CN111211877A

CN111211877A - Cache management method and corresponding equipment

Info

Publication number: CN111211877A
Application number: CN201811399307.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 何青春; 娄崇; 常俊仁; 张向东; 卢哲军
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-22
Filing date: 2018-11-22
Publication date: 2020-05-29
Also published as: WO2020103714A1

Abstract

The application discloses a cache management method, which comprises the following steps: the communication equipment receives scheduling information and indication information sent by the network equipment; the communication equipment sends uplink data to the network equipment through a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process according to the scheduling information; and the communication equipment empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information. In the embodiment of the application, after the terminal device sends the uplink data through the HARQ process, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process can be cleared in time according to the indication information of the network device, so that the utilization rate of the buffer is improved.

Description

Cache management method and corresponding equipment

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and a corresponding device for cache management.

Background

In New Radio (NR), a terminal device sends uplink data to a network device, and determines hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) new transmission and HARQ retransmission according to network device scheduling. When the network device schedules the HARQ new transmission, the terminal device is informed of the HARQ processes used in the new transmission, each HARQ process corresponds to one HARQ buffer (buffer), and the terminal device stores the newly transmitted uplink data in the corresponding HARQ buffer, so as to perform HARQ retransmission when the HARQ new transmission fails.

HARQ retransmission needs to be scheduled according to network equipment, and the terminal equipment does not know HARQ retransmission time, and if the network equipment does not schedule HARQ retransmission, the HARQ buffer always stores corresponding previously sent uplink data, and if the HARQ buffer is not emptied for a long time, the HARQ buffer always occupies buffer resources, and the uplink data in the HARQ buffer may be invalid and has no need for retransmission.

On the other hand, with the further increase of the number of HARQ processes in NR, if each HARQ process has buffer data, the data in HARQ buffer occupies a larger memory space, and the performance of the terminal device is reduced.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a cache management method, which can clear data in an HARQ buffer in time, thereby improving the utilization rate of the cache. The embodiment of the application also provides corresponding equipment.

A first aspect of the present application provides a method for cache management, including: the communication equipment receives scheduling information and indication information sent by the network equipment; the communication equipment sends uplink data to the network equipment through a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process according to the scheduling information; and the communication equipment clears the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information.

The communication device may be a terminal device or a circuit. The scheduling information is used to instruct the communication device to send uplink data to the network device through a hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ process, and the instruction information is used to instruct the communication device to clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process after sending the uplink data.

It can be seen from the first aspect that, after the communication device sends the uplink data through the HARQ process, the communication device may clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process in time according to the indication information of the network device, thereby improving the utilization rate of the buffer.

With reference to the first aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information is used to indicate that the communication device empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data on at least two frequency domain resources or at least two radio bearers; the clearing, by the communication device, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information includes: the communication equipment determines at least two frequency domain resources or wireless bearers for transmitting the uplink data; and the communication equipment empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the uplink data is sent according to the indication information.

As can be seen from the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information may be represented by the number of frequency domain resources, when two or more frequency domain resources are used to send uplink data, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer may be cleared in time, and when the buffer utilization rate is improved, the diversity of the indication information is also implemented.

With reference to the first aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information is used to instruct the communication device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the communication device sends the uplink data in at least two time domain resources; the clearing, by the communication device, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information includes: the communication equipment determines that at least two time domain resources are used for sending the uplink data; and the communication equipment empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the uplink data is sent according to the indication information.

As can be seen from the second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information may be represented by the number of time domain resources, when two or more time domain resources are used to send uplink data, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer may be cleared in time, and when the buffer utilization rate is improved, the diversity of the indication information is also implemented.

With reference to the first aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information is used to indicate that, when the scheduling information is scrambled by using a target scrambling method, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared after the uplink data is sent; the clearing, by the communication device, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information includes: the communication equipment determines that the scheduling information is scrambled by adopting a target scrambling mode; and the communication equipment empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data according to the indication information.

The target scrambling mode may include a modulation and coding scheme-cell radio network temporary identity (MCS-C-RNTI), a cell radio network temporary identity (C-RNTI), or a configuration scheduling radio network temporary identity (CS-RNTI), that is, the target scrambling mode may include one of the MCS-C-RNTI, the C-RNTI, and the CS-RNTI.

As can be seen from the third possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information may be represented by a target scrambling manner for the scheduling information, and when the scheduling information is scrambled by the target scrambling manner, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared, so that when the utilization rate of the buffer is improved, the diversity of the indication information is also implemented.

With reference to the first aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information is used to indicate that the communication device empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data including identification information of a target logical channel; the clearing, by the communication device, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information includes: the communication equipment determines that the uplink data contains identification information of a target logical channel; and the communication equipment empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data according to the indication information. The target logical channel refers to a channel that needs to clear a corresponding HARQ buffer in time after uplink data is sent, and may be a channel used for carrying an ultra-reliable low-latency service URLLC, for example.

As can be seen from the fourth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information may be represented by identification information of a target logical channel, and when uplink data includes the identification information of the target logical channel, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared, and when the buffer utilization rate is improved, diversity of the indication information is also implemented.

With reference to the first aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the instructing information is configured to instruct the communication device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data including information of a target protocol data unit session PDU session, and the emptying, by the communication device, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process according to the instructing information includes: the communication equipment determines that the uplink data contains information of a target PDScess; and the communication equipment empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data according to the indication information. The target PDU session refers to a session that needs to clear a corresponding HARQ buffer in time after uplink data is sent, and may be a session for carrying an ultra-reliable low-latency service URLLC, for example.

As can be seen from the fifth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information may be represented by PDU session information, and when the uplink data includes the PDU session information, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared, and when the buffer utilization rate is improved, the diversity of the indication information is also implemented.

