the terminal's cache, and the terminal determines whether the first uplink resource meets the requirements. If the first uplink resource does not meet the requirements, the terminal needs to send the third information to the base station. For example, after the terminal sends uplink data on the first uplink resource, there is still data in the terminal's cache. The base station expects to schedule all data in the terminal's cache. Therefore, the terminal determines that the first uplink resource does not meet the requirements, and the terminal sends the third information to the base station to indicate the terminal's data cache status.

[0266] It should be noted that the above-described implementation method for determining whether the first uplink resource does not meet the requirements is merely an exemplary description, but this application is not limited thereto. In actual application, the terminal can also determine whether the first uplink resource does not meet the requirements according to other implementation methods. For the sake of brevity, these will not be elaborated here.

[0267] After receiving the third information from the terminal, the base station can perform the next uplink scheduling (i.e., allocate the next uplink resources) for the terminal based on the data cache status indicated by the third information, so that the base station can schedule all the data in the terminal's cache (or the data that meets the service priority).

[0268] The above implementation mainly introduces that when the base station predicts (e.g., based on AI model prediction) the data cache state of the terminal, the terminal can send a second message to the base station after one uplink scheduling, so that the base station can calibrate the accuracy of the base station prediction based on the time deviation indicated by the second message, such as optimizing and adjusting the AI ​​model, thereby improving the prediction accuracy of the AI ​​model in predicting the data cache state of the terminal and helping to reduce the data transmission latency of the terminal.

[0269] To reduce service data latency at the terminal, this application also proposes a scheme whereby the first information sent by the base station to the terminal can indicate multiple uplink resources, including a first uplink resource, and these multiple uplink resources do not overlap in the time domain. After receiving the first information from the base station, the terminal can send data to the base station on at least one of the multiple uplink resources indicated by the first information, based on the actual arrival time of the data in the terminal's buffer, such as the first uplink resource. In this way, when the base station has no data to transmit or cannot fully transmit data on one uplink resource based on predictive scheduling, the terminal can send data to the base station in a timely manner through one of the multiple uplink resources without waiting for the base station's next uplink scheduling, thus helping to reduce the latency of terminal services. It should be understood that this scheme can be implemented independently; for example, if the base station sends the first information indicating multiple uplink resources to the terminal, the terminal can send uplink data on at least one of the multiple uplink resources without sending the second information. Alternatively, this scheme can be implemented in conjunction with the embodiment shown in Figure 5. The terminal determines multiple uplink resources based on the first information. The terminal can send uplink data on at least one of the multiple uplink resources, and the terminal can also send second information to the base station. The first time can be the time corresponding to the first information, or the first information can be the time corresponding to a predefined uplink resource among the multiple uplink resources, such as the first uplink resource or the last uplink resource.

[0270] Optionally, the multiple uplink resources indicated by the first information can be understood as follows: the base station indicates multiple time-division uplink schedules (or uplink grants, which will be explained below as an example) through the first information (such as DCI). Each uplink resource can correspond to one uplink grant, and each uplink resource can also be called an uplink grant opportunity. That is, the multiple uplink resources can be called multiple uplink grant opportunities. The base station can indicate the multiple uplink grant opportunities and the time offset corresponding to each uplink grant opportunity to the terminal through the first information. The terminal can determine the time domain position of the multiple uplink grant opportunities based on the time offset corresponding to each uplink grant opportunity and the reference time (such as the time corresponding to the first information). The terminal can select at least one uplink grant opportunity from the multiple uplink grant opportunities for data transmission based on the actual time when the data arrives in the terminal's buffer. Alternatively, the terminal can continue to transmit the remaining data in the buffer through other uplink grant opportunities if the data in the buffer is not completely transmitted in the first uplink grant opportunity.

[0271] For example, the first information indicates uplink grant times #1, #2, #3, and #4. If there is no data in the terminal's buffer at the time corresponding to uplink grant times #1 and #2, but data arrives at the terminal between uplink grant times #2 and #3, then the terminal can use uplink grant time #3 to transmit data. For uplink grant times #1 and #2, the terminal can choose to skip / ignore them. This skipping / ignoring can be understood as the terminal not transmitting data during uplink grant times #1 and #2.

[0272] Whether a terminal can use uplink authorization opportunity #4 after uplink authorization opportunity #3 to transmit data can be predefined through the protocol, or it can be configured by the base station for the terminal through signaling.

[0273] In one implementation, the terminal can transmit uplink data during one of the multiple uplink authorization times indicated by the first information through protocol pre-definition or base station pre-configuration. In this method, the terminal can only use one of the multiple uplink authorization times to transmit data.

[0274] In another implementation, the terminal can transmit uplink data at one or more uplink authorization times among multiple uplink authorization times indicated by the first information through protocol predefinition or base station preconfiguration. The specific terminal can determine how many uplink authorization times to transmit uplink data based on the amount of data in the terminal cache.

[0275] For example, the base station can pre-configure the terminal's behavior, or the first information can further include fourth indication information, which indicates whether the terminal can only transmit data during one uplink grant time. Accordingly, after receiving the first information from the base station, the terminal can determine, based on the fourth indication information, whether it can transmit data during only one uplink grant time or during multiple uplink grant times.

[0276] Optionally, this fourth indication information can be provided to the terminal via field D. Specifically, field D indicates whether the terminal can only transmit data during one uplink grant opportunity. For example, if field D is a seventh preset value, it means the base station indicates that the terminal can only transmit data during one uplink grant opportunity. If field D is an eighth preset value, it means that data can be transmitted during multiple uplink grant opportunities. Based on the eighth preset value of field D included in the first information, the terminal can determine whether to transmit data during one of the multiple transmission opportunities or during multiple transmission opportunities, depending on the amount of data in the actual buffer.

[0277] According to the above scheme, the base station can provide uplink resources for the terminal at multiple times, so that the terminal can select at least one uplink resource for data transmission based on the actual arrival time of the data in the terminal's cache or the amount of data in the cache. This helps the terminal's service data to be sent to the base station in a timely manner and reduces the latency of the terminal's service data.

