CN113508639B

CN113508639B - Method and device for relay communication

Info

Publication number: CN113508639B
Application number: CN201980093378.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李晨琬; 李振宇; 王宇晨; 吴毅凌; 王静
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-04-08
Filing date: 2019-04-08
Publication date: 2022-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2039-04-08
Also published as: WO2020206582A1; CN113508639A

Abstract

The application provides a method and a device for relay communication. The method and the device provided by the embodiment can be applied to communication systems, such as V2X, LTE-V, V2V, Internet of vehicles, MTC, IoT, LTE-M, or M2M. The access network device may send the configuration information to the first terminal after receiving the capability information of the first terminal having the relay function, so as to configure the first terminal as the terminal having the relay function, so that the first terminal can serve as a relay node to relay communication between other terminals and the access network device.

Description

Method and device for relay communication

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for relaying communications.

Background

In a scenario where a building block exists, it is generally necessary to introduce multi-hop transmission, i.e. communication between the access network device and the terminal needs to be through a wireless connection of two or more hops. However, considering that the service data is usually bursty packet service, it is necessary to reduce the signaling overhead except the service data.

In a conventional scheme, Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling transmission needs to pass through a backhaul link (BH), and signaling overhead is relatively large.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a method and a device for relay communication, which can reduce signaling overhead.

In a first aspect, a method for relaying communication is provided, the method comprising: acquiring capability information from a first terminal, wherein the capability information is used for indicating that the first terminal has relay capability; and sending configuration information to the first terminal, wherein the configuration information is used for configuring the first terminal to have a relay function.

The access network device may send the configuration information to the first terminal after receiving the capability information of the first terminal having the relay function, so as to configure the first terminal as the terminal having the relay function, so that the first terminal can serve as a relay node to relay communication between other terminals and the access network device.

In some possible implementations, the configuration information includes at least one of a cell access network temporary identity C-RNTI resource pool, a hop count from an access network device, a relay transmission maximum power, a group hop configuration, an access control parameter, a threshold range of coverage, a power ramp parameter, a cell identity, or an available carrier list.

The configuration information may be used for the base station to control the working condition of the relay node and allocate radio resources that the relay node may use, for example, the carrier index indicates a carrier that the relay may schedule, the power configuration information may be used for power control between the relay and each node, interference is avoided, and the cell identifier may be used for the access network device to check when the UE is reestablished.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: receiving a first message from the second terminal, where the first message includes information in an RRC connection request message and information in an RRC connection complete message, the RRC connection complete message is used to indicate a third terminal to complete an RRC connection with the second terminal, the RRC connection request message is used to indicate the third terminal to request establishment of an RRC connection with the second terminal, and the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal.

In this embodiment, the third terminal may send an RRC connection request message to the second terminal, receive an RRC connection setup message sent by the second terminal, and send an RRC connection complete message to the second terminal after completing an RRC connection with the second terminal, in order to connect to the second terminal. The second terminal may send the first message to the access network device, where the first message includes the information in the second RRC connection request message and the information in the first RRC connection complete message, so that signaling overhead may be saved when passing through the backhaul link between the first terminal and the access network device, compared to separately sending the information in the RRC connection request message and the information in the RRC connection complete message.

In some possible implementations, the first message further includes a relay identifier, where the relay identifier is used to indicate a terminal having a relay function, and the method further includes: and adding the relay identification in the first message to a first routing list to generate a second routing list, wherein the first routing list comprises the relay identifications of all nodes traversed from the second terminal to the access network equipment.

The relay identifier is used to identify a terminal having a relay function. The access network device may add the relay identifier of the terminal to the first route list to generate the second route list, that is, the access network device may know more paths to perform communication, thereby facilitating improvement of communication efficiency.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: and sending indication information to a terminal corresponding to each relay identifier included in the first routing list, where the indication information is used to indicate that a third terminal indicated by the relay identifier in the first message is a child node of the second terminal.

The access network device may send indication information to a terminal corresponding to each relay identifier (which may be a relay identifier corresponding to a terminal other than the third terminal) in the first routing list, so as to inform that the third terminal is added to the first routing list, and the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal, so that each terminal learns more paths, thereby improving communication efficiency.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: and sending downlink information to a fourth terminal, wherein the downlink information comprises a terminal identifier of the fourth terminal and a relay identifier of the fifth terminal, and the fourth terminal is a child node of the fifth terminal.

When the access network device sends the information to the terminal without the relay function, the downlink information needs to carry the terminal identifier of the terminal and the relay identifier of the relay node of the previous hop of the terminal, so that the data storage amount of the relay node is small, and the requirement on the storage capacity of the relay node is reduced.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the access network device may further send downlink information to the seventh terminal, where the downlink information includes the relay identifier of the seventh terminal.

The downlink routing information only contains the relay identification of the terminal, so that the signaling overhead is saved.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the access network equipment receives uplink information, and the uplink information comprises a terminal identifier of a terminal.

For the uplink information from the terminal to the access network device, since the uplink data is finally converged to the access network device side, the uplink information can carry the terminal identifier of the terminal, so that the access network device can identify which terminal the uplink information belongs to.

In some possible implementations, the access network device receives a release relay request, where the release relay request is used to request the terminal to release the relay function.

The terminal can send a relay releasing request to the access network equipment, and the access network equipment sends the releasing information according to the relay releasing request, so that the access network equipment can release the relay function of the terminal under the condition of the terminal request, and flexible management of the relay function of the terminal is realized.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: and sending release information to a sixth terminal, wherein the release information is used for indicating the sixth terminal to release the configuration for the relay function, and the sixth terminal is at least one of the first terminal, the second terminal, the third terminal and the fifth terminal.

The access network device may send release information to a certain terminal (e.g., a sixth terminal), and after receiving the release information, the sixth terminal releases the relay function according to the release information to become a normal terminal, thereby reducing power consumption overhead of the terminal.

In some possible implementations, before sending the configuration information to the first terminal, the method further includes: and receiving a relay function starting request, wherein the relay function starting request is used for requesting to start the relay function of the first terminal.

The first terminal can also send a relay function starting request to the access network equipment, and the access network equipment starts to configure the first terminal as a terminal with a relay function according to the relay function starting request, so that the relay function is configured for the first terminal under the condition that the relay function needs to be started at the first terminal, and resource waste is avoided.

In a second aspect, a method for relaying communication is provided, the method comprising: sending capability information to access network equipment, wherein the capability information is used for indicating that the first terminal has relay capability; and receiving configuration information from the access network equipment, wherein the configuration information is used for configuring the first terminal to have the relay function.

The first terminal sends the capability information used for indicating that the first terminal has the relay function to the access network equipment, receives the configuration information sent by the first terminal from the access network equipment, and configures the first terminal into the terminal with the relay function according to the configuration information, so that the first terminal can be used as a relay node to relay the communication between other terminals and the access network equipment. Therefore, in the embodiment of the application, the access network device serves as a relay node to transmit the RRC signaling through the backhaul link, and the signaling overhead is saved.

In some possible implementations, an RRC connection request message is received from a third terminal, where the RRC connection request message is used to request establishment of an RRC connection with the second terminal, and the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal; sending an RRC connection establishment message to the third terminal according to the RRC connection request message; receiving an RRC connection complete message from the third terminal, the RRC connection complete message being used to indicate that the third terminal completes an RRC connection with the second terminal; and sending a first message to the access network equipment, wherein the first message comprises information in the RRC connection request message and information in the RRC connection completion message, and the first message also comprises a relay identifier of the third terminal.

In some possible implementations, before receiving the second RRC connection request message from the second terminal, the method further includes: receiving a random access preamble from the third terminal; and sending a random access response to the third terminal, wherein the random access response comprises a temporary C-TNTI identification which is a first C-RNTI identification in a C-RNTI resource pool, and the first C-RNTI identification is used as a relay identification of the third terminal.

Before a third terminal wants to connect to a second terminal, the third terminal may send random access to the second terminal, the second terminal sends a random access response message to the third terminal, the random access response message may include a temporary C-RNTI selected for the third terminal from a C-RNTI resource pool, the third terminal communicates with the second terminal through the temporary C-RNTI, after contention resolution and changing the temporary C-RNTI into the C-RNTI, which serves as a terminal identifier of the third terminal, and when the third terminal is configured with a relay function, the identifier also serves as a relay identifier of the terminal, thereby avoiding that a relay identifier is specially allocated to the third terminal, and saving signaling overhead.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: and receiving indication information, wherein the indication information is used for indicating that the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: receiving release information; according to the release information, the configuration for the relay function is released.

After receiving the release information, the terminal releases the relay function according to the release information to become a common terminal, thereby reducing the power consumption overhead of the terminal.

In some possible implementations, before receiving the configuration information from the access network device, the method further includes: and sending a relay function starting request, wherein the relay function starting request is used for requesting to start the relay function of the first terminal.