With reference to the first aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information includes a timer configured by the network device, and the indication information is used to indicate that the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared after the timer expires; the clearing, by the communication device, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information includes: after the communication equipment sends uplink data, the timer is started or restarted and time monitoring is carried out; and the communication equipment empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the timer expires according to the indication information. The timer is a newly defined timer or an existing timer.

As can be seen from the sixth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information may be represented by a timer, the timer is started after the uplink data is sent, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared after the timer expires, and the diversity of the indication information is also implemented when the buffer utilization rate is improved.

With reference to the first aspect, in a seventh possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information includes a timer and a preset time duration, and the indication information is used to indicate that the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared after the timer expires and the preset time duration is waited for; the clearing, by the communication device, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information includes: after the communication equipment sends uplink data, the timer is started or restarted and time monitoring is carried out; and clearing the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the timer expires and the preset time length also arrives according to the indication information.

As can be seen from the seventh possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information may be represented by a timer plus a preset time duration, the timer is started after the uplink data is sent, the timer waits for the preset time duration after the expiration of the timer, and then the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared, so that when the utilization rate of the buffer is increased, the diversity of the indication information is further implemented.

As can be seen from the eighth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the scheduling information and the indication information may be carried in Radio Resource Control (RRC) dedicated signaling, a media access control element (MAC CE), or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

A second aspect of the present application provides a method for cache management, including: the method comprises the steps that a network device determines scheduling information and indicating information, wherein the scheduling information is used for indicating a communication device to send uplink data to the network device through a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, and the indicating information is used for indicating the communication device to clear the uplink data in an HARQ cache corresponding to the HARQ process after the uplink data is sent; and the network equipment sends the scheduling information and the indication information to communication equipment.

The network device can indicate the communication device to clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process in time after the communication device sends the uplink data through the HARQ process through the indication information, so that the utilization rate of the buffer is improved.

With reference to the second aspect, in a first possible implementation manner, the determining, by the network device, the indication information includes: the network device determines that there are at least two frequency domain resources used for the communication device to send the uplink data, where the number is the indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate that the communication device empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data on at least two frequency domain resources or at least two radio bearers.

As can be seen from the first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the indication information may be represented by the number of frequency domain resources, when two or more frequency domain resources are used to send uplink data, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer may be cleared in time, and when the buffer utilization rate is improved, the diversity of the indication information is also implemented.

With reference to the second aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, the determining, by the network device, the indication information includes: the network device determines that the number of the time domain resources used for the communication device to send the uplink data is at least two, the number is the indication information, and the indication information is used for indicating the communication device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the uplink data is sent by the at least two time domain resources.

As can be seen from the second possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the indication information may be represented by the number of time domain resources, and when two or more time domain resources are used for sending uplink data, the communication device is instructed to clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer, and when the buffer utilization rate of the communication device is improved, the diversity of the indication information is also implemented.

With reference to the second aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the determining, by the network device, the indication information includes: and the network equipment determines a target scrambling mode of scheduling information as the indication information, wherein the indication information is used for indicating that the uplink data in the HARQ cache is emptied after the uplink data is sent when the scheduling information is scrambled by adopting the target scrambling mode.

As can be seen from the third possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the indication information may be represented by a target scrambling manner of the scheduling information, and when the scheduling information is scrambled by the target scrambling manner, the communication device is instructed to clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer, so that when the utilization rate of the buffer of the communication device is improved, diversity of the indication information is also achieved.

With reference to the second aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner, the determining, by the network device, the indication information includes: the network device determines that the identification information of the target logical channel is the indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the communication device clears the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data including the identification information of the target logical channel, where the target logical channel refers to a channel that needs to clear a corresponding HARQ buffer in time after sending the uplink data, and may be a channel used for carrying an ultra-reliable low latency service URLLC, for example.

As can be seen from the fourth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the indication information may be represented by identification information of a target logical channel, and when uplink data includes the identification information of the target logical channel, the network device instructs the communication device to clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer, and when the buffer utilization rate of the communication device is improved, diversity of the indication information is also implemented.

With reference to the second aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner, the determining, by the network device, the indication information includes: the network device determines that information of a target protocol data unit session PDU session is the indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the communication device empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data including the information of the target protocol data unit session PDU session, where the target PDU session refers to a session that needs to empty a corresponding HARQ buffer in time after sending the uplink data, and may be a session for carrying an ultra-reliable low latency service URLLC, for example.

As can be seen from the fifth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the indication information may be represented by PDU session information, and the network device indicates that the communication device empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer when the uplink data includes the PDU session information, so that the diversity of the indication information is also implemented when the buffer utilization rate of the communication device is improved.

With reference to the second aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner, the determining, by the network device, the indication information includes: the network device determines a timer as the indication information, where the indication information is used to instruct the communication device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the timer expires.

As can be seen from the sixth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the indication information may be represented by a timer, and the network device instructs the communication device to start the timer after the uplink data is sent, and after the timer expires, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared, and when the buffer utilization rate is improved, the diversity of the indication information is also implemented.

With reference to the second aspect, in a seventh possible implementation manner, the determining, by the network device, the indication information includes: and the network equipment determines a timer and a preset time length as the indication information, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the communication equipment to empty the uplink data in the HARQ cache after the timer expires and waiting for the preset time length.

As can be seen from the seventh possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the indication information may be represented by a timer and a preset time length, the network device instructs the communication device to start the timer after the uplink data is sent, and after the timer expires, the network device waits for the preset time length and then clears the uplink data in the HARQ buffer, so that when the buffer utilization rate is improved, diversity of the indication information is also achieved.

A third aspect of the present application provides a communication device, where the communication device is configured to perform a method for cache management in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect. In particular, the terminal device may include means for performing the method of cache management in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect.