[0278] The above describes how a base station sends first information to a terminal for uplink scheduling based on a predicted (e.g., AI model-based) data cache state. Correspondingly, after receiving the first information from the base station, the terminal determines the deviation between the predicted time and the actual time the data arrives at the terminal, and then feeds back second information to the base station, indicating the time deviation between the predicted time and the actual time the data arrives. The base station can use this time deviation to calibrate the accuracy of its predictions, such as optimizing the AI ​​model, thereby improving the prediction accuracy of the AI ​​model's prediction of the terminal's data cache state and helping to reduce data transmission latency.

[0279] This application also provides another solution, in which the base station actively instructs the terminal to report the actual data cache state. Specifically, when the base station believes that the accuracy of its prediction of the terminal's data cache state has decreased, it can instruct the terminal to report the actual data cache state. Correspondingly, after receiving the actual data cache state from the terminal, the base station can adjust its prediction accuracy based on this actual data cache state, such as optimizing the AI ​​model to improve the accuracy of the AI ​​model's prediction of the terminal's data cache state. This solution will be described below with reference to Figure 6.

[0280] Figure 6 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 6 uses a network device as a base station as an example to illustrate the communication method of this application embodiment. The method may include, but is not limited to, the following S601 and S602.

[0281] S601, the base station sends first information to the terminal, which is used to trigger the terminal to report the actual cache status.

[0282] The actual cache status can include the amount of data in the terminal's cache and the corresponding time. Optionally, this actual cache status can be indicated by a BSR (Browser Reporting Service) indicator, meaning the first piece of information can specifically be used to trigger the terminal to report a BSR.

[0283] A base station may send first information to a terminal if it believes that the accuracy of its prediction of the terminal's data cache state has decreased. Specifically, the base station sends first information to the terminal if the accuracy of its prediction of the terminal's cache state is less than or equal to an accuracy threshold. For ease of understanding, one implementation method of how a base station believes that the accuracy of its prediction of the terminal's data cache state has decreased is described below, but this application is not limited thereto.

[0284] It is understandable that when a base station performs uplink scheduling for a terminal, if the data sent by the terminal does not match the uplink resources allocated to the terminal by the base station based on the prediction results, then the prediction of the terminal's data buffer state corresponding to this uplink scheduling can be considered inaccurate. Specifically, a mismatch between the data sent by the terminal and the uplink resources allocated to the terminal by the base station includes at least one of the following:

[0285] (1) The terminal did not send uplink data using the uplink resources allocated by the base station.

[0286] For example, if the time corresponding to the uplink resource allocated by the base station to the terminal is earlier than the time when the data actually arrives in the terminal's cache, and the terminal's cache does not contain data at the time corresponding to the uplink resource, the terminal does not send uplink data to the base station on that uplink resource. Correspondingly, the base station also does not receive uplink data from the terminal on that uplink resource. In this case, the base station can consider that the predicted state of the terminal's cached data is inaccurate, and the base station can record this inaccurate prediction result (or it can also be understood that the prediction result of the base station's AI model is inaccurate, and the base station records this inaccurate prediction result).

[0287] (2) When the base station receives a scheduling request (SR) from the terminal, the base station's AI model does not predict that data will arrive in the terminal's cache.

[0288] For example, when data arrives in the terminal's buffer but the terminal does not have uplink resources to send data / BSR, the terminal can send SR to the base station to request uplink scheduling. Correspondingly, when the base station receives the SR from the terminal, if the base station's AI model predicts that no data has arrived in the terminal's buffer at this time, the base station can consider the prediction to be inaccurate, and the base station can record the inaccurate prediction result.

[0289] (3) The base station still receives SR / BSR from the terminal after allocating uplink resources to the terminal.

[0290] For example, when a base station uses an AI model to predict that the amount of data in a terminal's cache is less than the actual amount of data in the terminal's cache, or the amount of less data is greater than or equal to a preset threshold d, after the terminal receives uplink resources from the base station, these uplink resources cannot carry all the data in the terminal's cache. That is, after this uplink scheduling, there is still data to be sent in the terminal's cache. In this case, the terminal may send a scheduling request (SR) / data cache status (BSR) to the base station to request / instruct the base station to continue allocating uplink resources for the terminal. If the base station still receives SR / BSR from the terminal after allocating uplink resources for the terminal, the base station can consider the prediction to be inaccurate, and the base station can record the inaccurate prediction result.

[0291] (4) The amount of uplink data actually sent by the terminal using the uplink resources allocated to it by the base station is less than the amount of uplink resources can carry.

[0292] For example, when the base station uses an AI model to predict that the amount of data in the terminal's cache is greater than the actual amount of data in the terminal's cache, or when the data volume deviation is greater than or equal to a preset threshold e, the terminal, after determining the uplink resources allocated to it by the base station, may use a portion of those uplink resources to send uplink data (i.e., not using all uplink resources). Correspondingly, after receiving this smaller amount of uplink data from the terminal, the base station can determine that the actual amount of data in the terminal's cache is less than the amount predicted by the base station. Therefore, the base station can consider this prediction inaccurate and record the inaccurate prediction result.

[0293] Based on the above, the base station can record inaccurate predictions from the AI ​​model. Furthermore, the base station can determine the probability (denoted as P) of an inaccurate AI model prediction based on the number of such inaccurate predictions (N1) and the total number of times the base station uses the AI ​​model to predict the terminal's data cache state (N2). P, N1, and N2 satisfy: P = N1 ÷ N2

[0294] According to the above scheme, the base station can determine the prediction accuracy P of the AI ​​model predicting the cache state of the terminal. If the prediction accuracy P is less than or equal to the accuracy threshold, the base station can send the first information to the terminal to trigger the terminal to report the actual cache state.

[0295] Optionally, the accuracy threshold can be predefined by the protocol, and this application does not impose any restrictions on it.

[0296] It should be noted that the above-described implementation method for determining the reduced prediction accuracy of the AI ​​model predicting the cache state of the terminal is merely an exemplary description, but this application is not limited thereto. In actual applications, the base station may also determine the reduced prediction accuracy of the AI ​​model predicting the cache state of the terminal according to other implementation methods, and this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0297] The specific implementation methods for triggering the terminal to report the actual cache status based on the first information may include, but are not limited to, the following:

[0298] In one implementation, the first information may be first downlink control information (i.e., first DCI). That is, the base station can trigger the terminal to report the actual buffer status (such as BSR) through the first DCI. To trigger the terminal to report the actual buffer status, the first DCI may include fifth indication information, which is used to instruct the terminal to report the actual buffer status (or the fifth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to send a BSR).

