CN116456507A - Communication method, communication device and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

The application discloses a communication method, communication equipment and a communication system, which can avoid interruption of data transmitted by a remote terminal. The method comprises the following steps: receiving radio resource control release information sent by first network equipment, wherein the radio resource control release information is used for indicating to release first radio resource control connection between a first terminal and the first network equipment; and sending first indication information to the second terminal, wherein the first terminal is a relay device of the second terminal accessed to the first network device, and the first indication information is used for indicating to release a side uplink between the first terminal and the second terminal, or is used for indicating that the first radio resource control connection is released, or is used for indicating that the state of the first radio resource control connection is a connection failure state.

Description

Communication method, communication device and communication system

The present application claims priority from chinese patent application No. 202210023783.X, entitled "communication method, communication device and communication system", filed on 1 month 10 of 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

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

Background

A relay (relay) terminal may act as a relay device to relay data transmitted between a remote (remote) terminal and a network device. In some cases, the network device may release a radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) connection between the relay terminal and the network device. This situation may cause interruption of data transmitted by the remote terminal.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a communication method, a communication device and a communication system, which can avoid interruption of data transmitted by a remote terminal.

In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, including: receiving radio resource control release information sent by first network equipment, wherein the radio resource control release information is used for indicating to release first radio resource control connection between a first terminal and the first network equipment; transmitting first indication information to the second terminal, wherein the first terminal is a relay device for accessing the second terminal to the first network device, and the first indication information is used for indicating at least one of the following information: and releasing the side uplink between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the side uplink is used for indicating that the first radio resource control connection is released and indicating that the state of the first radio resource control connection is a connection failure state.

In case that a first radio resource control connection between a first terminal as a relay device and the first network device is released, the first terminal transmits first indication information to a second terminal as a remote device. Therefore, the remote terminal can carry out subsequent processing according to the first indication information, and data interruption of remote terminal transmission is avoided.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: and establishing a second radio resource control connection with a second network device, wherein the second radio resource control connection is used for the second terminal to access the second network device.

In the case that the first radio resource control connection between the first terminal as the relay device and the first network device is released, the first terminal establishes a second radio resource control connection with the second network device, so that the second terminal accesses the second network device through the second radio resource control connection, and interruption of data transmitted by the second terminal can be avoided.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: and receiving second indication information sent by the second terminal, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating to keep the side uplink.

The first terminal establishes a second radio resource control connection with the second network device under the condition of receiving second indication information sent by the second terminal and used for indicating to keep the side link. That is, the second radio resource control connection is established in dependence on the response of the second terminal to the holding side uplink sent by the first indication information, so that the second radio resource control connection is established without being invalid, and the occupation of resources is reduced.

In some possible implementations, the establishing a second radio resource control connection with a second network device includes: and the side uplink establishes an RRC connection with the second network equipment under the condition that a detection time point is not disconnected, wherein the detection time point comprises a first time point after the first indication information is sent.

The side link is not disconnected at the detection time point, and it can be understood that the second terminal responds to the first indication information by maintaining the side link. That is, the second radio resource control connection is established in dependence on the response of the second terminal to the holding side uplink sent by the first indication information, so that the second radio resource control connection is established without being invalid, and the occupation of resources is reduced.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the radio resource control release information is received in a case where the first terminal satisfies a handover condition and a session belonging to the first terminal does not exist between the first terminal and the first network device.

The switching condition may be, for example, that at least one measurement event is fulfilled. After the first terminal establishes an RRC connection with the first network device, the first network device may send at least one measurement event to the first terminal. The first terminal device may make the measurements periodically or aperiodically. In case any one or more of the at least one measurement event is fulfilled, the first terminal may send a measurement report to the first network device. The first network device may determine that the handover condition is met in case of receiving the measurement report.