In a third aspect, an apparatus is provided, where the apparatus may be an access network device or a chip within the access network device. The apparatus has the functionality to implement the first aspect described above, as well as various possible implementations. The function can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In one possible design, the apparatus includes: the device further comprises a processing module, the transceiver module may be at least one of a transceiver, a receiver, and a transmitter, and the receiving module and the transmitting module may include a radio frequency circuit or an antenna. The processing module may be a processor. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a storage module, which may be a memory, for example. When included, the memory module is used to store instructions. The processing module is connected with the storage module, and the processing module can execute the instructions stored in the storage module or other instructions from other sources, so as to enable the apparatus to execute the communication method of the first aspect and various possible implementations. In this design, the apparatus may be an access network device.

In another possible design, when the device is a chip, the chip includes: a receiving module and a sending module, optionally, the apparatus further includes a processing module, and the receiving module and the sending module may be, for example, an input/output interface, a pin, a circuit, or the like on the chip. The processing module may be, for example, a processor. The processing module may execute instructions to cause a chip within the terminal to perform the first aspect described above, and any possible implemented communication method. Alternatively, the processing module may execute instructions in a memory module, which may be an on-chip memory module, such as a register, a cache, and the like. The memory module may also be located within the communication device, but outside the chip, such as a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static memory devices that may store static information and instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM), and so on.

The processor mentioned in any of the above may be a general-purpose Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of programs of the communication methods in the above aspects.

In a fourth aspect, an apparatus for determining transmission resources is provided, where the apparatus may be a terminal or a chip in the terminal. The apparatus has the functionality to implement the second aspect described above, as well as various possible implementations. The function can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the functions described above.

In one possible design, the apparatus includes: the device comprises a receiving module and a sending module. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a processing module. The receiving module and the transmitting module may be at least one of a transceiver, a receiver, and a transmitter, for example, and the receiving and transmitting module may include a radio frequency circuit or an antenna. The processing module may be a processor.

Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a storage module, which may be a memory, for example. When included, the memory module is used to store instructions. The processing module is connected to the storage module, and the processing module can execute the instructions stored in the storage module or the instructions from other sources, so as to cause the apparatus to perform the method of the second aspect or any one of the above aspects.

In another possible design, when the device is a chip, the chip includes: the chip comprises a receiving module and a sending module, and optionally, the chip further comprises a processing module. The receiving module and the transmitting module may be, for example, input/output interfaces, pins or circuits, etc. on the chip. The processing module may be, for example, a processor. The processing module may execute instructions to cause a chip within the terminal to perform the second aspect described above, and the communication method of any possible implementation.

Alternatively, the processing module may execute instructions in a memory module, which may be an on-chip memory module, such as a register, a cache, and the like. The memory module may also be located within the communication device, but outside the chip, such as a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static memory devices that may store static information and instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM), and so on.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a computer storage medium having stored therein program code for instructing execution of instructions of the method of the first aspect, and any possible implementation thereof.

A sixth aspect provides a computer storage medium having stored therein program code for instructing execution of the instructions of the method of the second aspect, and any possible implementation thereof.

In a seventh aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the first aspect described above, or any possible implementation thereof.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the second aspect described above, or any possible implementation thereof.

A ninth aspect provides a communication system comprising means having functionality to implement the methods of the first aspect and various possible designs, and means having functionality to implement the methods of the second aspect and various possible designs. The apparatus having the functions of implementing the methods and various possible designs of the first aspect may be an access network device, and the apparatus having the functions of implementing the methods and various possible designs of the second aspect may be a terminal.

In a tenth aspect, there is provided a processor, coupled to a memory, for performing the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

In an eleventh aspect, a chip is provided, where the chip includes a processor and a communication interface, where the communication interface is used to communicate with an external device or an internal device, and the processor is used to implement the method in any one of the above first aspects or any possible implementation manner thereof.

Optionally, the chip may further include a memory having instructions stored therein, and the processor may be configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory or derived from other instructions. When executed, the instructions are for implementing a method of the first aspect described above, or any possible implementation thereof.

Alternatively, the chip may be integrated on the access network device.

In a twelfth aspect, a chip is provided, the chip comprising a processor and a communication interface, the communication interface being configured to communicate with an external device or an internal device, the processor being configured to implement the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

Optionally, the chip may further include a memory having instructions stored therein, and the processor may be configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory or derived from other instructions. When executed, the instructions are for implementing the method of the second aspect described above, or any possible implementation thereof.

Alternatively, the chip may be integrated on the terminal.

Based on the above technical solution, the access network device may send the configuration information to the first terminal when receiving the capability information of the first terminal having the relay function, so as to configure the first terminal as the terminal having the relay function, so that the first terminal can serve as a relay node to relay communications between other terminals and the access network device.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart of relay communication in a conventional scheme;

fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method for relaying communications in one embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method for relaying communications in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method for relaying communications of another particular embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method for relaying communications of another particular embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for relaying communications of a particular embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of an apparatus for relaying communication according to another embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for relaying communications of another embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a block diagram of an apparatus for relaying communication according to another embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for relaying communications according to another embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for relaying communications according to another embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for relaying communications according to another embodiment of the present application;

fig. 14 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for relaying communication according to another embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The technical solution in the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The technical scheme of the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: global system for mobile communications (GSM) system, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), long term evolution (long term evolution) system, LTE frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) system, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunications system (universal mobile telecommunications system, UMTS), universal microwave access (world interoperability for microwave access, WiMAX) communication system, future fifth generation (5G) system, New Radio access (NR 2V) system, future Radio access (NR 2V 38) system, future Radio access (NR 2V) system, and future Radio access (NR 2V) system, Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), car networking, machine-type communications (MTC), internet of things (IoT), LTE-M, machine-to-machines (M2M), and so on. .

A terminal in the embodiments of the present application may refer to a user equipment, 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. The terminal may also 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 in a future 5G network or a terminal in a future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), and the like, which is not limited in this embodiment.

The access network device in the embodiment of the present application may be a device for communicating with a terminal, and the access network device in the wireless communication system of the access network device may be any device with a wireless transceiving function. Such devices include, but are not limited to: evolved Node B (eNB), Radio Network Controller (RNC), Node B (Node B, NB), Base Station Controller (BSC), Base Transceiver Station (BTS), Home Base Station (e.g., Home evolved NodeB, or Home Node B, HNB), BaseBand Unit (Base band Unit, BBU), Access Point (AP) in Wireless Fidelity (WIFI) system, etc., and may also be 5G, such as NR, gbb in system, or TRP, transmission Point (TRP or TP), one or a group of antennas (including multiple antennas, NB, or a transmission panel) of a Base Station in 5G system, such as a baseband unit (BBU), or a Distributed Unit (DU), etc.

In addition, in this embodiment of the present application, an access network device provides a service for a cell, and a terminal communicates with the access network device through a transmission resource (for example, a frequency domain resource or a frequency spectrum resource) used by the cell, where the cell may be a cell corresponding to the access network device (for example, a base station), the cell may belong to a macro base station, and may also belong to a base station corresponding to a small cell (small cell), where the small cell may include: urban cells (metro cells), micro cells (pico cells), femto cells (pico cells), and the like, and these small cells have the characteristics of small coverage area and low transmission power, and are suitable for providing high-rate data transmission services.

In addition, multiple cells can simultaneously work at the same frequency on a carrier in an LTE system or a 5G system, and under some special scenes, the concepts of the carrier and the cells can also be considered to be equivalent. For example, in a Carrier Aggregation (CA) scenario, when a secondary carrier is configured for a UE, a carrier index of the secondary carrier and a Cell identification (Cell ID) of a secondary Cell operating on the secondary carrier are carried at the same time, and in this case, the concepts of the carrier and the Cell may be considered to be equivalent, for example, it is equivalent that the UE accesses one carrier and one Cell.

The core network device may be connected with a plurality of access network devices for controlling the access network devices, and may distribute data received from a network side (e.g., the internet) to the access network devices.

In addition, in the present application, the access network device may include a base station (gNB), such as a macro station, a micro base station, an indoor hotspot, a relay node, and the like, and functions to transmit radio waves to the terminal, on one hand, implement downlink data transmission, and on the other hand, transmit scheduling information to control uplink transmission, and receive radio waves transmitted by the terminal and receive uplink data transmission.

The functions and specific implementations of the terminal, the access network device and the core network device listed above are merely exemplary illustrations, and the present application is not limited thereto.

In NR, the function of a base station is divided into two parts, called Centralized Unit (CU) -Distributed Unit (DU) separation. From the perspective of the protocol stack, the CU includes an RRC layer and a PDCP layer of the LTE base station, and the DU includes a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and a Physical (PHY) layer of the LTE base station. In a common 5G base station deployment, the CU and the DU can be physically connected by optical fibers, and there is logically a specially defined F1 interface for communication between the CU and the DU. From the functional point of view, the CU is mainly responsible for radio resource control and configuration, cross-cell mobility management, bearer management, and the like. The DU is mainly responsible for scheduling, physical signal generation and transmission.

The relay node in the embodiment of the present application may be a relay base station, such as a micro base station. The relay node may also be a terminal device providing a relay function. The relay node may also be a network entity such as a relay transceiver node, a user equipment (CPE), a relay transceiver, a relay agent, a Relay Node (RN), a Transmission and Reception Point (TRP), or a relay TRP. In specific implementation, the relay nodes may be distributed at the edge of a cell, and the coverage area of the access network device may be expanded.