[0299] Specifically, the amount of data in the terminal's cache reported at what time can be determined based on the first information. For simplicity, the time corresponding to the amount of data in the terminal's cache reported by the terminal will be referred to as the first time. Optionally, the first time can be one of the following:

[0300] (1) The first time can be the time corresponding to the first information, that is, the amount of data in the cache reported by the terminal can be the time corresponding to the first information. The time corresponding to the first information can be the start time, middle time or end time of the time domain resource carrying the first information.

[0301] (2) The first information also includes a sixth indication, which can be a second duration, i.e., the first time is the time after the second duration following the time corresponding to the first information. For example, if the second duration is Δx and the time when the terminal receives the first information is t, then the first time is the time t+Δx. That is, the amount of data in the cache when the terminal reports t+Δx.

[0302] (3) The first information also includes a seventh indication information, which can directly indicate a future time as the first time. For example, if the seventh indication information indicates a future time t′, then the terminal reports the amount of data in the cache at time t′.

[0303] The specific method for determining the first time can be predefined by the protocol or preconfigured by the base station, so that the terminal and the base station can determine the first time in the same way and reach a consensus on the first time. This application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0304] Furthermore, the terminal can execute S602, that is, the terminal sends second information to the base station, the second information being used to indicate the actual cache state of the terminal, for example, the second information may include the amount of data in the terminal's cache at the first time.

[0305] In another embodiment, the first information may include an eighth indication information, which may indicate a first data amount. The first data amount is the amount of data in the terminal's cache at the first time predicted by the base station. For simplicity, the actual amount of data in the terminal's cache at the first time will be referred to as the second data amount below.

[0306] Specifically, when the base station believes that the accuracy of its prediction of the terminal's cache state has decreased, the base station can send first information to the terminal. Correspondingly, after receiving the first information from the base station, the terminal can determine a first time based on the first information and determine a first data volume based on the eighth indication information included in the first information. Further, the terminal obtains a data volume deviation based on the data volume in the first time cache (i.e., the second data volume) and the first data volume. This deviation can be obtained by subtracting the second data volume from the first data volume, or vice versa. The implementation method for obtaining the data volume deviation can be predefined by the protocol or configured by the base station for the terminal via signaling; this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0307] In one example, after the terminal obtains the data volume deviation, it can send a second piece of information to the base station. This second piece of information indicates the data volume deviation; that is, the terminal can implicitly indicate its actual buffer state by indicating the data volume deviation. Correspondingly, after the base station obtains this data volume deviation, it can adjust the prediction accuracy based on the deviation or determine a second data volume, i.e., the terminal's actual buffer state, and adjust the prediction accuracy based on this second data volume.

[0308] In another example, after the terminal obtains the data volume deviation, the terminal can send second information to the base station when the data volume deviation meets a preset condition. This second information is used to indicate the data volume deviation. Optionally, the preset condition can be predefined by the protocol, or it can be configured by the base station for the terminal through signaling. For example, the preset condition can be that the terminal sends the second information to the base station when the data volume deviation is greater than or equal to a preset threshold f (which can also be called the data volume deviation threshold).

[0309] It should be noted that in the two embodiments described above, in order for the terminal to send the first data volume / data volume deviation to the base station, the first information can also indicate the second uplink resource. The terminal can use the second uplink resource to send the first data volume / data volume deviation to the base station. The second uplink resource is used to carry the first data volume / data volume deviation (or can also be understood as used to carry the actual buffer state of the terminal).

[0310] Furthermore, after receiving the second information from the terminal, the base station can determine the actual amount of data in the terminal's cache at the first time based on the actual cache state of the terminal indicated by the second information (such as the first data volume or data volume deviation), and adjust the prediction accuracy of the terminal's cache state based on the actual data volume. Alternatively, this can be understood as adjusting the base station's AI model to improve the accuracy of the AI ​​model's prediction of the terminal's cache state. Specifically, the base station can input the actual cache state (or actual data volume) obtained from the terminal into the AI ​​model to retrain it, thereby updating the AI ​​model's training parameters and improving the AI ​​model's prediction accuracy of the terminal's cache state.

[0311] According to the above scheme, when the base station believes that the accuracy of its AI model's prediction of the amount of data cached by the terminal has decreased, it can instruct the terminal to report its actual cache state (i.e., the actual amount of data in the terminal's cache, or the data deviation between the predicted and actual data amounts at the same time). Furthermore, the base station can adjust its AI model based on this actual cache state to improve the accuracy of its AI model's prediction of the amount of data cached by the terminal, thereby enabling accurate uplink scheduling and allocating appropriate uplink resources to the terminal, reducing the latency of terminal services.

[0312] In some scenarios, the terminal can also use an AI model to predict the future data cache state of the terminal (i.e., the amount of data cached by the terminal at a future time) to reduce the latency of the terminal sending service data. For ease of understanding, the following describes the implementation method of the terminal predicting the future data cache state using an AI model, with reference to Figure 7.

[0313] Figure 7 shows a schematic flowchart of another uplink scheduling method. The uplink scheduling method shown in Figure 7 involves the terminal predicting the data buffer state of the terminal. As shown in Figure 7, this uplink scheduling method may include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0314] S701: The terminal uses an AI model to predict future data cache status.

[0315] The training process of the AI ​​model used by this terminal is similar to that of the AI ​​model in S401 above, which can be found in the description above and will not be repeated here. Optionally, the terminal can also obtain the pre-trained AI model from the network (such as from the core network node or other nodes in the network).

[0316] Furthermore, the terminal can use this AI model to predict the amount of data in its cache at a future point in time. The terminal then generates a Business Rank (BSR) based on the prediction, which includes the predicted amount of cached data.

[0317] Furthermore, the terminal can execute S702.

[0318] S702, the terminal sends the predicted BSR and time information to the base station.