A fourth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, where the terminal device includes a memory for storing instructions and a processor for executing the instructions stored by the memory, and execution of the instructions stored in the memory causes the processor to perform the first aspect or the method in any of the possible implementations of the first aspect.

A fifth aspect of the present application provides a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

A sixth aspect of the present application provides a network device, where the network device is configured to perform a method for cache management in the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect. In particular, the network device may comprise means for performing the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

A seventh aspect of the present application provides a network device comprising a memory for storing instructions and a processor for executing the instructions stored by the memory, and execution of the instructions stored in the memory causes the processor to perform the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

An eighth aspect of the present application provides a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

In the embodiment of the application, after the terminal device sends the uplink data through the HARQ process, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process can be cleared in time according to the indication information of the network device, so that the utilization rate of the buffer is improved.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a communication system in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a method for cache management in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example scenario for dual link;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a method for cache management in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a communication device in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication device in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a network device in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a network device in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is another schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a further schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is another schematic diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and it is to be understood that the described embodiments are merely illustrative of some, but not all, embodiments of the present application. As can be known to those skilled in the art, with the development of technology and the emergence of new scenarios, the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems.

The embodiment of the application provides a cache management method, which can clear data in an HARQ buffer in time, thereby improving the utilization rate of the cache. The embodiment of the application also provides corresponding equipment. The following are detailed below.

It should be understood that the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application may be applied to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) architecture, and may also be applied to a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) architecture, or a global system for mobile communications (GSM)/enhanced data rate GSM evolution (enhanced data rate for GSM evolution, EDGE) radio access network (GSM EDGE) architecture of an EDGE system. In the UTRAN architecture or/GERAN architecture, the function of MME is completed by serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) support node (SGSN), and the function of SGW/PGW is completed by Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN). The technical solution of the embodiment of the present application may also be applied to other communication systems, for example, a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) system, a 5G communication system or a communication system after 5G, and the like, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The embodiment of the application relates to terminal equipment. The terminal device may be a device that includes a wireless transceiving function and can cooperate with the network device to provide a communication service for a user. In particular, a terminal device may refer to a User Equipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user equipment. For example, the terminal device may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network or a network after 5G, and the like, which is not limited in this embodiment of the application.

The embodiment of the application also relates to network equipment. The network device may be a device for communicating with the terminal device, and for example, the network device may be a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in a GSM system or a CDMA system, a base station (NodeB, NB) in a WCDMA system, an evolved node B (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, or the network device may be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, and a network-side device in a future 5G network or a network after 5G network or a network device in a future evolved PLMN network.

The network device related in the embodiment of the present application may also be referred to as a Radio Access Network (RAN) device. The RAN equipment is connected with the terminal equipment and used for receiving data of the terminal equipment and sending the data to the core network equipment. The RAN device corresponds to different devices in different communication systems, for example, a base station and a base station controller in a 2G system, a Radio Network Controller (RNC) in a 3G system, an evolved node B (eNB) in a 4G system, and an access network device (e.g., a gbb, CU, DU) in a 5G system, such as a new radio access system (NR).

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a communication system in the embodiment of the present application.

As shown in fig. 1, an embodiment of a communication system provided in the embodiment of the present application includes:

the present invention relates to a network device and a communication device, where the communication device may be a terminal device, and in the following embodiments, the communication device is described as an example of a terminal device, and besides the terminal device, the communication device in the embodiments of the present application may also be a circuit, and it should not be understood that the communication device is only a terminal device.

As shown in fig. 1, each HARQ process in the terminal device corresponds to one HARQ buffer, for example: HARQ process 1 corresponds to HARQ buffer 1, HARQ process 2 corresponds to HARQ buffer 2, and HARQ process N corresponds to HARQ buffer N, where N is an integer greater than 2. Certainly, the corresponding relationship between the HARQ process and the HARQ buffer is not limited to that the HARQ process 1 and the HARQ buffer 1 shown in fig. 1 correspond, and the HARQ process 1 and the HARQ buffer 2 may correspond, but each HARQ process 1 corresponds to one HARQ buffer, that is, the HARQ process and the HARQ buffer correspond one to one.

The terminal device needs to send the uplink data according to the scheduling of the network device, and when sending the uplink data, the terminal device buffers the sent uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the used HARQ process. Because cache resources are limited, in order to improve the utilization rate of the cache, the embodiment of the present application provides a method for cache management.

As shown in fig. 2, an embodiment of a method for cache management provided in an embodiment of the present application may include:

101. the network device determines scheduling information and indication information.

When a network device schedules a terminal device to send uplink data, scheduling information and indication information are determined, wherein the scheduling information is used for indicating the terminal device to send the uplink data to the network device through a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, and the indication information is used for indicating the terminal device to clear the uplink data in an HARQ cache corresponding to the HARQ process after sending the uplink data.

102. And the network equipment sends the scheduling information and the indication information to the terminal equipment.

The scheduling information includes resources used for transmitting uplink data, for example: time domain resources or frequency domain resources, HARQ process information, for example: the number of the HARQ process or the name of the HARQ process, etc., although the scheduling information may also include other information, for example: the transmission time, etc.

The scheduling information and the indication information may be carried in Radio Resource Control (RRC) dedicated signaling, a media access control element (MAC CE), or Downlink Control Information (DCI) and transmitted to the terminal device.

103. After receiving the scheduling information and the indication information sent by the network equipment, the terminal equipment sends uplink data to the network equipment through a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process according to the scheduling information.

After the terminal device sends uplink data according to the scheduling information by using the HARQ process indicated by the network device, the uplink data is buffered in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process, for example: if the network device instructs HARQ process 1 to transmit uplink data in the scheduling information, the terminal device buffers the uplink data in HARQ buffer 1 when transmitting the uplink data using HARQ process 1.

104. And the terminal equipment clears the uplink data in the HARQ cache corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information.