Optionally, the relay node in this embodiment may be a terminal having a relay function, or an Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) node.

In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal or the access network device includes a hardware layer, an operating system layer running on the hardware layer, and an application layer running on the operating system layer. The hardware layer includes hardware such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Memory Management Unit (MMU), and a memory (also referred to as a main memory). The operating system may be any one or more computer operating systems that implement business processing through processes (processes), such as a Linux operating system, a Unix operating system, an Android operating system, an iOS operating system, or a windows operating system. The application layer comprises applications such as a browser, an address list, word processing software, instant messaging software and the like. The embodiment of the present application does not particularly limit a specific structure of the execution main body of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, as long as the execution main body can communicate with the method provided in the embodiment of the present application by running the program recorded with the code of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, for example, the execution main body of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application may be a terminal or an access network device, or a functional module capable of calling the program and executing the program in the terminal or the access network device.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal may also be a terminal in an internet of things (IoT) system, the IoT is an important component of future information technology development, and the main technical feature of the present application is to connect an article with a network through a communication technology, so as to implement an intelligent network with interconnected human-computer and interconnected objects.

In the embodiment of the present application, the IOT technology may achieve massive connection, deep coverage, and power saving for the terminal through, for example, a Narrowband (NB) technology. For example, the NB includes only one Resource Block (RB), i.e., the bandwidth of the NB is only 180 KB. The communication method according to the embodiment of the application can effectively solve the problem of congestion of the IOT technology mass terminals when the mass terminals access the network through the NB.

In addition, in the application, the terminal may further include sensors such as an intelligent printer, a train detector, and a gas station, and the main functions include collecting data (part of the terminal), receiving control information and downlink data of the access network device, and sending electromagnetic waves to transmit uplink data to the access network device.

In addition, various aspects or features of the present application may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques. The term "article of manufacture" as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. For example, computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, or magnetic tape), optical disks (e.g., Compact Disk (CD), Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), card, stick, or key drive, etc.). In addition, various storage media described herein can represent one or more devices and/or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" can include, without being limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and/or carrying instruction(s) and/or data.

In addition, various storage media described herein can represent one or more devices and/or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" can include, without being limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and/or carrying instruction(s) and/or data.

In this case, the application program executing the communication method according to the embodiment of the present application and the application program controlling the receiving end device to complete the action corresponding to the received data may be different application programs.

In embodiments of the present application, the signals may include signaling and/or data. For example, signaling is used for control information transfer and data is used for traffic information transfer. Further, the transmission signal may be understood as uplink transmission performed by the terminal and/or downlink transmission received by the terminal. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, transmission may refer to either uplink transmission or downlink reception. The terms referred to in this application are described below:

BH link:

the relay communication system comprises access network equipment, a relay node and a terminal. Here, a link between the access network device and the relay device may be referred to as a BH link, and a link between the relay device and the terminal device may be referred to as an "Access (AC) link". Furthermore, the link between two relay nodes may also be referred to as a "backhaul link".

It should be understood that the communication system according to the embodiment of the present application does not limit the number of relay nodes, and for example, the communication system may include 4 or 5 relay nodes.

It should also be understood that the present application does not limit the access network device and the relay node, the link between two relay nodes, and the link name between a relay node and a terminal.

Cell access network temporary identity (C-RNTI) resource pool:

the access network equipment can configure a C-RNTI resource pool for the relay node, and the C-RNTI resource pool can comprise a plurality of C-RNTIs. The relay node may select a C-RNTI from the plurality of C-RNTIs to allocate to the subordinate node.

Hop count from access network device:

the relay node transmits data from the current node to the number of relay nodes that the access network device needs to pass through.

Cell identification:

the cell identifier in this embodiment may be a cell Identifier (ID) or a Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) of a cell to which the first terminal belongs, or a Tracking Area Code (TAC).

Group jump configuration:

the group hopping configuration may be a configuration group hopping configuration that avoids interference of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of a neighboring cell. And the set of hopping configurations may include a cyclic shift of the DRMS (cyclic shift of the DMRS sequence), a base sequence of the DMRS (base sequence generating the DMRS).

Access control parameters:

the parameters related to the access of the terminal to the access network device may be referred to as access control parameters.

Threshold range covered:

the terminal may determine a threshold range in which the terminal can relay the terminal as a relay function terminal.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system of the present application. The communication system in fig. 1 may include at least one terminal (e.g., terminal 10, terminal 20, terminal 30, terminal 40, terminal 50, and terminal 60) and an access network device 70. The access network device 70 is configured to provide a communication service for the terminal and access the core network, and the terminal may access the network by searching for a synchronization signal, a broadcast signal, and the like sent by the access network device 70, so as to perform communication with the network. The terminal 10, the terminal 20, the terminal 30, the terminal 40 and the terminal 60 in fig. 1 may perform uplink and downlink transmission with the access network device 70. For example, the access network device 70 may transmit a downlink signal to the terminal 10, the terminal 20, the terminal 30, the terminal 40, and the terminal 60, or may receive an uplink signal transmitted by the terminal 10, the terminal 20, the terminal 30, the terminal 40, and the terminal 60.

The terminal 40, the terminal 50, and the terminal 60 may be regarded as one communication system, and the terminal 60 may transmit a downlink signal to the terminal 40 and the terminal 50 or may receive an uplink signal transmitted by the terminal 40 and the terminal 50.

It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application may be applied to a communication system including one or more access network devices, and may also be applied to a communication system including one or more terminals, which is not limited in the present application.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a conventional scheme of relaying communication. When the relay node is usually an access network device, the RRC signaling of the relay communication is usually from the terminal to the access network device or from the access network device to the access network device, that is, the transmission needs to pass through a back link (BH), and the signaling overhead is relatively large. The routing information between the relay nodes may be addresses of the relay nodes, or access network device identifiers of the relay nodes, or terminal identifiers of the terminals.

It should be noted that the terminal identifier may be a GPRS tunneling protocol-user plane (GTP-U) -Tunnel Endpoint Identifier (TEID).

Fig. 3 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for relaying communication according to an embodiment of the present application.

301, the access network device obtains capability information from the first terminal, where the capability information is used to indicate that the first terminal has relay capability. Accordingly, the first terminal transmits the capability information.

Specifically, the terminal may send capability information to the access network device to inform the access network device that it has the relay capability, when determining that it may have the relay capability. That is, the terminal has the capability of functioning as a terminal and also has the capability of functioning as a relay node.

It should be understood that the terminal may also transmit an indication information indicating that it is willing to become a relay node, in addition to the capability information.

It should be noted that, before step 301, the first terminal may send a random access request to the access network device to request access to the access network device. Accordingly, the access network device may transmit random access response information to the first terminal. And the first terminal establishes RRC connection according to the random access response information, and performs security activation or performs operations such as communication configuration and the like.

Optionally, the capability information may further include a maximum number of terminals that the first terminal can relay, a number of supported carrier aggregation, or supported modulation coding, etc. It should be understood that the relay-capable terminal may be a terminal in a connected state or a terminal in an idle state.

In one embodiment, the capability information may also indicate whether the first terminal has relay capability. That is, whether the terminal has the relay capability or not, the access network device needs to report the capability information to the access network device, and the access network device determines whether the first terminal has the relay capability or not.

In another embodiment, the capability information may be a capability supported by a sublink in the relay capability that the first terminal has. Or other capabilities that need to be indicated for implementing the relay function to indicate that the terminal has the relay capability.

Optionally, the terminal has a relay capability, specifically, the terminal supports being provided with an adaptation layer, and the terminal may be configured to store route information or quality of service (qos) information on the adaptation layer.

Optionally, the first terminal may directly send the capability information, or implicitly indicate through other information, for example, the first terminal indicates the capability information of the first terminal through a specific value of the random access preamble, or indicates through a specific resource occupied by the random access preamble. The explicit sending capability indication may be whether or not the relay capability is supported, and the related capability required for supporting the relay capability, the maximum number of carriers supported, etc.

Optionally, the capability information may also be carried in message 3 in the RRC connection establishment procedure.

Specific transmission modes of the UE capability include: the UE can directly transmit the UE capability to the base station, and for the transparent transmission of the relay node, the base station sends the UE capability to the relay after receiving the UE capability. The method is suitable for the scene after safety activation, and the relay cannot directly solve the capability information sent by the UE. SRB1 transport is used. Wherein the UE capability may include whether the UE has relay capability, access capability, number of supported carriers, and the like.

In another possible implementation manner, the UE first sends the UE capability to the directly connected relay, and the relay forwards the UE capability to the access network device. Where the relay receives the UE capabilities to resolve the content and save it. This approach is applicable to secure inactive scenarios. The load SRB1bis is used.

Optionally, the access network device may further receive a relay function start request from the first terminal.

Specifically, the first terminal may further send a relay function start request to the access network device, and the access network device starts to configure the first terminal as a terminal with a relay function according to the relay function start request. Specifically, the access network device may further determine specific configuration content according to the capability information reported by the first terminal.

It should be appreciated that the relay function on request may be referred to as an "IAB node configuration request" or an "IAB node activation request" or an "IAB configuration request".