[0319] This time information is used to indicate the time corresponding to the predicted data volume in the BSR. For example, if the predicted data volume contained in the BSR is M bytes, this time information indicates a future time t, meaning that the terminal predicts that the amount of data in the terminal's cache at the future time t will be M bytes.

[0320] Accordingly, after receiving the BSR and time information from the terminal, the base station can execute S703, that is, the base station allocates uplink resources to the terminal that match the predicted data buffer amount and the corresponding time information according to the predicted data buffer amount and the corresponding time information indicated in the BSR.

[0321] S704, the terminal detected that uplink data has arrived.

[0322] It should be understood that the relative size of the numbers S703 and S704 does not indicate the order in which these two steps are executed. That is, the time when the base station actually allocates uplink resources to the terminal can be earlier than the time when the terminal actually detects the arrival of uplink data (S703 is executed first, then S704), or the time when the base station actually allocates uplink resources to the terminal (e.g., through uplink scheduling information) can be later than the time when the terminal actually detects the arrival of uplink data (S704 is executed first, then S703). In other words, the time when the terminal receives the uplink scheduling information can be later than the time the data arrives. If the amount of data the terminal receives before the arrival of the uplink resources allocated by the base station reaches the terminal's predicted amount (e.g., M bytes as mentioned above), the terminal can send the M bytes of data to the terminal using those uplink resources. This application does not impose any limitations on this.

[0323] S705: The terminal uses the uplink resources allocated to it by the base station to send uplink data to the base station.

[0324] Unlike the implementation method where the base station predicts the data cache status of the terminal, the terminal can obtain the actual data cache status in a timely manner. The terminal can calibrate and optimize the accuracy of the prediction in a timely manner based on the actual time and amount of data arriving at the terminal's cache.

[0325] The time information corresponding to the predicted data volume sent by the terminal to the base station can also be understood as the expected uplink scheduling (or uplink grant) time. However, the actual uplink scheduling process of the base station may be affected by many factors. For example, the base station may need to schedule other terminals at the time indicated by the time information, or the base station may need to send downlink data to the terminal at that time and cannot perform uplink scheduling in time, or in other words, it may not be able to allocate uplink resources to the terminal that meet the terminal's expected uplink scheduling. If the actual scheduling time of the base station is later than the uplink scheduling time expected by the terminal, it may cause uplink data to be unable to be scheduled in time, resulting in increased data transmission latency. On the other hand, the data volume reported by the terminal is the data volume corresponding to the time the terminal expects to be scheduled. Since the data in the buffer may continue to increase, the uplink resources actually allocated by the base station for uplink scheduling may not match the actual data volume in the terminal's buffer at the corresponding time.

[0326] Based on this, this application also proposes another solution: the terminal can provide the base station with information about the terminal's future cache state predicted by the terminal. For example, the terminal can predict the future cache state based on an AI model. The base station can determine the amount of terminal data cached at multiple future times based on the information provided by the terminal, so that the base station can flexibly select the scheduling time, avoid the situation where the uplink scheduling cannot meet the terminal's expectations, and improve the uplink scheduling efficiency.

[0327] The communication method will be described below with reference to Figure 8. The method may include, but is not limited to, S801 and S802.

[0328] S801, the terminal sends first information to the base station, which is used to determine uplink scheduling.

[0329] The specific first information may include, but is not limited to, the following implementation methods:

[0330] Method 1: The first piece of information includes the amount of cached data corresponding to the third time and the rate at which data arrives at the cache.

[0331] The third time can be the time corresponding to the first information, such as the start, middle, or end time of the time domain resource carrying the first information. Alternatively, the third time can be the time after a third duration following the time corresponding to the first information, where the third duration can be predefined by the protocol, preconfigured by the base station through signaling, or indicated by the first information. Alternatively, the first information can also indicate the third time.

[0332] If the terminal predicts that the cached data volume is B3 at the third time (denoted as T3), and the data arrival rate at the cache is v, then the first information can indicate that the cached data volume is B3 and the data arrival rate at the cache is v. Optionally, the first information can also indicate the third time T3. For example, the unit of the cached data volume can be bytes, and the unit of the data arrival rate at the cache can be bytes / second. However, this application is not limited to this; the unit of the data volume can also be bits, and the data arrival rate at the cache can also be bits / second.

[0333] Method 2: The first information indicates multiple times and multiple cached data volumes predicted by the terminal, one of which corresponds to one of the multiple times.

[0334] In one implementation, the first information may include the plurality of times and the plurality of cached data volumes. Based on the first information, the base station can determine the correspondence between the plurality of times and the plurality of cached data volumes.

[0335] In another implementation, the plurality of times includes a fifth time (denoted as T5), which may be the time corresponding to the first information, or the time three durations after the time corresponding to the first information, or the first information may include the fifth time. Other times among the plurality of times besides the fifth time may be determined based on a first time interval (denoted as Δt). For example, if the fifth time is the earliest among the plurality of times, the next time after the fifth time is the sixth time, and the time interval between the sixth time and the fifth time is Δt. Similarly, the time interval between the seventh time after the sixth time and the sixth time is also Δt. This continues until a preset number of times included in the first information are obtained. The first time interval and / or the preset number may be predefined by the protocol, configured by the base station for the terminal via signaling, or indicated by the first information; this application does not limit this.

[0336] Specifically, the terminal can determine the amount of cached data for each of the multiple time periods based on the rate v at which data arrives at the cache.

[0337] For example, assuming the terminal predicts that the amount of cached data at the fifth time point (denoted as T5) is B5, the terminal can determine the amount of cached data at time T6 (denoted as B6) based on B5 and the rate at which data arrives at the cache (v). B5, v, B6, and Δt satisfy: B6 = B5 + v × Δt

[0338] If the multiple times include a seventh time T7, the terminal can determine the amount of buffered data (denoted as B7) at time T7 based on B5 and the rate at which data arrives at the buffer, v. B5, v, B7, and Δt satisfy: B7 = B5 + 2 × v × Δt

[0339] Alternatively, the terminal can determine B7 based on B6. However, this application is not limited to this; the terminal can also determine the amount of cached data corresponding to multiple times without relying on the data arrival rate. The terminal can predict the amount of cached data corresponding to these multiple times based on an AI model.