The first network device may send at least one measurement event to the first terminal may include one or more of the following events: the serving cell signal quality becomes lower than the corresponding threshold; the signal quality of the adjacent cell is higher than the signal quality of the service cell by a certain bias; the neighbor cell signal quality becomes higher than the corresponding threshold; the serving cell signal quality becomes lower than threshold 1 and the neighbor cell signal quality becomes higher than threshold 2; the signal quality of the adjacent cell is higher than the signal quality of a secondary cell (Scell) by a certain bias; the Inter-system (Inter radio access technology, inter-RAT) neighbor signal quality becomes higher than the corresponding threshold; the primary cell (Pcell) signal quality becomes lower than the threshold 1 and the inter-system neighbor signal quality becomes higher than the threshold 2.

The first terminal may send radio resource control release information to the first terminal and release a first radio resource control connection with the first terminal when the first terminal satisfies a handover condition and a session belonging to the first terminal does not exist between the first terminal and the first network device.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: determining a connection state of the first radio resource control connection; and sending state indication information to a second terminal, wherein the state indication information comprises first state information, second state information or third state information, the first state information is used for indicating that the connection state is an establishment state, the second state information is used for indicating that the connection state is an establishment completion state, and the third state information is used for indicating that the connection state is an establishment failure state.

The first terminal sends the state indication information to the second terminal to indicate the connection state of the first radio resource control connection, so that the event related to the first radio resource control connection is not required to be indicated, and the redundancy of the information is reduced.

It should be appreciated that after the first terminal establishes a second radio resource control connection with the second network device, the first terminal may send status indication information to the second terminal to indicate the connection status of the second radio resource control connection. That is, the status indication information is used to indicate a radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network device serving the first terminal.

In some possible implementations, the determining the connection state of the first radio resource control connection includes: determining that the connection state is the establishing state in the case that the first terminal is switching, the first radio resource control connection is being established, or the first radio resource control connection with radio link failure is being recovered; determining that the connection state is the establishment completion state when the first terminal completes the handover, the establishment of the first radio resource control connection is completed, or the failure recovery of the first radio resource control connection radio link is completed; and when the first terminal equipment fails in handover, the first radio resource control connection fails in establishment, the first radio resource control connection fails in radio link, and the first radio resource control connection which fails in radio link is recovered, or the first radio resource control connection is released, determining that the connection state is the establishment failure state.

For various events related to the first radio resource control connection, under the condition that the states of the radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network equipment are the same, the same information can be used for indication, so that the number of bits required by the information can be reduced, and the redundancy of the information is reduced.

In a second aspect, there is provided a communication method, the method comprising: determining a connection state of a first radio resource control connection between a first terminal and a first network device; and sending state indication information to a second terminal, wherein the state indication information comprises first state information, second state information or third state information, the first state information is used for indicating that the connection state is an establishment state, the second state information is used for indicating that the connection state is an establishment completion state, the third state information is used for indicating that the connection state is an establishment failure state, and the first terminal is a relay device of the second terminal accessed to the first network device.

The first terminal sends the state indication information to the second terminal to indicate the connection state of the first radio resource control connection, so that the event related to the first radio resource control connection is not required to be indicated, and the redundancy of the information is reduced.

In some possible implementations, the determining the connection state of the first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network device includes: determining that the connection state is the establishing state in the case that the first terminal is switching, the first radio resource control connection is being established, or the first radio resource control connection with radio link failure is being recovered; determining that the connection state is the establishment completion state when the first terminal completes the handover, the establishment of the first radio resource control connection is completed, or the failure recovery of the first radio resource control connection radio link is completed; and when the first terminal equipment fails in handover, the first radio resource control connection fails in establishment, the first radio resource control connection fails in radio link, and the first radio resource control connection which fails in radio link is recovered, or the first radio resource control connection is released, determining that the connection state is the establishment failure state.