Optionally, the capability information of the first terminal may be carried in the request message, or may be a message sent separately, which is not limited in this application.

302, the access network device sends configuration information to the first terminal, where the configuration information is used to configure the first terminal to have a relay function.

Specifically, the first terminal is a node that can directly communicate with the access network device, and the access network device, after receiving the capability information of the first terminal, may send configuration information to the first terminal to configure the first terminal as a terminal having a relay function, so that the first terminal can serve as a relay node to relay communications between other terminals and the access network device.

It should be noted that, when the terminal is configured to have a relay function (for example, the terminal is configured as an IAB node), the terminal may have two sides of a protocol stack, one side is a protocol stack on the relay side, and the other side is a protocol stack on the terminal side. That is, connection management of a terminal as a terminal and connection management of a terminal as a relay node may be separately performed. For example, the configuration of the relay uses the connection management of the relay or the IAB node, for example, the reconfiguration or configuration flow of the relay is the operation of the relay node, and the configuration of the terminal uses the connection management of the terminal, for example, the security of the terminal, the bearer configuration, and the like.

It should be understood that the first terminal may be understood as a first hop relay under the access network device.

Optionally, the access network device may further send rejection indication information to the first terminal, where the rejection indication information is used to indicate that the terminal is rejected to start the request of the relay function. That is, the rejection indication may be response information of the relay function on request. That is, when the access network device generates the rejection indication information, the configuration information does not need to be sent to the first terminal.

It should be understood that the reject indication may be referred to as any one of an "IAB (node) configuration reject message", an "IAB (node) activation reject message", or an "IAB function reject message", with or without nodes in parentheses.

When the first terminal sends a relay function starting request message, the access network equipment sends a configuration message to the terminal, and the terminal replies a response message. The optional access network device may send the configuration message directly without the first terminal requesting it. After the terminal receives the configuration message, the relay function can be started after the configuration is completed.

For example, the terminal may reply with a configuration completion or response message after receiving the configuration information. Indicating that the configuration is complete or that the relay function has been turned on.

It should be understood that this configuration information may be referred to as an "IAB node configuration message" and the response message may be referred to as an "IAB node configuration complete message" accordingly. Alternatively, the configuration information is referred to as an "IAB function configuration message", and the response message may be referred to as an "IAB function configuration completion message" accordingly. Or "IAB configuration message", and the response message may be referred to as an "IAB configuration complete message", accordingly.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, a specific configuration process may also be a reconfiguration process, which is not limited in the present application. That is, the configuration-related information may also be referred to as "reconfiguration information".

Optionally, the base station may also directly initiate a configuration process to the terminal when the relay function start request is not received, that is, the access network device directly sends a configuration message to the first terminal, and the first terminal may send a response message to the message after receiving the configuration message, indicating whether the configuration is successful.

Optionally, the configuration information may include at least one of a cell access network temporary identifier resource pool, a hop count from an access network device, a relay transmission maximum power (P-max), a group hop configuration, an access control parameter, a coverage threshold range, a power ramp parameter, a cell identifier, or an available carrier list. The configuration contents can be used for the base station to control the working condition of the relay node and allocate wireless resources which can be used by the relay node, for example, the carrier index indicates a carrier which can be scheduled by the relay, the power configuration information can be used for power control of the relay and each node, interference is avoided, and the cell identifier can be used for the access network equipment to check when the UE is reestablished.

Specifically, the C-RNTI resource pool can comprise a plurality of C-RNTIs, and the first terminal can allocate the C-RNTIs in the C-RNTI resource pool to the terminals with the relay function accessed to the first terminal. The C-RNTI resource pool may include a first C-RNTI and a last C-RNTI in the plurality of C-RNTIs, or directly include the plurality of C-RNTIs, which is not limited in this application. Thus, the C-RNTI can be obtained without accessing the UE to the base station, and the unique identifier in the cell under the access network equipment can be obtained by the mode. The available carrier list includes a set of available carriers allocated by the access network device for the first terminal. The cell identity may be a cell Identity (ID) or a physical cell identity of a cell to which the first terminal belongs, or a tracking area code. The group hopping configuration may include cyclic shift of DRMS (cyclic shift of DMRS sequence), base sequence of DMRS (base sequence generating DMRS), and the group hopping configuration may be a configuration for avoiding interference of DMRSs in a neighbor cell.

Optionally, the first message may include information in a first RRC connection complete message and information in a second RRC connection request message, the first RRC connection complete message being used to instruct the third terminal to complete the RRC connection with the second terminal, and the second RRC connection request message being used to instruct the third terminal to request establishment of the RRC connection with the second terminal.

In particular, the first terminal may also be connected to one or more relay nodes to form a multi-hop relay connection, or the identities of the plurality of relay nodes and the first terminal may form a "routing list". The third terminal, which wants to connect to the second terminal, may transmit an RRC connection request message to the second terminal, and receive an RRC connection setup message transmitted by the second terminal, and transmit an RRC connection complete message to the second terminal after completing an RRC connection with the second terminal. The second terminal may send the first message to the access network device, where the first message includes the information in the second RRC connection request message and the information in the first RRC connection complete message, so that signaling overhead may be saved when passing through the backhaul link between the first terminal and the access network device, compared to separately sending the information in the RRC connection request message and the information in the RRC connection complete message.

It should be noted that the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal, that is, the third terminal and the second terminal do not need to be relayed by other devices, and can directly perform communication. The second terminal may be a child node of the first terminal, or a non-adjacent node of the lower level of the first terminal, which is not limited in the present application.

It should be appreciated that the second RRC connection setup complete message may include an S-TMSI or a random number, a setup cause value, and a C-RNTI of the UE.

Optionally, before a third terminal wants to connect to the second terminal, the second terminal may send a random access to the second terminal, and the second terminal sends a random access response message to the third terminal, where the random access response message may include a temporary C-RNTI selected for the third terminal from a C-RNTI resource pool, and the third terminal communicates with the second terminal through the temporary C-RNTI, and after contention resolution and changing the temporary C-RNTI into the C-RNTI, the temporary C-RNTI is used as a terminal identifier of the third terminal, and when the third terminal is configured as a relay function, the identifier is also used as a relay identifier of the terminal.

Optionally, the second RRC connection setup complete message may further include a relay identifier of the third terminal, where the relay identifier is used to indicate the terminal with the relay function, that is, the relay identifier of the third terminal is used to identify the third terminal with the relay function. The access network device may add the relay identifier of the third terminal to the first routing list to generate a second routing list, where the first routing list includes the relay identifiers of all nodes traversed from the second terminal to the access network device, for example, the first terminal identifier, the second terminal identifier, and the third terminal identifier.

Alternatively, the information in the RRC connection request and the information in the RRC connection setup complete message sent by the terminal may also be forwarded to the base station by the node having the relay function, respectively. The remaining steps multiplex the steps in the embodiment. This means that contention resolution and RRC connection are both performed at the access network equipment, which results in less modification to the access network equipment.

It should be noted that the first routing list further includes a sequence of all nodes traversed by the second terminal to the access network device. Or the first routing list comprises the relationships between the second terminal and all nodes passing through the middle of the access network equipment.

It should be appreciated that the relay identity of the third terminal may be carried in an adaptation layer for identifying or finding or routing to the relay.

Optionally, the relay identity may be a cell access network temporary identity C-RNTI. The C-RNTI can be allocated to a terminal with a relay function or can be directly allocated to the relay by the access network equipment.

Specifically, the access network equipment is addressed through the C-RNTI, and compared with addressing by adopting a GTP-U TEID and an IP address, the access network equipment can save signaling overhead.

It should be understood that different terminals with relay function have different relay identifiers. In other words, the relay identifier configured by the access network device for each terminal having the relay function is unique.

Optionally, the access network device may further send, to a terminal corresponding to each relay identifier (which may be a relay identifier corresponding to a terminal other than the third terminal) included in the first routing list, indication information used for indicating that the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal.

Specifically, the access network device may send indication information to a terminal corresponding to each relay identifier in the first routing list (may be a relay identifier corresponding to a terminal other than the third terminal), so as to inform that the third terminal is added to the first routing list, and the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal, so that each terminal learns more paths, thereby improving communication efficiency. The specific indication mode is as follows: and the base station sends the second terminal C-RNTI and the third terminal C-RNTI to other relay nodes. To identify the third terminal as a child of the second terminal. In addition, a list may be sent, which includes the identity of each new relay node and its parent node. Namely, a plurality of newly added nodes are informed through one message, and the signaling overhead is saved.

It should be noted that the second terminal may be referred to as a "parent node" of the third terminal.

It should be understood that the access network device may send the indication information before step 302, or may send the indication information simultaneously with step 302, or may send the indication information after step 302, or after the terminal completes having the relay function, which is not limited in this application.

In an embodiment, the access network device may further send downlink information to the fourth terminal, where the downlink information includes a terminal identifier of the fourth terminal and a relay identifier of the fifth terminal, and the fourth terminal is a child node of the fifth terminal. These two identifications are in the adaptation layer for routing to the fourth terminal. In this way, each relay node (except the father node of the fourth terminal) only needs to store the routing information of the relay node, and does not need to store the node identifier of the UE, so that the storage overhead of the relay node can be greatly reduced. The terminal can be found by finding the relay identifier of the fifth terminal and then the identifier information of the fourth terminal stored in the fifth terminal.