After the uplink data is sent, the terminal device may clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information sent by the network device, that is, the terminal device may clear the uplink data cached in the HARQ buffer 1 according to the indication information.

As can be seen from the implementation schemes corresponding to fig. 1 and fig. 2, after the terminal device sends the uplink data through the HARQ process, the terminal device may clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process in time according to the indication information of the network device, so as to improve the utilization rate of the buffer.

In a certain service scenario, such as an ultra-reliable low latency service (URLLC), in this service scenario, the new transmission success rate is very high, and the transmission latency requirement is very high, so that caching the uplink data of this service scenario for a long time is not significant, and therefore, in this service scenario, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer can be emptied after the terminal device sends the uplink data. In such a scenario, if the HARQ buffer is not cleared in time, data that may cause the HARQ buffer to fail may be transmitted again, resulting in abnormal data transmission. Therefore, the method for cache management can clear the uplink data in the HARQ cache in time after the uplink data is sent, and the effectiveness and the freshness of data transmission are also ensured at the same time of improving the utilization rate of the cache.

In a dual link traffic scenario, such as: NR duplicate, as shown in fig. 3, each time the terminal device sends uplink data to the network device, it occupies link 1 and link 2 to send the same data, and even if the uplink data sent by the terminal device cannot be received by the network device due to the problem of delayed transmission in link 1, the uplink data transmitted by link 2 can be timely transmitted to the network device, and the network device can also be guaranteed to receive the uplink data sent by the terminal device in time, so that, in a dual-link scenario, there is no need to buffer the uplink data for a long time. In a dual link scenario, if data in the HARQ buffer is not timely scheduled, the data that fails in the HARQ buffer may be scheduled again, which may cause data transmission abnormality. Therefore, the method for cache management can clear the uplink data in the HARQ cache in time after the uplink data is sent, and the effectiveness and the freshness of data transmission are also ensured at the same time of improving the utilization rate of the cache.

In the above scenarios without the necessity of buffering the uplink data for a long time, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer may be cleared after the uplink data is transmitted. The scene of the service is determined by the network device, so the network device can send the indication information when scheduling the uplink data to indicate the terminal device to clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data. The clearing of the uplink data in the HARQ buffer may be immediately clearing according to the indication information after the uplink data is sent, or may be clearing again after a delay.

The presentation form of the indication information in the embodiment of the application may be various, and the indication may be made in an implicit manner or in a display manner.

For example: the indication information is characterized by the number of frequency domain resources or the number of time domain resources, which may be indicated by a direct number, for example: 2. the indication information is characterized by the number of 3, 4 or the numerical value thereof in the display mode, or the indication information can be characterized by the implicit number of the resource 1, the resource 2 or the resource 3. Of course, the 3 resources implicitly represented here are merely illustrative and should not be understood as a limitation of the number of resources. Whether the resource is frequency domain resource or time domain resource, only two or more than two are used for indicating that the terminal equipment empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data.

When determining the indication information, the network device determines that there are at least two frequency domain resources used for the terminal device to send the uplink data, where the number is the indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the uplink data is sent by the at least two time domain resources.

The terminal equipment determines at least two frequency domain resources or wireless bearers for sending the uplink data according to the indication information; and after the uplink data is sent, the terminal equipment empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer.

The frequency domain resource may be a component carrier CC and/or a partial Bandwidth (BWP).

The same applies for time domain resources.

When determining the indication information, the network device determines that there are at least two time domain resources used for the terminal device to send the uplink data, where the number is the indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the uplink data is sent by the at least two time domain resources.

The terminal equipment determines at least two time domain resources for sending the uplink data according to the indication information; and after the uplink data is sent, the terminal equipment empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer.

The time domain resources include at least one of: subframes, slots, and symbols.

The at least two time domain resources may or may not be contiguous. When transmitting the uplink data, the uplink data may be repeatedly transmitted on at least two time domain resources, or may be transmitted only once.

What has been described above is that the indication information is characterized by the number of frequency domain resources or time domain resources. In the embodiment of the present application, the indication information may also be represented by a target scrambling manner of the scheduling information, identification information of a target logical channel, information of a target protocol data unit session PDU session, or information of a timer or a timer plus a preset duration, which is described below.

1. And representing the indication information by adopting a target scrambling mode:

and the network equipment determines a target scrambling mode of the scheduling information as the indication information, wherein the indication information is used for indicating that the uplink data in the HARQ cache is emptied after the uplink data is sent when the scheduling information is scrambled by adopting the target scrambling mode.

And the terminal equipment determines that the scheduling information is scrambled by adopting a target scrambling mode according to the indication information, and empties the uplink data in the HARQ cache after sending the uplink data according to the indication information.

The target scrambling mode includes one of modulation and coding mode-cell radio network temporary identity (MCS-C-RNTI), cell radio network temporary identity (C-RNTI), and configuration scheduling radio network temporary identity (CS-RNTI).

2. And characterizing the indication information by adopting the identification information of the target logical channel:

the network device determines that the identification information of the target logical channel is the indication information, the indication information is used for indicating the terminal device to clear the uplink data in the HARQ cache after sending the uplink data containing the identification information of the target logical channel, and the target logical channel is used for bearing an URLLC (ultra-reliable low-latency service).

And the terminal equipment determines that the uplink data contains identification information of a target logical channel, and empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the uplink data is sent according to the indication information.

3. The indication information is characterized by adopting the information of the target protocol data unit session PDU session:

the network equipment determines the information of a target protocol data unit session PDU session as the indication information, the indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to empty the uplink data in the HARQ cache after transmitting the uplink data containing the information of the target protocol data unit session PDU session, and the target PDU session is used for bearing an ultra-reliable low-delay service URLLC.

And the terminal equipment determines that the uplink data contains information of the target PDU session, and empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the uplink data is sent according to the indication information.