In some possible implementations, the determining the connection state of the first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network device includes: and under the condition of receiving the radio resource control release information sent by the first network equipment, determining the connection state as the establishment failure state, wherein the radio resource control release information is used for indicating the release of the first radio resource control connection.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: and establishing a second radio resource control connection with a second network device, wherein the second radio resource control connection is used for the second terminal to access the second network device.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: and receiving second indication information sent by the second terminal, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating to keep the side uplink.

In some possible implementations, the establishing a second radio resource control connection with a second network device includes: and the side uplink establishes an RRC connection with the second network equipment under the condition that a detection time point is not disconnected, wherein the detection time point comprises a first time point after the first indication information is sent.

In some possible implementations, the radio resource control release information is received if the first terminal satisfies a handover condition and there is no session between the first terminal and the first network device belonging to the first terminal.

In a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The method comprises the following steps: determining that the first terminal meets a switching condition, and that a session belonging to the first terminal does not exist between the first terminal and the first network device, wherein the first terminal is a relay device for accessing the second terminal into the first network device, and a first radio resource control connection exists between the first terminal and the first network device; and sending radio resource control release information to the first terminal, wherein the radio resource control release information is used for indicating to release the first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network equipment.

The first network device may instruct the first terminal to release the radio resource control connection when it is determined that the first terminal meets the handover condition and there is no session belonging to the first terminal, so that the first terminal may send first instruction information to the second terminal, and further the second terminal may perform subsequent processing according to the first instruction information, so as to avoid interruption of data transmitted by the second terminal.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: receiving a measurement report from the first terminal, the measurement report including information indicating a signal quality obtained by the first terminal measurement; and determining that the first terminal meets the switching condition according to the measurement report.

The first network device may determine whether the first terminal satisfies the handover condition through a measurement report from the first terminal, thereby determining whether handover indication information needs to be sent to the first terminal.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network device is released.

The first network device may release the first radio resource control connection with the first terminal after transmitting the radio resource control release information to the first terminal.

In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method comprises the following steps: determining whether a session belonging to the first terminal exists between the first terminal and the first network device, wherein the first terminal is a relay device for accessing the second terminal into the first network device; when there is no session belonging to the first terminal, a first radio resource control reconfiguration message is sent to the first terminal, the first radio resource control reconfiguration message comprising information indicating at least one non-measurable cell and/or at least one measurable cell covered by the first network device.

The first network device may instruct the first terminal to measure only the cell covered by the first network device when there is no session belonging to the first terminal, so that the first terminal may switch from the current serving cell to the cell covered by the first network device with better signal quality, and avoid interruption of data transmitted by the second terminal through the first terminal.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: and when the session belonging to the first terminal exists, sending a second radio resource control reconfiguration message to the first terminal, wherein the second radio resource control reconfiguration message comprises information for indicating a cell covered by the first network equipment and/or other cells, and the other cells are cells outside the cell covered by the first network equipment.

The first network device may send the second radio resource control reconfiguration message to the first terminal when there is a session belonging to the first terminal, so that the first terminal may perform signal measurement according to the second radio resource control reconfiguration message, and determine whether there is a cell with better signal quality.

In some possible implementations, the second radio resource control reconfiguration message includes any one or more of: at least one measurement event, a white list of measurable cells including at least one measurable cell within or outside the coverage of the first network device, or a black list of non-measurable cells including at least one non-measurable cell.

The first network device may send the second radio resource control reconfiguration message to the first terminal, so that when there is a session belonging to the first terminal, the first terminal may switch to a network with better signal quality.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: a first measurement report is received from a first terminal, the first measurement report being determined in accordance with a first radio resource control reconfiguration message or a second radio resource control reconfiguration message.

The first network device may send different radio resource control reconfiguration messages to the first terminal, and may also receive a first measurement report from the first terminal, so as to determine whether handover indication information needs to be sent to the first terminal.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: receiving a second measurement report from the first terminal, the second measurement report including information indicating signal quality obtained by the first terminal measurement; and determining that the first terminal meets the switching condition according to the second measurement report.