Specifically, each relay node may store an identifier of its own child node and a relationship between uplink all relay node identifiers and nodes reaching the node, so that when the access network device sends downlink information to a certain terminal (e.g., a fourth terminal) without a relay function, the downlink information may include a relay identifier of a relay node (e.g., a fifth terminal) of a previous hop of the fourth terminal and a terminal identifier of the fourth terminal. The identification information as the routing information may be carried in an adaptation layer of the downlink message. The access network device determines a first hop relay node connected with the access network device according to the routing list, the first hop relay node stores a relay identifier of a second hop relay node, and then the first hop relay node sends the downlink information to the second hop relay node, and sends the downlink information in sequence until the downlink information reaches the fifth terminal, and the fifth terminal can send the downlink information to the fourth terminal according to the identifier of the fourth terminal. That is to say, the relay node corresponding to each relay identifier in the routing list stores the relay identifier of the child node, and because each relay node can be used to provide a relay service for one or more terminals, when the access network device sends a terminal without a relay function, the terminal identifier of the terminal and the relay identifier of the relay node of the previous hop of the terminal need to be carried in downlink information, so that the data storage amount for the relay node is small, and the requirement for the storage capacity of the relay node is reduced.

For example, the parent node transmits data to the terminal side or the terminal of the child node through the relay node side.

It should be noted that the relay identifier of the terminal and the terminal identifier may be the same or different, and this is not limited in this application.

It will be appreciated that this fifth terminal may be the third terminal described above.

It should also be understood that the downlink information may be the aforementioned RRC connection setup message, or other downlink information, which is not limited in this application.

Optionally, the terminal identifier and the relay identifier in the embodiment of the present application may be C-RNTI, S-TMSI, GTP-U TEID, IP address, or other identifiers.

Optionally, the access network device may also allocate a relay identifier, for example, a 5-bit identifier, to each relay node, and may configure the relay identifier when the configuration terminal starts the relay function, and the subsequent routing information may use the identifier, and when notifying other nodes of route update, may also notify that the identifier is released or increased. In the specific notification, the C-RNTI or other UE identities and the relay identity may also be notified for other relay nodes to identify the relay identity. The new relay identifier is compared with the C-RNTI, so that the signaling overhead is reduced, for example, the C-RNTI occupies 16 bits, and the new relay identifier can only use 5 bits or 4 bits and the like. See other embodiments for a specific routing.

In addition, one embodiment may also be that the downlink routing information only includes a terminal identifier of the terminal, and does not need to carry a relay identifier of its parent node, so that transmission overhead reduces information of the relay identifier compared with the relay identifier carrying the parent node, thereby saving signaling overhead.

In another embodiment, the access network device may further send downlink information to the seventh terminal, where the downlink information includes the relay identifier of the seventh terminal.

Specifically, if the access network device sends downlink information to the terminal having the relay function, the downlink information may only include the relay identifier of the seventh terminal, that is, only the relay identifier of the seventh terminal is in the adaptation layer. Compared with the method for storing the father node and the node identification, the signaling overhead is reduced.

Optionally, for uplink information from the terminal to the access network device, since uplink data is finally converged to the access network device side, the uplink information may carry a terminal identifier of the terminal, so that the access network device can identify which terminal the uplink information belongs to.

For example, when each relay/IAB node receives data from a child node, the relay/IAB node side receives data from a terminal or a UE side of a lower node. When each relay/IAB node transmits data to the parent node, the terminal side of the relay/IAB node transmits data to the relay/IAB node side of the parent node or the base station.

It should be noted that, if the terminal has the relay function, the uplink information includes the relay identifier of the terminal.

It should be understood that the terminal identity may be carried at the adaptation layer.

It should also be understood that the uplink information may be the RRC connection request message or the RRC connection complete message, or may be other information, which is not limited in this application.

Optionally, the access network device may send release information to the terminal with the relay function, where the release information is used to configure the terminal with the relay function to release the relay function.

Specifically, the access network device may send release information to a certain terminal (for example, a sixth terminal), and after receiving the release information, the sixth terminal releases the relay function according to the release information to become a normal terminal. If the sixth terminal is released, the access network device should notify its parent node and the parent node of the parent node until the node directly connected to the base station, notify that the terminal with the relay function is released, and update the stored routing information accordingly. The release message may include list information of released nodes, which is used to notify the relay node receiving the message that the relay function of at least one relay node is released.

It should be understood that the sixth terminal may be at least one of the first terminal, the second terminal, the third terminal, and the fifth terminal having the relay function described above. In addition, if the fourth terminal also has a relay function, the access network device may transmit the release information to the fourth terminal.

Optionally, the terminal may send a relay release request to the access network device, and the access network device sends the release information according to the relay release request, so that the access network device may release the relay function of the terminal again under the condition of the terminal request, thereby implementing flexible management of the relay function of the terminal.

Optionally, the release information may be carried in an RRC reconfiguration message, or may be carried in an RRC connection release message. If the reconfiguration message is released, the parent node of the terminal knows that the relay function is released, but the terminal still connects to the parent node as a normal UE.

It should be noted that, if the release information is carried in the RRC connection release message, the terminal may enter the idle state or the suspend state after releasing the relay function.

Optionally, the RRC connection release message further includes redirection information, where the redirection information is used to indicate a relay node that the terminal can access. Specifically, the redirection information may include information such as a frequency location at which the relay node transmits the synchronization signal.

Optionally, the access network device may send an indication message for releasing the relay function to a terminal that starts the relay function, or may also be a relay node or an IAB node, and after receiving the message, the relay releases the relevant configuration of the relay, and stops the relay function, such as stopping broadcasting a system message, stopping sending a synchronization signal, and the like. Alternatively, the node may enter an idle state.

It should be understood that the indication message name may be "IAB configuration release", or "IAB function release", or may be other names, which are not limited in this application.

Optionally, the access network device may further send route update indication information to a terminal with a relay function corresponding to another relay identifier in the route list. The terminal may delete the terminal that released the relay function in the route list. The indication information may include the released at least one relay node identifier.

Specifically, the update indication information may include a relay identifier of the terminal that released the relay function.

Therefore, according to the method for relaying communication in the embodiment of the present application, after receiving the capability information of the first terminal having the relay function, the access network device may send the configuration information to the first terminal, so as to configure the first terminal as the terminal having the relay function, so that the first terminal can serve as a relay node to relay communication between another terminal and the access network device.

It should also be understood that, in the present application, "when", "if" and "if" all refer to the fact that the UE or the base station performs the corresponding processing under certain objective conditions, and are not limited time, and do not require certain judgment actions to be performed by the UE or the base station, nor do they imply other limitations.

It should also be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, "B corresponding to a" means that B is associated with a, from which B can be determined. It should also be understood that determining B from a does not mean determining B from a alone, but may be determined from a and/or other information.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for relaying communication according to another embodiment of the present application.

In the present embodiment, the same terms as in the preceding embodiments have the same meanings unless otherwise specified, and are not limited herein to avoid redundancy.

401, a third terminal sends an RRC connection request message to a second terminal, where the RRC connection request message is used to request establishment of an RRC connection with the second terminal, and the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal.

402, the second terminal sends an RRC connection setup message to the third terminal.

And 403, the third terminal sends an RRC connection complete message to the second terminal, where the RRC connection complete message is used to indicate that the third terminal completes RRC connection with the second terminal.

404, the second terminal sends a first message to the access network device, where the first message includes information in the RRC connection request message and information in the RRC connection complete message.

Optionally, the first message further includes a relay identifier of the third terminal.

The access network device adds the relay identifier of the third terminal to the first route list to generate a second route list 405.

The first routing list includes relay identifiers of all nodes traversed from the second terminal to the access network device, for example, a first terminal identifier, a second terminal identifier, and a third terminal identifier.

Optionally, the first routing list further includes a precedence order of all nodes traversed by the second terminal to the access network device. Or the first routing list comprises the relationships between the second terminal and all nodes passing through the middle of the access network equipment.

406, the access network device sends indication information to the first terminal, where the indication information is used to indicate that the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal.

Therefore, in the method for relaying communication in the embodiment of the present application, the third terminal may send the information in the RRC connection request message and the information in the RRC connection complete message to the access network device through a first message, where the first message includes the relay identifier of the third terminal, so that the access network device adds the relay identifier of the third terminal to the first routing list to generate the second routing list, and sends the indication information to the first terminal to notify that the third terminal is added to the first routing list, so that each terminal knows more paths, and thus, the communication efficiency is improved.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for relaying communication of yet another embodiment of the present application.

501, the access network device may send downlink information to the second terminal, where the downlink information carries the relay identifier of the second terminal.

502, the access network device may send downlink information to the third terminal, where the downlink information carries the relay identifier of the second terminal and the terminal identifier of the third terminal.

It should be noted that, when the second terminal sends the downlink information to the third terminal, the downlink information may not carry the relay identifier of the second terminal.