4. A timer is used to characterize the indication information:

the network device determines a timer as the indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the timer expires.

After the terminal equipment sends uplink data, the timer is started or restarted and time monitoring is carried out; and the communication equipment empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the timer expires according to the indication information.

5. The indication information is represented by a timer and a preset time length:

and the network equipment determines a timer and a preset time length as the indication information, and the indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to empty the uplink data in the HARQ cache after the timer expires and waiting for the preset time length.

And after the terminal equipment sends the uplink data, starting or restarting the timer and monitoring the time, and the communication equipment clears the uplink data in the HARQ cache after the timer expires and the preset time length also arrives according to the indication information.

The timer is a newly defined timer or an existing timer. The newly defined timer indicates that the network device is newly configured without the previous timer, and the network device configures information such as the name and the timing duration of the timer. The existing timer indicates that the configuration is completed before, the network device and the terminal device side already know the name, the timing duration and other information of the timer, and the network device only needs to inform the terminal device of the name or the number information of the timer.

In fact, without configuring a timer, the indication information can be also represented directly by a preset time length, in this case:

and the network equipment determines a preset time length as the indication information, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to empty the uplink data in the HARQ cache after waiting for the preset time length after sending the uplink data.

And the terminal equipment monitors time, starts to monitor the time after sending uplink data, and clears the uplink data in the HARQ cache after the preset time length is reached.

The scheme for the timer and/or the preset duration may be understood with reference to fig. 4.

As shown in fig. 4, another embodiment of the method for cache management provided in the embodiment of the present application may include:

201. the network device determines scheduling information and configures time information for the scheduling information.

The time information includes a timer and/or a preset duration.

The timer and/or the preset time comprises a timer or a preset time and three conditions of the timer and the preset time.

202. The network device transmits the scheduling information and the time information to the terminal device.

203. And after receiving the scheduling information and the time information, the terminal equipment sends uplink data to the network equipment through a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process according to the scheduling information.

When the terminal equipment sends uplink data, the uplink time is cached in the HARQ cache corresponding to the HARQ process.

204. And after the terminal equipment sends the uplink data, time monitoring is carried out.

If there is a timer, the timer needs to be started after the uplink data is sent, and the starting time of the timer can be understood as the time when the uplink data is sent, the timer is started immediately.

205. And when the time arrives, clearing the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process.

In the embodiment of the application, after the terminal device sends the uplink data through the HARQ process, according to the indication information of the network device, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process is cleared after the time of the timer and/or the preset time duration arrives, so that the utilization rate of the buffer is improved.

In addition, in a scenario of dual links, if the link 1 has delayed transmission and the link 2 has normal transmission, the network device may instruct to discard the uplink data of the link 1, but the HARQ buffer does not empty the uplink data, and if the uplink data of the link 1 is scheduled again, sequence number disorder at the time of receiving the uplink data may be caused at the network device side.

The foregoing describes a method for cache management provided in an embodiment of the present application, and the following describes a communication device and a network device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a communication device 30 provided in an embodiment of the present application, where the communication device 30 includes:

a transceiver module 310, configured to receive scheduling information and indication information sent by a network device, and send uplink data to the network device through a hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ process according to the scheduling information;

a processing module 320, configured to clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information received by the transceiver module 310.

In the embodiment of the application, after the communication device sends the uplink data through the HARQ process, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process can be cleared in time according to the indication information of the network device, so that the utilization rate of the buffer is improved.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing module 320 is configured to determine, according to the indication information, at least two frequency domain resources or at least two radio bearers used for sending the uplink data when the indication information is used to indicate the communication device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data on at least two frequency domain resources or at least two radio bearers, and empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing module 320 is configured to determine that there are at least two time domain resources used for sending the uplink data when the indication information is used to indicate the communication device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data in the at least two time domain resources, and empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data according to the indication information.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing module 320 is configured to determine that the uplink data includes the identification information of the target logical channel when the indication information is used to indicate that the communication device empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data that includes the identification information of the target logical channel, and according to the indication information, empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing module 320 is configured to determine that the uplink data includes information of a target protocol data unit session PDU session when the indication information is used to indicate that the communication device empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after transmitting the uplink data that includes the information of the target PDU session, and according to the indication information, empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after transmitting the uplink data.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing module 320 is configured to, when the indication information includes a timer configured by the network device, and the indication information is used to indicate that the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared after the timer expires, start or restart the timer and perform time monitoring after sending the uplink data according to the indication information, and clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the timer expires.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing module 320 is configured to, when the indication information includes a timer and a preset time length, where the indication information is used to indicate that after the timer expires, and when the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is emptied after waiting for the preset time length, start or restart the timer and perform time monitoring after sending the uplink data according to the indication information, and after the timer expires and the preset time length also reaches, empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer.

It should be understood that the processing module 320 in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component, and the transceiver module 310 may be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

As shown in fig. 6, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device 40, where the communication device 40 includes a processor 410, a memory 420 and a transceiver 430, where the memory 420 stores instructions or programs, and the processor 410 is configured to execute the instructions or programs stored in the memory 420. When the instructions or programs stored in the memory 420 are executed, the processor 410 is configured to perform the operations performed by the processing module 320 in the above embodiments, and the transceiver 430 is configured to perform the operations performed by the transceiver module 310 in the above embodiments.

It should be understood that the communication device 30 or the communication device 40 according to the embodiment of the present application may correspond to a terminal device in the method for cache management according to the embodiment of the present application, and operations and/or functions of each module in the communication device 30 or the communication device 40 are respectively for implementing corresponding flows of each method in fig. 2 to fig. 4, and are not described herein again for brevity.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a network device 50 according to an embodiment of the present application, where the network device 50 includes:

a processing module 510, configured to determine scheduling information and indication information, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a communication device to send uplink data to the network device through a hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ process, and the indication information is used to indicate the communication device to clear uplink data in a HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process after sending the uplink data;

a transceiver module 520, configured to send the scheduling information and the indication information determined by the processing module 510 to a communication device.