[0340] Furthermore, after the terminal determines multiple times and the corresponding amounts of buffered data, the terminal can send first information to the base station. In step S802, the base station sends second information to the terminal, which is used to schedule the terminal to transmit uplink data.

[0341] Regarding Method 1 in S801, after receiving the first information, the base station can confirm that the cache size in the terminal's buffer at time T3 is B3. The base station can then allocate uplink resources with a data capacity of B3 to the terminal at time T3. If T3 could be the terminal's desired uplink scheduling (or uplink resource) time, but in reality, the base station might need to schedule other terminals at time T3, or it might need to send downlink data to the terminal at time T3 and be unable to perform uplink scheduling in a timely manner, then the base station can choose a suitable time after T3 to perform uplink scheduling for the terminal. Specifically, this suitable time can be the time when the base station can perform uplink scheduling for the terminal. Assuming the base station chooses the fourth time (denoted as T4) to perform uplink scheduling for the terminal, the base station can determine the terminal's cache size at time four (denoted as B4) based on the difference between the third and fourth times, the data arrival rate in the buffer, and the terminal's cache size at time three. Specifically, T3, T4, v, B3, and B4 satisfy: B4 = B3 + (T4 - T3) × v

[0342] Here, (T4-T3)×v can be understood as the amount of data that grows in the terminal's cache during the time period from the third time to the fourth time, and B3+(T4-T3)×v is the amount of cached data in the terminal at the fourth time.

[0343] The second information sent by the base station to the terminal is used to indicate the third uplink resource, which is used to carry the uplink data of the terminal, that is, the third uplink resource is used to schedule the data in the terminal's buffer during the fourth time period.

[0344] Regarding method 2 in S802, the base station, based on the first information from the terminal, can determine the multiple times and the corresponding buffered data volume for each of the multiple times. The base station can select one of the multiple times, such as a time when the base station neither schedules other terminals nor needs to send downlink data to the terminal. Assuming the base station selects the sixth time T6, and the buffered data volume corresponding to this sixth time T6 is B6, the base station can send the second information to the terminal. This second information indicates the fourth uplink resource, the time corresponding to this fourth uplink resource is T6, and the data volume that this fourth uplink resource can carry is B6.

[0345] According to the above scheme, the base station can determine the amount of cached data of the terminal at multiple times based on the information provided by the terminal. The base station can then select a time from these multiple times that allows for uplink scheduling of the terminal, along with the corresponding amount of cached data (predicted by the terminal based on an AI model). In this way, the base station can allocate appropriate uplink resources to the terminal when it is able to schedule the data, thereby reducing latency of terminal services and improving the utilization efficiency of uplink resources.

[0346] This application also provides another solution: the terminal can send a buffered data amount for a future time to the base station in advance. After receiving the buffered data amount for the future time from the terminal, the base station can prepare for uplink scheduling of the terminal in advance during the time period from the present to the future time, so that the base station can perform uplink scheduling of the terminal at the future time. This other communication method is described below with reference to Figure 9. As shown in Figure 9, this method includes, but is not limited to, S901 and S902 as follows.

[0347] S901, the base station sends first information to the terminal, which is used to indicate a first duration.

[0348] Optionally, the first duration (denoted as t′) can be a preset duration, and this application does not impose any restrictions on it.

[0349] Optionally, prior to S901, the terminal may send third information to the base station, which is used to indicate the amount of cached data that the terminal supports for predicting future moments.

[0350] Correspondingly, after receiving the third information from the terminal, the base station can determine that the terminal supports the amount of cached data for predicting future times, and the base station can execute S901.

[0351] S902, the terminal sends second information to the base station at the eighth time, the second information being used to indicate the amount of cached data predicted by the terminal at the ninth time, wherein the ninth time is after the eighth time, and the time interval between the ninth time and the eighth time is a first duration.

[0352] If the terminal determines to send the second information to the base station at the eighth time, then the terminal can determine the ninth time (denoted as T9) based on the eighth time (T8) and the first duration (t′), where T8, t′, and T9 satisfy: T9 = T8 + t′

[0353] Furthermore, the terminal can predict (e.g., through an AI model) the amount of cached data at time T9 (denoted as B9).

[0354] Furthermore, the terminal can send a second message to the base station at the eighth time, which indicates the amount of cached data at the ninth time (T9).

[0355] Optionally, the second information may also be a BSR, which includes the amount of cached data (B9) of the terminal at the ninth time (T9).

[0356] Accordingly, after receiving the second information from the terminal, the base station can allocate the fifth uplink resource to the terminal at the ninth time according to the amount of cached data of the terminal indicated by the second information. The amount of data that the fifth uplink resource can carry is B9.

[0357] According to the above scheme, the base station can allocate uplink resources to the terminal during the available time to carry the amount of cached data corresponding to that time. This helps reduce the latency of terminal services and improves the utilization efficiency of uplink resources.

[0358] Optionally, embodiments of this application also propose a communication method suitable for a CU-DU separation architecture. The following description of this communication method for a CU-DU separation architecture is based on Figure 10. This method may include, but is not limited to, S1001, S1002, S1003, and S1004.

[0359] S1001, CU uses an AI model to predict the data cache status of the terminal.

[0360] Specifically, when an AI model is deployed on a CU, the CU can use the AI ​​model to predict the data cache state of the terminal at a future point in time.

[0361] S1002, the CU sends a fourth message to the DU, which indicates the data buffer status of the terminal predicted by the CU.

[0362] Accordingly, after receiving the fourth information from the CU, the DU can allocate uplink resources to the terminal (or perform uplink scheduling on the terminal) based on the data cache status of the terminal at a future time indicated by the fourth information, such as the DU executing S1003.

[0363] S1003, DU sends the fifth information to the terminal, which is used to schedule the terminal to transmit uplink data.

[0364] Optionally, the fifth information can be used to indicate a sixth uplink resource, which is an uplink resource allocated to the terminal by the DU based on the CU's prediction of the terminal's data cache state at a future time.