And 503, the third terminal sends uplink information to the access network device, where the uplink information carries the terminal identifier of the third terminal.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the order of step 501, step 502, and step 503 is not limited.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for relaying communication of yet another embodiment of the present application.

601, the access network equipment acquires the capability information.

And 602, the first terminal receives configuration information sent by the access network device, where the configuration information is used to configure the first terminal to have a relay function.

603, the third terminal sends an RRC connection request message to the second terminal.

604, the second terminal sends an RRC connection setup message to the third terminal.

605 the third terminal sends an RRC connection complete message to the second terminal.

And 606, the second terminal sends the first message to the access network equipment.

607, the access network device adds the relay identifier of the third terminal to the first route list to generate a second route list.

And 608, the access network device sends indication information to the first terminal, where the indication information is used to indicate that the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal.

Optionally, the access network device may send the indication information to the first terminal only when the third terminal has a relay function.

609, the access network device may send downlink information to the second terminal, where the downlink information carries the relay identifier of the second terminal.

610, the access network device may send downlink information to the third terminal, and when the access network device sends the downlink information to the second terminal, the access network device needs to carry the relay identifier of the second terminal and the terminal identifier of the third terminal.

613, the third terminal sends uplink information to the access network device, where the uplink information carries the terminal identifier of the third terminal.

Therefore, according to the method for relaying communication in the embodiment of the present application, a terminal (e.g., a first terminal) having relay capability may send capability information to an access network device, so that the access network device configures the terminal as a terminal having a relay function. A new terminal (e.g., a third terminal) may send information in the RRC connection request message and information in the RRC connection complete message to the access network device through a first message, where the first message includes a relay identifier of the third terminal, so that the access network device adds the relay identifier of the third terminal to the first routing list to generate a second routing list, and sends an indication message to the first terminal to notify that the third terminal is added to the first routing list. By establishing the route by the method of the embodiment of the application, the terminal can transmit uplink information and downlink information with the access network equipment, thereby saving signaling overhead.

The various embodiments described herein may be implemented as stand-alone solutions or combined in accordance with inherent logic and are intended to fall within the scope of the present application.

It is to be understood that, in the above embodiments of the method, the method and the operation implemented by the terminal device may also be implemented by a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) available for the terminal device, and the method and the operation implemented by the access network device may also be implemented by a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) available for the access network device.

The above mainly introduces the solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application from various interaction perspectives. It is understood that each network element, for example, the transmitting end device or the receiving end device, includes a corresponding hardware structure and/or software module for performing each function in order to implement the above functions. Those of skill in the art would appreciate that the various illustrative components and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware or combinations of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is performed as hardware or computer software drives hardware depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the solution. 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.

In the embodiment of the present application, the functional modules may be divided according to the above method example for the transmitting end device or the receiving end device, for example, each functional module may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be realized in a form of hardware or a form of a software functional module. It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the division of the module is schematic, and is only one logic function division, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation. The following description will be given by taking an example in which each functional module is divided by using a corresponding function.

It should be understood that the specific examples in the embodiments of the present application are for the purpose of promoting a better understanding of the embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

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.

The method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described in detail above with reference to fig. 3 to 6. Hereinafter, the apparatus provided in the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail with reference to fig. 7 to 14. It should be understood that the description of the apparatus embodiments corresponds to the description of the method embodiments, and therefore, for brevity, details are not repeated here, since the details that are not described in detail may be referred to the above method embodiments.

Fig. 7 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 700 for relaying communications according to an embodiment of the present application shown in fig. 7.

It is to be understood that the apparatus 700 may correspond to the access network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 3, and may have any function of the access network device in the method. The apparatus 700 includes a receiving module 710 and a transmitting module 720.

The receiving module 710 is configured to obtain capability information from a first terminal, where the capability information is used to indicate that the first terminal has relay capability;

the sending module 720 is configured to send configuration information to the first terminal, where the configuration information is used to configure the first terminal to have a relay function.

Optionally, the configuration information includes at least one of a cell access network temporary identifier C-RNTI resource pool, a hop count from an access network device, a maximum relay transmission power, a group hop configuration, an access control parameter, a coverage threshold range, a power ramp parameter, a cell identifier, or an available carrier list.

Optionally, the receiving module 710 is further configured to receive a first message from the second terminal, where the first message includes information in an RRC connection request message and information in an RRC connection complete message, the RRC connection complete message is used to instruct a third terminal to complete an RRC connection with the second terminal, the RRC connection request message is used to instruct the third terminal to request establishment of an RRC connection with the second terminal, and the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal.

Optionally, the first message further includes a relay identifier, where the relay identifier is used to indicate a terminal having a relay function, and the apparatus further includes: and the processing module is used for adding the relay identifications in the first message to a first routing list to generate a second routing list, wherein the first routing list comprises the relay identifications of all nodes traversed from the second terminal to the access network equipment.

Optionally, the sending module 720 is further configured to send indication information to a terminal corresponding to each relay identifier included in the first routing list, where the indication information is used to indicate that a third terminal indicated by the relay identifier in the first message is a child node of the second terminal.

Optionally, the sending module 720 is further configured to send downlink information to a fourth terminal, where the downlink information includes a terminal identifier of the fourth terminal and a relay identifier of the fifth terminal, and the fourth terminal is a child node of the fifth terminal.

Optionally, the sending module 720 is further configured to send release information to a sixth terminal, where the release information is used to instruct the sixth terminal to release the configuration for the relay function, and the sixth terminal is at least one of the first terminal, the second terminal, the third terminal, and the fifth terminal.

Optionally, the receiving module 710 is further configured to receive a relay function start request before sending the configuration information to the first terminal, where the relay function start request is used to request to start a relay function of the first terminal.

Therefore, in the apparatus for relaying communication in the embodiment of the present application, after receiving the capability information of the first terminal having the relay function, the access network device may send the configuration information to the first terminal, so as to configure the first terminal as the terminal having the relay function, so that the first terminal can serve as a relay node to relay communication between another terminal and the access network device.

Fig. 8 illustrates an apparatus 800 for relaying communication according to an embodiment of the present application, where the apparatus 800 may be an access network device described in fig. 7. The apparatus may employ a hardware architecture as shown in fig. 8. The apparatus may comprise a processor 810 and a transceiver 830, and optionally a memory 840, the processor 810, the transceiver 830 and the memory 840 being in communication with each other via an internal connection path. The related functions implemented by the processing module 830 in fig. 8 can be implemented by the processor 810, and the related functions implemented by the transceiver module 810 can be implemented by the processor 810 controlling the transceiver 830.

Alternatively, the processor 810 may be a general-purpose Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a special-purpose processor, or one or more integrated circuits configured to perform the embodiments of the present disclosure. Alternatively, a processor may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions). For example, a baseband processor, or a central processor. The baseband processor may be configured to process a communication protocol and communication data, and the central processor may be configured to control a device (e.g., a base station, a terminal, or a chip) for relay communication, execute a software program, and process data of the software program.

Alternatively, the processor 810 may include one or more processors, for example, one or more Central Processing Units (CPUs), and in the case that the processor is a CPU, the CPU may be a single-core CPU or a multi-core CPU.

The transceiver 830 is used for transmitting and receiving data and/or signals, and receiving data and/or signals. The transceiver may include a transmitter for transmitting data and/or signals and a receiver for receiving data and/or signals.

The memory 840 includes, but is not limited to, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), and a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), and the memory 840 is used for storing relevant instructions and data.

Memory 840, which may be a separate device or integrated within processor 810, is used to store program codes and data for the access network equipment.

Specifically, the processor 810 is configured to control the transceiver to perform information transmission with the terminal. For details, reference may be made to the description in the method embodiments, which are not repeated herein.

In particular implementations, apparatus 800 may also include an output device and an input device, as one embodiment. An output device, which is in communication with the processor 810, may display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device may be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display device, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display device, a projector (projector), or the like. An input device is in communication with the processor 601 and may receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensing device, among others.

It will be appreciated that fig. 8 only shows a simplified design of the means for relaying communication. In practical applications, the apparatus may also include necessary other components respectively, including but not limited to any number of transceivers, processors, controllers, memories, etc., and all access network devices that can implement the present application are within the scope of the present application.

In one possible design, the apparatus 800 may be a chip, for example, a communication chip that may be used in an access network device, and is used to implement the relevant functions of the processor 810 in the access network device. The chip can be a field programmable gate array, a special integrated chip, a system chip, a central processing unit, a network processor, a digital signal processing circuit and a microcontroller which realize related functions, and can also adopt a programmable controller or other integrated chips. The chip may optionally include one or more memories for storing program code that, when executed, causes the processor to implement corresponding functions.

The embodiment of the present application further provides an apparatus, which may be an access network device or a circuit. The apparatus may be configured to perform the actions performed by the access network device in the above method embodiments.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 900 for relaying communication according to an embodiment of the present application.

It is to be understood that the apparatus 900 may correspond to the terminal in the embodiment shown in fig. 3, and may have any function of the terminal in the method. The apparatus 900 includes a sending module 910 and a receiving module 920.