In the embodiment of the application, the network device may instruct, through the indication information, the communication device to clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process in time after sending the uplink data through the HARQ process, so as to improve the utilization rate of the buffer.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing module 510 is configured to determine that there are at least two frequency domain resources used for the terminal device to send the uplink data, where the number is the indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data on at least two frequency domain resources or at least two radio bearers.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing module 510 is configured to determine that there are at least two time domain resources used for the terminal device to send the uplink data, where the number is the indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the uplink data is sent by the at least two time domain resources.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing module 510 is configured to determine a target scrambling manner of the scheduling information as the indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is emptied after the uplink data is sent when the scheduling information is scrambled by the target scrambling manner.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing module 510 is configured to determine that the identifier information of the target logical channel is the indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data that includes the identifier information of the target logical channel.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing module 510 is configured to determine that information of a target protocol data unit session PDU usage is the indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device empties uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending uplink data including information of a target protocol data unit session PDU session.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing module 510 is configured to determine a timer as the indication information, where the indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the timer expires.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the processing module 510 is configured to determine a timer and a preset time duration as the indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device clears the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the timer expires and waits for the preset time duration.

It should be understood that the processing module 510 in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component, and the transceiver module 520 may be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

As shown in fig. 8, the embodiment of the present application further provides a network device 60, where the network device 60 includes a processor 610, a memory 620 and a transceiver 630, where the memory 620 stores instructions or programs, and the processor 610 is configured to execute the instructions or programs stored in the memory 620. When the instructions or programs stored in the memory 620 are executed, the processor 610 is configured to perform the operations performed by the processing module 510 in the above embodiments, and the transceiver 630 is configured to perform the operations performed by the transceiver module 520 in the above embodiments.

It should be understood that the network device 50 or the network device 60 according to the embodiment of the present application may correspond to a network device in the method for cache management according to the embodiment of the present application, and operations and/or functions of each module in the network device 50 or the network device 60 are respectively for implementing corresponding flows of each method in fig. 2 to fig. 4, and are not described herein again for brevity.

The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, where the computer program, when executed by a processor, can implement a process related to a terminal device in the method for cache management provided in the foregoing method embodiment.

Embodiments of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, where the computer program, when executed by a processor, may implement a process related to a network device in the method for cache management provided in the foregoing method embodiments.

The embodiment of the application also provides a communication device, which can be a terminal device or a circuit. The communication device may be configured to perform the actions performed by the terminal device in the above-described method embodiments.

When the communication device is a terminal device, fig. 9 shows a simplified structural diagram of the terminal device. For easy understanding and illustration, in fig. 9, the terminal device is exemplified by a mobile phone. As shown in fig. 9, the terminal device includes a processor, a memory, a radio frequency circuit, an antenna, and an input-output device. The processor is mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, controlling the terminal equipment, executing software programs, processing data of the software programs and the like. The memory is used primarily for storing software programs and data. The radio frequency circuit is mainly used for converting baseband signals and radio frequency signals and processing the radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly used for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input and output devices, such as touch screens, display screens, keyboards, etc., are used primarily for receiving data input by a user and for outputting data to the user. It should be noted that some kinds of terminal devices may not have input/output devices.

When data needs to be sent, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be sent and outputs baseband signals to the radio frequency circuit, and the radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signals and sends the radio frequency signals to the outside in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the terminal equipment, the radio frequency circuit receives radio frequency signals through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signals into baseband signals and outputs the baseband signals to the processor, and the processor converts the baseband signals into the data and processes the data. For ease of illustration, only one memory and processor are shown in FIG. 9. In an actual end device product, there may be one or more processors and one or more memories. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium or a storage device, etc. The memory may be provided independently of the processor, or may be integrated with the processor, which is not limited in this embodiment.

In the embodiment of the present application, the antenna and the radio frequency circuit having the transceiving function may be regarded as a transceiving unit of the terminal device, and the processor having the processing function may be regarded as a processing unit of the terminal device. As shown in fig. 9, the terminal device includes a transceiving unit 710 and a processing unit 720. A transceiver unit may also be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiving device, etc. A processing unit may also be referred to as a processor, a processing board, a processing module, a processing device, or the like. Optionally, a device for implementing the receiving function in the transceiver 710 may be regarded as a receiving unit, and a device for implementing the transmitting function in the transceiver 710 may be regarded as a transmitting unit, that is, the transceiver 710 includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. A transceiver unit may also sometimes be referred to as a transceiver, transceiving circuitry, or the like. A receiving unit may also be referred to as a receiver, a receiving circuit, or the like. A transmitting unit may also sometimes be referred to as a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc.

It should be understood that the transceiver unit 710 is configured to perform the transmitting operation and the receiving operation on the terminal device side in the above method embodiments, and the processing unit 720 is configured to perform other operations besides the transceiving operation on the terminal device in the above method embodiments.

For example, in one implementation, the transceiver 710 is configured to perform receiving or transmitting operations at the terminal device side in steps 102 and 103 in fig. 2, and/or the transceiver 710 is further configured to perform other transceiving steps at the terminal device side in the embodiment of the present application. Processing unit 720 is configured to execute step 104 in fig. 2, and/or processing unit 720 is further configured to execute other processing steps on the terminal device side in the embodiment of the present application.

For another example, in another implementation manner, the transceiver unit 710 is configured to perform a receiving operation on the terminal device side in step 202 or a transmitting operation on the terminal device side in step 203 in fig. 4, and/or the transceiver unit 720 is further configured to perform other transceiving steps on the terminal device side in this embodiment. Processing unit 720 is configured to execute step 204 in fig. 4, and/or processing unit 720 is further configured to execute other processing steps on the terminal device side in the embodiment of the present application.