[0365] Accordingly, after receiving the fifth information from the base station, the terminal can determine the time deviation based on the time corresponding to the sixth uplink resource indicated by the fifth information and the actual time when the data arrives at the terminal. The specific implementation method for determining the time deviation can be referred to the relevant description of the embodiment in Figure 5, which will not be repeated here.

[0366] S1004, the terminal sends the sixth information to the DU, which is used to indicate the time deviation between the tenth time and the eleventh time, wherein the tenth time is the time corresponding to the fifth information, and the eleventh time is the time when the data arrives at the terminal's buffer.

[0367] The method provided in this application has been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following drawings illustrate the communication apparatus and communication equipment provided in this application. To implement the functions of the methods provided in this application, each network element may include hardware structures and / or software modules, implementing the above functions in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules. Whether a particular function is implemented in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0368] Figures 11 and 12 are schematic diagrams of possible communication devices provided in the embodiments of this application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the base station or terminal in the above method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments. In the embodiments of this application, the communication device can be one of the terminals 120a-120j shown in Figure 1, or it can be the access network device 110a or 110b shown in Figure 1, or it can be the access network device with a CU-DU separation architecture shown in Figure 2, or it can be a module (such as a chip, chip system, logic circuit or software) applied to the terminal or access network device.

[0369] The communication device 1100 includes a transceiver unit 1120, which can be used to receive or send information. The communication device 1100 may also include a processing unit 1110, which can be used to process instructions or data to achieve corresponding operations.

[0370] It should be understood that when the communication device 1100 is a chip configured in (or used in) a communication device, the transceiver unit 1120 in the communication device 1100 can be the input / output interface or circuit of the chip, and the processing unit 1110 in the communication device 1100 can be the processor in the chip.

[0371] Optionally, the communication device 1100 may further include a storage unit 1130, which can be used to store instructions or data. The processing unit 1110 can execute the instructions or data stored in the storage unit to enable the communication device to perform corresponding operations.

[0372] The communication device 1100 can be used to implement the functions of a base station or terminal in the method embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 10 above.

[0373] When the communication device 1100 is used to implement the functions of the terminal in the method embodiment shown in FIG5: the transceiver unit 1120 is used to receive first information, which is used to schedule the terminal to transmit uplink data. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is also used to send second information, which is used to indicate the time deviation between a first time and a second time, wherein the first time is the time corresponding to the first information or the time corresponding to the first uplink resource, and the first information is also used to indicate the first uplink resource, and the second time is the time when the data arrives at the terminal's buffer.

[0374] Optionally, the second time is specifically the time when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold.

[0375] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is further configured to send the second information when the terminal's cache does not contain data at the first time and data arrives in the cache after the first time. Alternatively, the transceiver unit 1120 is further configured to send the second information when the time deviation is greater than a time deviation threshold.

[0376] Optionally, the first information may further include first indication information, which is used to instruct the terminal to report the time deviation; or, the first information may include second indication information, which is used to indicate that the first information is an uplink scheduling determined by the network device based on the predicted data cache status of the terminal.

[0377] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is further configured to send third information when the first uplink resource demand is not met, the third information being used to indicate the data buffer status of the terminal, wherein the first uplink resource demand not met includes at least one of the following:

[0378] After the terminal sends data on the first uplink resource, there is still data in the terminal's cache; or, after the terminal sends data on the first uplink resource, there is still data in the terminal's cache, and the service priority of the data in the cache is higher than or equal to the priority threshold; or, after the terminal sends data on the first uplink resource, the remaining data in the terminal's cache is greater than or equal to the second data volume threshold.

[0379] Optionally, the first information may also include third indication information, which is used to indicate whether the terminal should send the third information if the first uplink resource does not meet the demand.

[0380] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is further configured to send the third information when the first uplink resource does not meet the demand and the third indication information instructs the terminal to send the third information.

[0381] Optionally, the first information is further used to indicate multiple uplink resources that do not overlap in the time domain. The transceiver unit 1120 is also used to transmit data on at least one of the multiple uplink resources based on the time when the data arrives at the terminal's buffer.

[0382] When the communication device 1100 is used to implement the function of the base station in the method embodiment shown in FIG5: the transceiver unit 1120 is used to send first information, which is used to schedule the terminal to transmit uplink data. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is also used to receive second information, which is used to indicate the time deviation between a first time and a second time, wherein the first time is the time corresponding to the first information or the time corresponding to the first uplink resource, the first information is also used to indicate the first uplink resource, and the second time is the time when the data arrives at the terminal's buffer.

[0383] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is further configured to send the second information when there is no data in the terminal's cache at the first time and data arrives in the cache after the first time; or, the transceiver unit 1120 sends the second information when the time deviation is greater than the time deviation threshold.

[0384] Optionally, the first information is an uplink schedule determined by the network device based on the predicted cache state of the terminal.

[0385] Optionally, the first information may further include first indication information, which is used to instruct the terminal to report the time deviation; or, the first information may include second indication information, which is used to indicate that the first information is an uplink scheduling determined by the network device based on the predicted cache state of the terminal.

[0386] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is further configured to receive third information when the third indication information indicates that the terminal reports the cache status, the third information being used to indicate the cache status of the terminal.

[0387] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is also configured to receive data from the terminal on at least one of the plurality of uplink resources.

[0388] When the communication device 1100 is used to implement the function of the base station in the method embodiment shown in FIG6: the transceiver unit 1120 is used to send first information, which is used to trigger the terminal to report the actual buffer state. The transceiver unit 1120 is also used to receive second information, which is used to indicate the actual buffer state of the terminal.

[0389] Optionally, the first information is a first downlink control information (DCI), which includes a first field used to trigger the terminal to report the cache status.

[0390] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is further configured to send the first information if the prediction accuracy of predicting the cache state of the terminal is less than or equal to an accuracy threshold.

[0391] Optionally, the second information includes the amount of data in the terminal's cache; or, the second information includes a data volume deviation, which is the deviation between a first data volume and a second data volume, wherein the first data volume is the amount of data in the terminal's cache predicted by the network device, and the second data volume is the actual amount of data in the terminal's cache, wherein the first information is also used to indicate the first data volume.

[0392] Optionally, the processing unit 1110 is used to adjust the prediction accuracy of the prediction of the cache state of the terminal according to the actual cache state of the terminal.