The first network device may determine whether the first terminal satisfies the handover condition according to the second measurement report from the first terminal, thereby determining whether handover indication information needs to be sent to the first terminal. The first network device may further determine whether there is a session belonging to the first terminal after receiving the second measurement report, thereby transmitting a first radio resource control reconfiguration message or a second radio resource control reconfiguration message to the first terminal.

In a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method comprises the following steps: receiving a first radio resource control reconfiguration message from the first network device when a session belonging to the first terminal does not exist between the first terminal and the first network device, the first radio resource control reconfiguration message including information for indicating at least one non-measurable cell and/or at least one measurable cell covered by the first network device, the first terminal accessing a relay device of the first network device for the second terminal; and carrying out signal measurement according to the first radio resource control reconfiguration message.

The first terminal can perform signal measurement according to the first radio resource control reconfiguration message when the session belonging to the first terminal does not exist, so that the interruption of connection with the first network device can be avoided, and the second terminal cannot transmit data to the first network device through the first terminal.

In some possible implementations, when there is a session belonging to the first terminal, receiving a second radio resource control reconfiguration message from the first network device, the second radio resource control reconfiguration message including information indicating a cell covered by the first network device and/or other cells, the other cells being cells outside the cell covered by the first network device; and carrying out signal measurement according to the second radio resource control reconfiguration message.

The first terminal may perform signal measurement according to the first radio resource control reconfiguration message when there is a session belonging to the first terminal, so as to determine whether there is a cell with better signal quality.

In some possible implementations, the second radio resource control reconfiguration message includes any one or more of: at least one measurement event, a white list of measurable cells including at least one measurable cell within or outside the coverage of the first network device, or a black list of non-measurable cells including at least one non-measurable cell.

The first terminal may perform signal measurement according to the first radio resource control reconfiguration message, so as to switch to a network with better signal quality when there is a session belonging to the first terminal.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: a first measurement report is sent to the first network device, the first measurement report being determined from the first radio resource control reconfiguration message or the second radio resource control reconfiguration message.

The first terminal can measure signals according to different radio resource control reconfiguration messages and send different measurement reports to the first network equipment, so that the first network equipment can obtain the information of the signal quality of each cell.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: before receiving the first radio resource control reconfiguration message or the second radio resource control reconfiguration message from the first network equipment, a second measurement report is sent to the first network equipment, the second measurement report including information indicating signal quality obtained by the first terminal measurement.

The first terminal may send a second measurement report to the first network device, thereby reporting the signal quality obtained by the measurement to the first network device, and causing the first network device to determine to send the first radio resource control reconfiguration message or the second radio resource control reconfiguration message. Alternatively, the first terminal may send the second measurement report to the first network device, so that the first network device may determine not to send the radio resource control reconfiguration message and not switch the first terminal.

In a sixth aspect, there is provided a communication device comprising means for performing the method of any of the implementations of the first, second or fifth aspects.

A seventh aspect provides a communications apparatus comprising means for performing the method of any one of the third or fourth aspects.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided a communication device comprising at least one processor and a communication interface for information interaction by the communication device with other communication devices, which when executed in the at least one processor causes the communication device to perform the method of any one of the implementations of the first, second or fifth aspects.

A ninth aspect provides a communications apparatus comprising at least one processor and a communications interface for the communications apparatus to interact with other communications apparatuses, the program instructions, when executed in the at least one processor, cause the communications apparatus to perform the method of any one of the implementations of the third or fourth aspect.

A tenth aspect provides a communication system comprising the second terminal, the communication device of the sixth or eighth aspect, and the communication device of the seventh or ninth aspect.

An eleventh aspect provides a computer readable medium storing program code for execution by a device, the program code comprising instructions for performing the method of any one of the implementations of the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth aspects.

A twelfth aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of the implementations of the first, second, third, fourth or fifth aspects above.

A thirteenth aspect provides a chip comprising a processor and a data interface, the processor reading instructions stored on a memory via the data interface, performing the method of any one of the implementations of the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth aspects.