When the communication device is a chip, the chip includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit can be an input/output circuit and a communication interface; the processing unit is a processor or a microprocessor or an integrated circuit integrated on the chip.

When the communication device in this embodiment is a terminal device, reference may be made to the device shown in fig. 10. As an example, the device may perform functions similar to processor 410 of FIG. 6. In fig. 10, the apparatus includes a processor 810, a transmit data processor 820, and a receive data processor 830. The processing module 320 in the above embodiment may be the processor 810 in fig. 10, and performs the corresponding functions. The transceiver module 310 in the above embodiments may be the transmit data processor 820 and/or the receive data processor 830 in fig. 10. Although fig. 10 shows a channel encoder and a channel decoder, it is understood that these blocks are not limitative and only illustrative to the present embodiment.

Fig. 11 shows another form of the present embodiment. The processing device 900 includes modules such as a modulation subsystem, a central processing subsystem, and peripheral subsystems. The communication device in this embodiment may act as a modulation subsystem therein. In particular, the modulation subsystem may include a processor 903, an interface 904. The processor 903 performs the functions of the processing module 320, and the interface 904 performs the functions of the transceiver module 310. As another variation, the modulation subsystem includes a memory 906, a processor 903, and a program stored on the memory 906 and executable on the processor, and the processor 903 executes the program to implement the method on the terminal device side in the above method embodiments. It should be noted that the memory 906 may be non-volatile or volatile, and may be located within the modulation subsystem or within the processing device 900, as long as the memory 906 is connected to the processor 903.

As another form of the present embodiment, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, perform the method on the terminal device side in the above-described method embodiments.

As another form of the present embodiment, there is provided a computer program product containing instructions that, when executed, perform the method on the terminal device side in the above-described method embodiments.

The network device in this embodiment of the application may include, as shown in fig. 12, one or more radio frequency units, such as a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) 1010 and one or more baseband units (BBUs) (which may also be referred to as digital units, DUs) 1020. The RRU 1010 may be referred to as a transceiver module, which corresponds to the transceiver module 510 in fig. 7, and optionally may also be referred to as a transceiver, transceiver circuit, or transceiver, which may include at least one antenna 1011 and a radio frequency unit 1012. The RRU 1010 is mainly used for transceiving radio frequency signals and converting the radio frequency signals and baseband signals, for example, for sending indication information to a terminal device. The BBU1010 part is mainly used for performing baseband processing, controlling a base station and the like. The RRU 1010 and the BBU1020 may be physically disposed together or may be physically disposed separately, i.e., distributed base stations.

The BBU1020 is a control center of the base station, and may also be referred to as a processing module, and may correspond to the processing module 520 in fig. 7, and is mainly used for completing baseband processing functions, such as channel coding, multiplexing, modulation, spreading, and the like. For example, the BBU (processing module) may be configured to control the base station to perform an operation procedure related to the network device in the foregoing method embodiment, for example, to generate the foregoing indication information.

In an example, the BBU1020 may be formed by one or more boards, and the boards may collectively support a radio access network of a single access system (e.g., an LTE network), or may respectively support radio access networks of different access systems (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G network, or other networks). The BBU1020 also includes a memory 1021 and a processor 1022. The memory 1021 is used to store necessary instructions and data. The processor 1022 is configured to control the base station to perform necessary actions, for example, to control the base station to execute the operation procedure related to the network device in the above method embodiment. The memory 1021 and the processor 1022 may serve one or more boards. That is, the memory and processor may be provided separately on each board. Multiple boards may share the same memory and processor. In addition, each single board can be provided with necessary circuits.

It should be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), and may also be other general purpose processors, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, and the like. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

It will also be appreciated that the memory referred to in the embodiments of the application may be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. The non-volatile Memory may be a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable PROM (EEPROM), or a flash Memory. Volatile Memory can be Random Access Memory (RAM), which acts as external cache Memory. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static random access memory (Static RAM, SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic random access memory (Synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), Double data rate Synchronous Dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), Enhanced Synchronous SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchronous link SDRAM (SLDRAM), and Direct Rambus RAM (DR RAM).

It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, the memory (memory module) is integrated in the processor.

It should be noted that the memory described herein is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

It should be understood that the term "and/or" herein is merely one type of association relationship that describes an associated object, meaning that three relationships may exist, e.g., a and/or B may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the former and latter related objects are in an "or" relationship.

It should be understood that, in the various embodiments of the present application, the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes do not mean the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined by its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware or combinations of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the implementation. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the units is only one logical division, and other divisions may be realized in practice, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.

The functions, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application or portions thereof that substantially contribute to the prior art may be embodied in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium and including instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a usb disk, a removable hard disk, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The method, the communication device, the network device and the communication system for cache management provided by the embodiment of the present invention are described in detail above, a specific example is applied in the present document to explain the principle and the implementation of the present invention, and the description of the above embodiment is only used to help understanding the method and the core idea of the present invention; meanwhile, for a person skilled in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there may be variations in the specific embodiments and the application scope, and in summary, the content of the present specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of cache management, comprising:

the communication equipment receives scheduling information and indication information sent by the network equipment;

the communication equipment sends uplink data to the network equipment through a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process according to the scheduling information;

and the communication equipment clears the uplink data in the HARQ cache corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication information is used to instruct the communication device to clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after transmitting the uplink data on at least two frequency domain resources or at least two radio bearers;

the clearing, by the communication device, the uplink data in the HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information includes:

the communication equipment determines at least two frequency domain resources or wireless bearers for transmitting the uplink data;

and the communication equipment empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the uplink data is sent according to the indication information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication information is used to instruct the communication device to clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after transmitting the uplink data in at least two time domain resources;

the communication equipment determines that at least two time domain resources are used for sending the uplink data;

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication information is used to indicate that the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared after the uplink data is transmitted when the scheduling information is scrambled by using a target scrambling scheme;

the communication equipment determines that the scheduling information is scrambled by adopting a target scrambling mode;

and the communication equipment empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data according to the indication information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the target scrambling scheme comprises one of modulation and coding scheme-cell radio network temporary identity (MCS-C-RNTI), cell radio network temporary identity (C-RNTI), and configuration scheduling radio network temporary identity (CS-RNTI).