[0393] Optionally, the first data volume is specifically the data volume in the terminal's cache corresponding to the first time predicted by the network device, and the second data volume is the actual data volume in the terminal's cache corresponding to the first time.

[0394] Optionally, the first time is determined based on the first information.

[0395] When the communication device 1100 is used to implement the functions of the terminal in the method embodiment shown in FIG6: the transceiver unit 1120 is used to receive first information from the network device, the first information being used to trigger the terminal to report the actual cache state. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is also used to send second information, the second information being used to indicate the actual cache state of the terminal.

[0396] Optionally, the second information includes the data volume deviation. The transceiver unit 1120 is further configured to send the second information if the data volume deviation is greater than or equal to a data volume deviation threshold.

[0397] Optionally, the first data volume is specifically the data volume in the terminal's cache corresponding to the first time predicted by the network device, and the second data volume is the actual data volume in the terminal's cache corresponding to the first time.

[0398] Optionally, the first time is determined based on the first information.

[0399] When the communication device 1100 is used to implement the functions of the terminal in the method embodiment shown in FIG8: the transceiver unit 1120 is used to send first information, which is used to determine uplink scheduling. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is also used to receive second information, which is used to schedule the terminal to transmit uplink data, wherein the first information includes the amount of buffered data corresponding to a first time and the rate at which data arrives at the buffer; or, the first information is used to include multiple times and multiple amounts of buffered data predicted by the terminal, one of the multiple amounts of buffered data corresponding to one of the multiple times.

[0400] When the communication device 1100 is used to implement the function of the base station in the method embodiment shown in FIG8: the transceiver unit 1120 is used to receive first information, which is used to determine uplink scheduling. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is also used to send second information, which is used to schedule the terminal to transmit uplink data, wherein the first information includes the amount of buffered data corresponding to a first time and the rate at which data arrives at the buffer; or, the first information is used to include multiple times and multiple amounts of buffered data predicted by the terminal, one of the multiple amounts of buffered data corresponding to one of the multiple time data.

[0401] When the communication device 1100 is used to implement the functions of the terminal in the method embodiment shown in FIG9: the transceiver unit 1120 is used to receive first information, which is used to indicate a first duration. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is also used to send second information at a first time, which is used to indicate the amount of cached data predicted by the terminal at a second time, wherein the second time is after the first time, and the time interval between the second time and the first time is the first duration.

[0402] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is also used to send third information, which is used to indicate that the terminal supports the amount of cached data for predicting future times.

[0403] When the communication device 1100 is used to implement the function of the base station in the method embodiment shown in FIG9: the transceiver unit 1120 is used to send first information, which is used to indicate a first duration. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is also used to receive second information at a first time, which is used to indicate the amount of buffered data predicted by the terminal at a second time, wherein the second time is after the first time, and the time interval between the second time and the first time is the first duration.

[0404] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 is also configured to receive third information, which is used to indicate the amount of cached data that the terminal supports for predicting future times.

[0405] For a more detailed description of the above-mentioned processing unit 1110 and transceiver unit 1120, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the method embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 10.

[0406] It should be understood that the transceiver unit 1120 in the communication device 1100 can be implemented through a communication interface (such as a transceiver, transceiver circuit, input / output interface, or pins, etc.). When the communication interface is a transceiver, the transceiver can consist of a receiver and / or a transmitter. The processing unit 1110 in the communication device 1100 can be implemented through at least one processor, or it can be implemented through at least one logic circuit. Optionally, the communication device 1100 further includes a storage unit, which can be implemented using a memory.

[0407] As shown in Figure 12, the communication device 1200 includes a processor 1210 and an interface circuit 1220. The processor 1210 and the interface circuit 1220 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 1220 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1200 may also include a memory 1230 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1210, or storing input data required by the processor 1210 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after the processor 1210 executes instructions.

[0408] In one implementation, the memory 1230 may be integrated into the processor 1210 or independent of the processor 1210.

[0409] When the communication device 1200 is used to implement the method shown in Figures 5 to 10, the processor 1210 is used to implement the function of the processing unit 910, and the interface circuit 1220 is used to implement the function of the transceiver unit 920.

[0410] When the aforementioned communication device is a chip applied to a terminal device, the terminal device chip can implement the functions of the second communication device in the above method embodiments. The terminal device chip receives information from other modules (such as an RF module or antenna) in the terminal device, the information being sent to the terminal device by the network device; or, the terminal device chip sends information to other modules (such as an RF module or antenna) in the terminal device, the information being sent to the network device by the terminal device.

[0411] When the aforementioned communication device is a module applied to a network device, the network device module can implement the functions of the first communication device in the above method embodiments. The network device module receives information from other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the network device, which is information sent from the terminal device to the network device; or, the network device module sends information to other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the network device, which is information sent from the network device to the terminal device. Here, the network device module can be the baseband chip of the network device, or it can be a DU or other modules. The DU here can be a DU under an open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture.

[0412] 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), microprocessor units (MPUs), microcontroller units (MCUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), artificial intelligence processors (AI processors), neural processing units (NPUs), 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.

[0413] 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 an access network device or a terminal device. The processor and storage medium can also exist as discrete components in the access network device or terminal device.

[0414] According to the method provided in the application embodiments, this application embodiment also provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code, which, when executed by one or more processors, causes a device including the processor to perform the method shown in Figures 5 to 10.

[0415] 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. This 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, in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, network equipment, user equipment, or other programmable device.

[0416] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, the embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium that stores the above-mentioned computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are run by one or more processors, the apparatus including the processor performs the method shown in Figures 5 to 10.

[0417] As described above, computer programs or instructions can be stored in or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer programs 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 accessible to a computer 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 can be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or it can include both volatile and non-volatile types of storage media.

[0418] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a communication system, including one or more of the aforementioned terminals. The system may further include one or more of the aforementioned access network devices.

[0419] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0420] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0421] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0422] The unit described as a separate component may or may not be physically separate. The component shown as a unit may or may not be a physical unit; that is, it may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0423] 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.