Optionally, as an implementation manner, the chip may further include a memory, where the memory stores instructions, and the processor is configured to execute the instructions stored on the memory, where the processor is configured to perform the method in any implementation manner of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, or the fifth aspect when the instructions are executed.

The chip may be a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of one scenario of an inter-device communication scheme.

Fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method.

Fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5 is a schematic flow chart of yet another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 6 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 7 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of still another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

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

The technical solution of the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: global system for mobile communications (global system for mobile communications, GSM), code division multiple access (code division multiple access, CDMA) system, wideband code division multiple access (wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA) system, general packet radio service (general packet radio service, GPRS), long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (time division duplex, TDD), universal mobile telecommunications system (universal mobile telecommunication system, UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (worldwide interoperability for microwave access, wiMAX) communication system, fifth generation (5th generation,5G) system, or New Radio (NR), and the like.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of one scenario of an inter-device communication scheme. In the scenario 100 shown in fig. 1, there are mainly two kinds of communication interfaces, namely a communication interface between the terminal 121 and the network device 110 (Uu port) for communication between the user device and the base station or the roadside unit and a communication interface between the terminal 121 and the terminal 122 (PC 5 port) for side-link communication between the terminal and the terminal. The link on the Uu port where the terminal sends data to the base station is called an uplink (uplink), and the link where the terminal receives data sent by the base station is called a downlink (downlink). The communication interface between terminals is called PC5 port. The link over the PC5 port, which transmits data between terminals, is called a sidelink (sidelink) or a pass-through link. Side-links are commonly used in a scenario where devices can communicate directly between devices, such as device-to-device (D2D), where data transfer between devices does not need to go through a base station. The internet of vehicles (vehicle to everything, V2X) communication can be seen as a special case of D2D communication.

On the Uu port, data and radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) signaling are transmitted over radio bearers between the terminal and the base station. Among them, the radio bearer used for transmitting data is called a data radio bearer (data radio bearer, DRB), and the bearer used for transmitting RRC signaling is called a signaling radio bearer (signaling radio bearer, SRB). One radio bearer includes a packet data convergence protocol (packet data convergence protocol, PDCP) entity and a radio link control (radio link control, RLC) bearer. Wherein one RLC bearer includes one RLC entity and a corresponding Logical Channel (LCH). The configuration of the radio bearer is the configuration of the PDCP entity, the RLC entity and the logic channel of the radio bearer. The configuration of the radio bearer needs to be able to guarantee the quality of service (quality of service, qoS) requirements of the traffic transmitted over the radio bearer. On the Uu port, the configuration of the radio bearer is configured for the terminal by the network device.

On the PC5 port, data and RRC signaling are also required to be transferred over the radio bearer between terminals. The radio bearer on the PC5 port may be referred to as a side-link radio bearer (sidelink radio bearer, SL RB). In a long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) V2X system, radio bearers on the PC5 port are established by the sender terminal and the receiver terminal themselves, respectively, and the configuration of the radio bearers is predefined by a standard or determined by the sender terminal and the receiver terminal themselves.

The terminal may be in communication with a network device. A terminal may refer to an access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, user Equipment (UE), wireless communication device, user agent, or user equipment. The user device may also be a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a session initiation protocol (session initiation protocol, SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (wireless local loop, WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal in a 5G network, or any form of user device in a future network, etc., as the embodiments of the present application are not limited in this respect.