A sending module 910, configured to send capability information to an access network device, where the capability information is used to indicate that the first terminal has relay capability;

a receiving module 920, configured to receive configuration information from the access network device, where the configuration information is used to configure the first terminal to have a relay function.

Optionally, the receiving module 920 is further configured to receive an RRC connection request message from a third terminal, where the RRC connection request message is used to request establishment of an RRC connection with the second terminal, and the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal; the sending module 910 is further configured to send an RRC connection setup message to the third terminal according to the RRC connection request message; the receiving module 920 is further configured to receive an RRC connection complete message from the third terminal, where the RRC connection complete message is used to indicate that the third terminal completes an RRC connection with the second terminal; the sending module 910 is further configured to send a first message to the access network device, where the first message includes information in the RRC connection request message and information in the RRC connection complete message, and the first message further includes a relay identifier of the third terminal.

Optionally, before receiving the second RRC connection request message from the second terminal, the receiving module 920 is further configured to receive a random access preamble from the third terminal; the sending module 910 is further configured to send a random access response to the third terminal, where the random access response includes a temporary C-TNTI identity, the temporary C-TNTI identity is a first C-RNTI identity in a C-RNTI resource pool, and the first C-RNTI identity is used as a relay identity of the third terminal.

Optionally, the receiving module 920 is further configured to receive indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal.

Optionally, the receiving module 920 is further configured to receive release information; the apparatus also includes a processing module configured to release the configuration for the relay function according to the release information.

Optionally, the sending module 910 is further configured to send a relay function start request before receiving the configuration information from the access network device, where the relay function start request is used to request to start a relay function of the first terminal.

In the apparatus for relaying communication according to the embodiment of the present application, the first terminal sends, to the access network device, capability information indicating that the first terminal has a relay function, receives, from the access network device, configuration information sent by the first terminal, and configures the first terminal as a terminal having a relay function according to the configuration information, so that the first terminal can serve as a relay node to relay communication between another terminal and the access network device. Therefore, in the embodiment of the application, the access network device serves as a relay node to transmit the RRC signaling through the backhaul link, and the signaling overhead is saved.

Fig. 10 shows an apparatus 1000 for relaying communication according to an embodiment of the present application, where the apparatus 1000 may be the terminal shown in fig. 9. The apparatus may employ a hardware architecture as shown in fig. 10. The apparatus may include a processor 1010 and a transceiver 1020, and optionally, the apparatus may further include a memory 1030, the processor 1010, the transceiver 1020, and the memory 1030 communicating with each other through an internal connection path. The related functions implemented by the processing module 1020 in fig. 10 may be implemented by the processor 1010, and the related functions implemented by the transceiver module 1010 may be implemented by the processor 1010 controlling the transceiver 1020.

Alternatively, the processor 1010 may be a general processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a special-purpose processor, or one or more ics for executing embodiments of the present application. Alternatively, a processor may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions). For example, a baseband processor, or a central processor. The baseband processor may be configured to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processor may be configured to control a device (e.g., a base station, a terminal, or a chip) for relay communication, execute a software program, and process data of the software program.

Alternatively, the processor 1010 may include one or more processors, such as one or more Central Processing Units (CPUs), and in the case of one CPU, the CPU may be a single-core CPU or a multi-core CPU.

The transceiver 1020 is used for transmitting and receiving data and/or signals, as well as receiving data and/or signals. The transceiver may include a transmitter for transmitting data and/or signals and a receiver for receiving data and/or signals.

The memory 1030 includes, but is not limited to, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), and a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), and the memory 1030 is used for storing relevant instructions and data.

The memory 1030, which is used to store program codes and data for the terminal, may be a separate device or integrated into the processor 1010.

Specifically, the processor 1010 is configured to control the transceiver to perform information transmission with the terminal. For details, reference may be made to the description in the method embodiments, which are not repeated herein.

In particular implementations, apparatus 1000 may also include an output device and an input device, as one embodiment. An output device, which is in communication with the processor 1010, may display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device may be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display device, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display device, a projector (projector), or the like. The input device, which is in communication with the processor 901, may receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensing device, among others.

It will be appreciated that fig. 10 only shows a simplified design of the means for relaying communication. In practical applications, the apparatus may also include other necessary elements respectively, including but not limited to any number of transceivers, processors, controllers, memories, etc., and all terminals capable of implementing the present application are within the protection scope of the present application.

In one possible design, the apparatus 1000 may be a chip, such as a communication chip that may be used in a terminal, for implementing the relevant functions of the processor 1010 in the terminal. The chip can be a field programmable gate array, a special integrated chip, a system chip, a central processing unit, a network processor, a digital signal processing circuit and a microcontroller which realize related functions, and can also adopt a programmable controller or other integrated chips. The chip may optionally include one or more memories for storing program code that, when executed, causes the processor to implement corresponding functions.

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

Optionally, when the apparatus in this embodiment is a terminal, fig. 11 illustrates a simplified structural diagram of the terminal. For easy understanding and convenience of illustration, in fig. 11, the terminal is exemplified by a mobile phone. As shown in fig. 11, the terminal 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, 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 terminals 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, 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. 11. In an actual end 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, and the processor having the processing function may be regarded as a processing unit of the terminal. As shown in fig. 11, the terminal includes a transceiving unit 1110 and a processing unit 1120. 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 in the transceiver 1110 for implementing a receiving function may be regarded as a receiving unit, and a device in the transceiver 1110 for implementing a transmitting function may be regarded as a transmitting unit, that is, the transceiver 1110 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 1110 is configured to perform the transmitting operation and the receiving operation on the terminal side in the above-described method embodiments, and the processing unit 1120 is configured to perform other operations on the terminal in the above-described method embodiments besides the transceiving operation.

For example, in one implementation, the processing unit 1120 is configured to perform processing steps at the terminal side. The transceiving unit 1110 is configured to perform transceiving operations in step 301 and/or step 302 in fig. 3, and/or the transceiving unit 1110 is further configured to perform other transceiving steps at the terminal side in this embodiment of the present application.

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

Optionally, when the apparatus is a terminal, reference may also be made to the device shown in fig. 12. As an example, the device may perform functions similar to processor 1110 of FIG. 11. In fig. 12, the apparatus includes a processor 1201, a transmit data processor 1203, a receive data processor 1205. The processing module in the above embodiment may be the processor 1201 in fig. 12, and performs corresponding functions. The receiving module in the above embodiments may be the received data processor 1205 in fig. 12, and the sending module may be the sending data processor 1203 in fig. 12. Although fig. 12 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. 13 shows another form of the present embodiment. The processing device 1300 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 1303 and an interface 1304. The processor 1303 completes the functions of the processing module, and the interface 1304 completes the functions of the receiving module or the sending module. As another variation, the modulation subsystem includes a memory 1306, a processor 1303, and a program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, and the processor implements the method according to one of the first to fifth embodiments when executing the program. It should be noted that the memory 1306 may be non-volatile or volatile, and may be located inside the modulation subsystem or in the processing device 1300 as long as the memory 1306 can be connected to the processor 1303.

When the apparatus in this embodiment is an access network device, the access network device may be as shown in fig. 14, where the apparatus 1400 includes one or more radio frequency units, such as a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) 1410 and one or more baseband units (BBUs) (which may also be referred to as digital units, DUs) 1420. The RRU 1410 may be referred to as a transceiver module corresponding to the receiving module and the transmitting module, and optionally, the transceiver module may also be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver, which may include at least one antenna 1411 and a radio frequency unit 1412. The RRU 1410 section 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 BBU 1410 part is mainly used for performing baseband processing, controlling a base station, and the like. The RRU 1410 and the BBU 1420 may be physically disposed together or may be physically disposed separately, that is, distributed base stations.

The BBU 1420 is a control center of a base station, and may also be referred to as a processing module, and may correspond to the processing module 920 in fig. 9, 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 access network device in the foregoing method embodiment, for example, to generate the foregoing indication information.

In an example, the BBU 1420 may be formed by one or more boards, where a plurality of boards may support a radio access network of a single access system (e.g., an LTE network) together, or may support radio access networks of different access systems (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G network, or other networks) respectively. The BBU 1420 also includes a memory 1421 and a processor 1422. The memory 1421 is used for storing necessary instructions and data. The processor 1422 is configured to control the base station to perform necessary actions, for example, to control the base station to perform the operation procedure related to the access network device in the above method embodiment. The memory 1421 and processor 1422 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.

The access network device is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be in another embodiment: for example: the antenna comprises a BBU (baseband unit) and an Adaptive Radio Unit (ARU), or the BBU and an Active Antenna Unit (AAU); the CPE may be a Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) or another type, and the present application is not limited thereto.

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 of 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 of the above-described method embodiments.

In the above embodiments, the implementation may be wholly or partially realized by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, cause the processes or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the application to occur, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored on a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wire (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device, such as a server, a data center, etc., that incorporates one or more of the available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a Solid State Disk (SSD)), among others.

It should be understood that the processor may be an integrated circuit chip having signal processing capabilities. In implementation, the steps of the above method embodiments may be performed by integrated logic circuits of hardware in a processor or instructions in the form of software. The processor may be a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an off-the-shelf programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware components. The various methods, steps, and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented or performed. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware decoding processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module may be located in ram, flash memory, rom, prom, or eprom, registers, etc. storage media as is well known in the art. The storage medium is located in a memory, and a processor reads information in the memory and completes the steps of the method in combination with hardware of the processor.