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication information is used to instruct the communication device to clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after transmitting the uplink data containing the identification information of the target logical channel;

the communication equipment determines that the uplink data contains identification information of a target logical channel;

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication information is used to instruct the communication device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after transmitting uplink data containing information of a target PDU session;

the communication equipment determines that the uplink data contains the information of the target PDU session;

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication information includes a timer configured by the network device, and the indication information is used to indicate that the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared after the timer expires;

the communication equipment starts or restarts the timer and carries out time monitoring after sending uplink data according to the indication information;

and the communication equipment clears the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the timer expires.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the timer is a newly defined timer or an existing timer.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication information includes a timer and a preset duration, and the indication information is used to indicate that the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared after the timer expires and the preset duration is waited for;

and the communication equipment clears the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the timer expires and the preset time length also arrives.

11. The method according to any of claims 1-10, wherein the indication information is carried in radio resource control, RRC, dedicated signaling, medium access control element, MAC CE, or downlink control information, DCI.

12. A method of cache management, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a network device determines scheduling information and indicating information, wherein the scheduling information is used for indicating a communication device to send uplink data to the network device through a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, and the indicating information is used for indicating the communication device to clear the uplink data in an HARQ cache corresponding to the HARQ process after the uplink data is sent;

and the network equipment sends the scheduling information and the indication information to communication equipment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the network device determines the indication information, comprising:

the network device determines that there are at least two frequency domain resources or radio bearers used for the communication device to send the uplink data, where the number is the indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate that the communication device empties the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data on at least two frequency domain resources or at least two radio bearers.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the network device determines the indication information, comprising:

the network device determines that the number of the time domain resources used for the communication device to send the uplink data is at least two, the number is the indication information, and the indication information is used for indicating the communication device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the uplink data is sent by the at least two time domain resources.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the network device determines the indication information, comprising:

and the network equipment determines the identification information of the target logical channel as the indication information, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the communication equipment to clear the uplink data in the HARQ cache after sending the uplink data containing the identification information of the target logical channel.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the network device determines the indication information, comprising:

the network device determines a timer as the indication information, where the indication information is used to instruct the communication device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the timer expires.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the network device determines the indication information, comprising:

and the network equipment determines a timer and a preset time length as the indication information, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the communication equipment to empty the uplink data in the HARQ cache after the timer expires and waiting for the preset time length.

18. A communication device, comprising:

the receiving and sending module is used for receiving scheduling information and indication information sent by network equipment and sending uplink data to the network equipment through a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process according to the scheduling information;

and the processing module is used for emptying the uplink data in the HARQ cache corresponding to the HARQ process according to the indication information received by the transceiver module.

19. The communication device of claim 18,

the processing module is configured to determine at least two frequency domain resources or at least two radio bearers for transmitting the uplink data when the indication information is used to indicate the communication device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after transmitting the uplink data on at least two frequency domain resources or at least two radio bearers, and empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after transmitting the uplink data according to the indication information.

20. The communication device of claim 18,

the processing module is configured to determine that there are at least two time domain resources used for sending the uplink data when the indication information is used to indicate the communication device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the uplink data is sent by the at least two time domain resources, and empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the uplink data is sent according to the indication information.

21. The communication device of claim 18,

the processing module is configured to clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the indication information is used to indicate that the communication device sends the uplink data including the identification information of the target logical channel, determine that the uplink data includes the identification information of the target logical channel, and clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data according to the indication information.

22. The communication device of claim 18,

the processing module is configured to clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the indication information is used to indicate that the communication device sends the uplink data including information of a target protocol data unit session PDU session, determine that the uplink data includes the information of the target PDU session, and clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after sending the uplink data according to the indication information.

23. The communication device of claim 18,

the processing module is configured to, when the indication information includes a timer configured by the network device, and the indication information is used to indicate that the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is cleared after the timer expires, start or restart the timer and perform time monitoring after sending the uplink data according to the indication information, and clear the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the timer expires.

24. The communication device of claim 18,

the processing module is configured to start or restart the timer and perform time monitoring after sending uplink data according to the indication information when the indication information includes a timer and a preset time length, and the indication information is used for indicating that the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is emptied after the timer expires and after the preset time length is waited, and the uplink data in the HARQ buffer is emptied after the timer expires and the preset time length also arrives.

25. A network device, comprising:

a processing module, configured to determine scheduling information and indication information, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a communication device to send uplink data to a network device through a hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ process, and the indication information is used to indicate the communication device to clear uplink data in a HARQ buffer corresponding to the HARQ process after sending the uplink data;

and the transceiver module is used for sending the scheduling information and the indication information determined by the processing module to communication equipment.

26. The network device of claim 25,

the processing module is configured to determine a timer as the indication information, where the indication information is used to instruct the communication device to empty the uplink data in the HARQ buffer after the timer expires.

27. A communication device comprising a memory, a processor and a program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor implements the method of any one of claims 1 to 11 when executing the program.

28. A network device comprising a memory, a processor and a program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor implements the method of any one of claims 12 to 17 when executing the program.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, which program, when being executed by a processor, carries out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

30. A computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, which program, when being executed by a processor, carries out the method according to any one of claims 12 to 17.