The network device in the embodiments of the present application may be a device for communicating with a terminal for accessing the terminal to a radio access network (radio access network, RAN). The network device may also sometimes be referred to as an access network device, access network node, or base station. It will be appreciated that the names of base station enabled devices may vary in systems employing different radio access technologies. For convenience of description, the apparatus for providing a wireless communication access function for a terminal will be collectively referred to as a network device in the embodiments of the present application. The network device may be a base station (base transceiver station, BTS) in a global system for mobile communications (global system for mobile communications, GSM) or code division multiple access (code division multiple access, CDMA), a base station (NodeB, NB) in a wideband code division multiple access (wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA) system, an evolved NodeB (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (cloud radio access network, CRAN) scenario, or a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, and a network device in a 5G network or a network device in a future evolution PLMN network, one or a group (including multiple antenna panels) of base stations in a 5G system, or a network node forming a next generation base station node (next generation Node Base station, gNB) or a transmission point, such as a baseband unit (bbb), or a Distributed Unit (DU), etc., the embodiments of the present application are not limited.

In an embodiment of the present application, a terminal or network device includes a hardware layer, an operating system layer running above the hardware layer, and an application layer running above the operating system layer. The hardware layer includes hardware such as a central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), a memory management unit (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 processes 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 book, word processing software, instant messaging software and the like. Further, the embodiment of the present application is not particularly limited to the specific structure of the execution body of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, as long as the communication can be performed by 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, and for example, the execution body of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application may be a terminal or a network device, or a functional module, such as a chip or a processor, in the terminal or the network device, capable of calling the program and executing the program.

Furthermore, 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. For example, computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, or magnetic tape, etc.), optical disks (e.g., compact Disk (CD), digital versatile disk (digital versatile disc, DVD), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), cards, sticks, key drives, etc.). Additionally, 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.

To enhance network performance, D2D communications support user equipment-to-network Relay (U2N Relay). A relay (relay) terminal may act as a relay device to relay data transmitted between a remote (remote) terminal and a network device. In scenario 100, terminal 121 may be a relay (relay) terminal and terminal 121 may be a remote terminal.

Fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method. The method 200 includes S201 to S208.

In S201, the source base station transmits a first RRC reconfiguration message to the terminal. The first RRC reconfiguration message configures at least one measurement event in which the terminal measures signals of the respective base stations.

The first RRC reconfiguration message may be used to configure at least one measurement event. For example, one of the at least one measurement event may be that the signal strength of the serving cell is below a threshold and the target cell signal is above the threshold.

An RRC connection is established between the terminal and the source base station. The serving cell is one of at least one cell covered by the source base station. The target cell may be one of at least one cell covered by the target base station.

The terminal may perform measurements based on the at least one measurement event. For example, one of the at least one measurement event may be that the signal strength of the source base station is less than a threshold value and the signal strength of the target base station is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and the terminal may measure the signal strengths of the respective base stations.

For example, the source base station may transmit a first RRC reconfiguration message to the terminal after establishing the RRC connection with the terminal. The terminal may periodically take measurements and determine whether the measurement results correspond to any of the at least one measurement event.

In S202, the terminal transmits a Measurement Report (MR) to the source base station in the case where the measurement result satisfies any one of the measurement events.

The MR may include a measurement event for which the measurement result corresponds among the at least one measurement event. The MR may also include a target cell or a target base station that causes the measurement results to conform to the measurement time. The target cell may be a cell covered by the target base station.

In S203, the source base station transmits a handover request message to the target base station according to the MR transmitted by the terminal.

After receiving the MR sent by the terminal, the source base station may send a handover request message to the target base station in the case that the terminal has a service.

At S204, the target base station may transmit a handover confirm message to the source base station.

The target base station decides whether to allow the terminal to be accessed according to the number of other terminals connected by the target base station and the like. If the target base station determines that the terminal is allowed to access, a handover confirm message may be sent to the source base station.

The handover confirm message may include information about the target cell and configuration parameters required for the terminal to access the target cell. The related information of the target cell may include one or more of a physical cell identity (physical cell identifier, PCI) of the target cell, frequency information corresponding to the target cell, a cell radio network temporary identity (cell radio network temporary identifier, C-RNTI) of the target cell allocated by the target base station for the terminal, and the like. The relevant configuration parameters required by the terminal to access the target cell include one or more of random access channel (random access channel, RACH) resource information (e.g., dedicated RACH resources and/or common RACH resources) required to access the target cell, security related algorithms of the target base station, etc.