[0424] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to terminals, including: Receive first information, the first information being used to schedule the terminal to transmit uplink data; Send a second message, which indicates the time deviation between the first and second times. Wherein, the first time is the time corresponding to the first information or the time corresponding to the first uplink resource, the first information is also used to indicate the first uplink resource, and the second time is the time when the data arrives at the terminal's cache.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second time is specifically the time when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The sending of the second information includes: If the terminal's cache does not contain data at the first time interval, and data arrives in the cache after the first time interval, the second information is sent; or, If the time deviation is greater than the time deviation threshold, the second information is sent.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first information also includes first indication information, which is used to instruct the terminal to report the time deviation; or, The first information includes second indication information, which indicates that the first information is an uplink scheduling determined by the network device based on a predicted data cache state of the terminal.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the first uplink resource does not meet the demand, a third message is sent, which is used to indicate the data cache status of the terminal. Wherein, the first uplink resource not meeting the demand includes at least one of the following: After the terminal sends data on the first uplink resource, the data still exists in the terminal's buffer; or, After the terminal transmits data on the first uplink resource, data still exists in the terminal's buffer, and the service priority of the data in the buffer is higher than or equal to the priority threshold; or, After the terminal sends data on the first uplink resource, the remaining data in the terminal's cache is greater than or equal to the second data volume threshold.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first information also includes third indication information, which is used to indicate whether the terminal should send the third information if the first uplink resource requirement is not met. The step of sending a third message when the first uplink resource does not meet the demand includes: If the first uplink resource does not meet the demand, and the third indication information instructs the terminal to send the third information, then the third information is sent.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The first information is further used to indicate multiple uplink resources, which do not overlap in the time domain, and the multiple uplink resources include the first uplink resource. The method further includes: Data is transmitted on at least one of the plurality of uplink resources based on the time it takes for the data to arrive at the terminal's cache.

8. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to network devices, including: Send a first message, which is used to schedule the terminal to transmit uplink data; Receive second information, which indicates the time deviation between the first time and the second time. Wherein, the first time is the time corresponding to the first information or the time corresponding to the first uplink resource, the first information is also used to indicate the first uplink resource, and the second time is the time when the data arrives at the terminal's cache.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second time is specifically the time when the data in the terminal's cache reaches the first data volume threshold.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The receiving of the second information includes: If the terminal's cache does not contain data at the first time, and data arrives in the cache after the first time, the second information is received; or, If the time deviation is greater than the time deviation threshold, the second information is received.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, The first information is the uplink scheduling determined by the network device based on the predicted cache state of the terminal.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that, The first information also includes first indication information, which is used to instruct the terminal to report the time deviation; or, The first information includes second indication information, which indicates that the first information is an uplink scheduling determined by the network device based on the predicted cache state of the terminal.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first information also includes third indication information, which is used to indicate whether the terminal should report the cache status if the first uplink resource does not meet the demand. Wherein, the first uplink resource not meeting the demand includes at least one of the following: After the terminal sends data on the first uplink resource, the data still exists in the terminal's buffer; or, After the terminal transmits data on the first uplink resource, data still exists in the terminal's buffer, and the service priority of the data in the buffer is higher than or equal to the priority threshold; or, After the terminal sends data on the first uplink resource, the remaining data in the terminal's cache is greater than or equal to the second data volume threshold.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the third indication information instructs the terminal to report the cache status, the third information is received, which is used to indicate the cache status of the terminal.

15. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that, The first information is further used to indicate multiple uplink resources, which do not overlap in the time domain, and the multiple uplink resources include the first uplink resource. The method further includes: Data from the terminal is received on at least one of the plurality of uplink resources.

16. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to network devices, including: Send the first message, which is used to trigger the terminal to report the actual cache status; Receive second information, which indicates the actual cache state of the terminal.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that, The first information is the first downlink control information (DCI), which includes a first field used to trigger the terminal to report the cache status.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The sending of the first information includes: If the prediction accuracy of the terminal's cache state is less than or equal to an accuracy threshold, the first information is sent.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that, The second information includes the amount of data in the terminal's cache; or, The second information includes a data volume deviation, which is the deviation between a first data volume and a second data volume. The first data volume is the data volume in the terminal's cache predicted by the network device, and the second data volume is the actual data volume in the terminal's cache. The first information is also used to indicate the first data volume.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The first data volume is specifically the data volume in the terminal's cache corresponding to the first time predicted by the network device, and the second data volume is the actual data volume in the terminal's cache corresponding to the first time.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The first time was determined based on the first information.

22. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that, The method further includes: Adjust the prediction accuracy of the terminal's cache state based on the terminal's actual cache state.

23. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to terminals, including: Receive first information from the network device, the first information being used to trigger the terminal to report the actual cache status; Send a second message, which indicates the actual cache state of the terminal.

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that, The first information is the first downlink control information (DCI), which includes a first field used to trigger the terminal to report the cache status.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that, The second information includes the amount of data in the terminal's cache; or, The second information includes a data volume deviation, which is the deviation between a first data volume and a second data volume. The first data volume is the data volume in the terminal's cache predicted by the network device, and the second data volume is the actual data volume in the terminal's cache. The first information is also used to indicate the first data volume.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that, The second information includes the data volume deviation; The sending of the second information includes: If the data volume deviation is greater than or equal to the data volume deviation threshold, the second information is sent.

27. The method according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that, The first data volume is specifically the data volume in the terminal's cache corresponding to the first time predicted by the network device, and the second data volume is the actual data volume in the terminal's cache corresponding to the first time.

28. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that, The first time was determined based on the first information.

29. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a processor coupled to a memory for storing a computer program, the processor executing the computer program stored in the memory to cause the communication device to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7; or to cause the communication device to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 15; or to cause the communication device to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 22; or to cause the communication device to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 28.

30. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The device stores instructions that, when executed on the communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, or the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 15, or the method as described in any one of claims 16 to 22, or the method as described in any one of claims 23 to 28.

31. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes: a computer program that, when run on a communication device, causes the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 7, or causes the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 8 to 15, or causes the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 16 to 22, or causes the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 23 to 28.

32. A communication system, characterized in that, The method includes a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the first communication device is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, and the second communication device is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 15; or, the first communication device is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 23 to 28, and the second communication device is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 16 to 22.

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