It will be appreciated that the memory in the embodiments of the subject application can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can 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 EPROM (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 (SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM, enhanced SDRAM, SLDRAM, Synchronous Link DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct bus RAM (DR RAM).

In this application, "at least one" means one or more, "a plurality" means two or more. "and/or" describes the association relationship of the associated object, indicating that there may be three relationships, for example, a and/or B, which may indicate: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, wherein A and B can be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the former and latter associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "at least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of the singular or plural items. For example, at least one (one) of a, b, or c, may represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, wherein a, b, c may be single or multiple.

It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 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.

As used in this specification, the terms "component," "module," "system," and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device can be a component. One or more components can reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component can be localized on one computer and/or distributed between 2 or more computers. In addition, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may communicate by way of local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from two components interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as the internet with other systems by way of the signal).

It should also be understood that the reference herein to first, second, and various numerical designations is merely a convenient division to describe and is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

It should be understood that the term "and/or" herein is only one kind of association relationship describing the association object, and means that there may be three kinds of relationships, for example, a and/or B, and may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. Wherein A or B is present alone, and the number of A or B is not limited. Taking the case of a alone, it can be understood as having one or more as.

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 an access network device) to perform 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 above description is only for the specific embodiments of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of the changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present application, and shall be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for relaying communications, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that access network equipment acquires capability information from a first terminal, wherein the capability information is used for indicating that the first terminal has relay capability;

the access network equipment sends configuration information to the first terminal, wherein the configuration information is used for configuring the first terminal to have a relay function;

the access network equipment receives a first message from a second terminal, wherein the first message comprises information in an RRC connection request message and information in an RRC connection completion message, the RRC connection completion message is used for indicating a third terminal to complete RRC connection with the second terminal, the RRC connection request message is used for indicating the third terminal to request establishment of RRC connection with the second terminal, and the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of a cell access network temporary identity (C-RNTI) resource pool, a hop count from an access network device, a maximum relay transmission power, a group hop configuration, an access control parameter, a threshold range of coverage, a power ramp parameter, a cell identity, or a list of available carriers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message further comprises a relay identifier, and wherein the relay identifier is used for indicating a terminal with a relay function, and wherein the method further comprises:

and the access network equipment adds the relay identifications in the first message to a first routing list to generate a second routing list, wherein the first routing list comprises the relay identifications of all nodes traversed from the first terminal to the access network equipment.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

and the access network equipment sends indication information to a terminal corresponding to each relay identifier included in the first routing list, wherein the indication information is used for indicating that a third terminal indicated by the relay identifier in the first message is a child node of the second terminal.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

the access network equipment sends downlink information to a fourth terminal without a relay function, the downlink information comprises a terminal identifier of the fourth terminal and a relay identifier of a fifth terminal, and the fourth terminal is a child node of the fifth terminal.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

the access network device sends release information to a sixth terminal, where the release information is used to instruct the sixth terminal to release configuration for a relay function, and the sixth terminal is at least one of the first terminal, the third terminal, and a fifth terminal.

7. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein prior to sending the configuration information to the first terminal, the method further comprises:

and the access network equipment receives a relay function starting request, wherein the relay function starting request is used for requesting to start the relay function of the first terminal.

8. A method for relaying communications, comprising:

a first terminal sends capability information to access network equipment, wherein the capability information is used for indicating that the first terminal has relay capability;

the first terminal receives configuration information from the access network equipment, wherein the configuration information is used for configuring the first terminal to have a relay function;

the first terminal receives an RRC connection request message from a third terminal, wherein the RRC connection request message is used for requesting to establish RRC connection with the second terminal, and the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal;

The first terminal sends an RRC connection establishment message to the third terminal according to the RRC connection request message;

the first terminal receives an RRC connection completion message from the third terminal, wherein the RRC connection completion message is used for indicating that the third terminal completes the RRC connection with the second terminal;

the first terminal sends a first message to the access network device, where the first message includes information in the RRC connection request message and information in the RRC connection complete message, and the first message further includes a relay identifier of the third terminal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of a cell access network temporary identity (C-RNTI) resource pool, a hop count from an access network device, a maximum relay transmission power, a group hop configuration, an access control parameter, a threshold range of coverage, a power ramp parameter, a cell identity, or a list of available carriers.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein prior to receiving the RRC connection request message from the third terminal, the method further comprises:

the first terminal receiving a random access preamble from the third terminal;

And the first terminal sends a random access response to the third terminal, wherein the random access response comprises a temporary C-TNTI identification, the temporary C-TNTI identification is a first C-RNTI identification in a C-RNTI resource pool, and the first C-RNTI identification is used as a relay identification of the third terminal.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

and the first terminal receives indication information, wherein the indication information is used for indicating that the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, further comprising:

the first terminal receives release information;

and the first terminal releases the configuration for the relay function according to the release information.

13. The method of any of claims 8 to 11, wherein prior to receiving the configuration information from the access network device, the method further comprises:

the first terminal sends a relay function starting request, and the relay function starting request is used for requesting to start the relay function of the first terminal.

14. An apparatus for relaying communications, comprising:

A receiving module, configured to obtain capability information from a first terminal, where the capability information is used to indicate that the first terminal has relay capability, and to receive a first message from a second terminal, where the first message includes information in an RRC connection request message and information in an RRC connection complete message, the RRC connection complete message is used to indicate a third terminal to complete RRC connection with the second terminal, the RRC connection request message is used to indicate the third terminal to request establishment of RRC connection with the second terminal, and the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal;

a sending module, configured to send configuration information to the first terminal, where the configuration information is used to configure the first terminal to have a relay function.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of a cell access network temporary identity (C-RNTI) resource pool, a hop count from an access network device, a maximum relay transmission power, a group hop configuration, an access control parameter, a threshold range of coverage, a power ramp parameter, a cell identity, or a list of available carriers.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first message further comprises a relay identifier indicating a terminal with a relay function, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

And the processing module is used for adding the relay identifications in the first message to a first routing list to generate a second routing list, wherein the first routing list comprises the relay identifications of all nodes traversed from the first terminal to the access network equipment.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the sending module is further configured to send indication information to a terminal corresponding to each relay identifier included in the first routing list, where the indication information is used to indicate that a third terminal indicated by the relay identifier in the first message is a child node of the second terminal.

18. The apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the sending module is further configured to send downlink information to a fourth terminal without a relay function, where the downlink information includes a terminal identifier of the fourth terminal and a relay identifier of a fifth terminal, and the fourth terminal is a child node of the fifth terminal.

19. The apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the sending module is further configured to send release information to a sixth terminal, where the release information is used to instruct the sixth terminal to release the configuration for the relay function, and the sixth terminal is at least one of the first terminal, the third terminal, and a fifth terminal.

20. The apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the receiving module is further configured to receive a relay function start request before sending the configuration information to the first terminal, where the relay function start request is used to request to start a relay function of the first terminal.

21. An apparatus for relaying communications, comprising:

a sending module, configured to send capability information to an access network device, where the capability information is used to indicate that a first terminal has relay capability;

a receiving module, configured to receive configuration information from the access network device, where the configuration information is used to configure the first terminal to have a relay function;

the receiving module is further configured to receive an RRC connection request message from a third terminal, where the RRC connection request message is used to request establishment of an RRC connection with the second terminal, and the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal;

the sending module is further configured to send an RRC connection setup message to the third terminal according to the RRC connection request message;

the receiving module is further configured to receive an RRC connection complete message from the third terminal, where the RRC connection complete message is used to instruct the third terminal to complete an RRC connection with the second terminal;

The sending module is further configured to send a first message to the access network device, where the first message includes information in the RRC connection request message and information in the RRC connection complete message, and the first message further includes a relay identifier of the third terminal.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of a cell access network temporary identity (C-RNTI) resource pool, hop count from access network devices, maximum relay transmit power, group hop configuration, access control parameters, threshold range of coverage, power ramping parameters, cell identity, or a list of available carriers.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the receiving module is further configured to receive a random access preamble from a third terminal before receiving the RRC connection request message from the third terminal;

the sending module is further configured to send a random access response to the third terminal, where the random access response includes a temporary C-TNTI identifier, the temporary C-TNTI identifier is a first C-RNTI identifier in a C-RNTI resource pool, and the first C-RNTI identifier is used as a relay identifier of the third terminal.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the receiving module is further configured to receive indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate that the third terminal is a child node of the second terminal.

25. The apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the receiving module is further configured to receive a release message;

the apparatus further comprises a processing module configured to release the configuration for the relay function according to the release information.

26. The apparatus of any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the sending module is further configured to send a relay function start request before receiving the configuration information from the access network device, where the relay function start request is used to request to start a relay function of the first terminal.

27. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 13.

28. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory for storing a computer program;

a processor for executing a computer program stored in the memory to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 13.

29. A communication system, comprising: apparatus for use in any one of claims 14 to 20 and apparatus for carrying out any one of claims 21 to 26.