In S205, the source base station may transmit a handover command message to the terminal.

The handover command message (which may also be understood as a second RRC reconfiguration message) may include information about the target cell and relevant configuration parameters required by the terminal to access the target cell.

In S206, the terminal initiates random access to the target base station according to the handover command, and establishes an RRC connection with the target base station.

The terminal may initiate random access to the target base station after breaking the RRC connection with the source base station and establish the RRC connection with the target base station after accessing the target base station.

In S207, the terminal transmits an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the target base station.

The terminal may send an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the target base station when the RRC connection establishment of the terminal and the target base station is successful.

In S208, the target base station transmits an RRC connection release message to the source base station.

After receiving the context release message, the source base station may release the context of the terminal.

Through the method 200, the terminal may complete Handover (HO) between cells.

In case that the base station releases the RRC connection with the relay terminal, data interruption of the remote terminal may be caused. For example, in the case where the terminal in fig. 2 is a relay terminal and there is no protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session of the terminal between the terminal and the source base station, the source base station does not proceed with S203 after receiving the MR, which may cause data interruption of the remote terminal.

In order to solve the problem of data interruption of the remote terminal in the scenario of fig. 2 or other scenarios, the embodiment of the application provides a communication method.

Fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The method 300 includes S310 to S330. The means for performing steps S320 and S330 may be the first terminal, or may be a component in the first terminal, such as a chip.

At S310, the first network device determines that the first terminal satisfies the handover condition, and that there is no session belonging to the first terminal.

The first network device may determine whether the first terminal satisfies the handover condition, and may also determine whether a session belonging to the first terminal exists between the first network device and the first terminal. The first terminal is a relay device for accessing the second terminal to the first network device, and a first radio resource control connection (i.e., a first RRC connection) exists between the first terminal and the first network device.

The switching condition may be, for example, that at least one measurement event is fulfilled. After the first terminal establishes an RRC connection with the first network device, the first network device may send at least one measurement event to the first terminal. The first terminal device may make the measurements periodically or aperiodically. In case any one or more of the at least one measurement event is fulfilled, the first terminal may send a measurement report to the first network device. The first network device may determine that the handover condition is met in case of receiving the measurement report.

For example, the measurement report may be used to indicate at least one measurement event that is satisfied.

The first network device may send at least one measurement event to the first terminal may include one or more of the following events: the serving cell signal quality becomes lower than the corresponding threshold; the signal quality of the adjacent cell is higher than the signal quality of the service cell by a certain bias; the neighbor cell signal quality becomes higher than the corresponding threshold; the serving cell signal quality becomes lower than threshold 1 and the neighbor cell signal quality becomes higher than threshold 2; the signal quality of the adjacent cell is higher than the signal quality of a secondary cell (Scell) by a certain bias; the Inter-system (Inter radio access technology, inter-RAT) neighbor signal quality becomes higher than the corresponding threshold; the primary cell (Pcell) signal quality becomes lower than the threshold 1 and the inter-system neighbor signal quality becomes higher than the threshold 2.

When the first network device determines that the first terminal satisfies the handover condition, the first network device may further determine whether there is a session belonging to the first terminal. When there is no session belonging to the first terminal, the first network device may send a connection release message to the first terminal, the connection release message being used to instruct to release the first RRC connection between the first terminal and the first network device.

The first network device may receive a measurement report from the first terminal before the first network device determines whether the first terminal satisfies the handover condition, the measurement report including information indicating a signal quality obtained by the first terminal measurement. The first network device may determine whether the first terminal satisfies the handover condition according to the measurement report.

After the first network device sends the radio resource control release information to the first terminal, the first network device may also release the first radio resource control connection with the first terminal.

At S320, connection release indication information sent by the first network device is received.

The connection release indication information is used for indicating the release of the connection between the first terminal and the first network equipment.

The connection release indication information may be, for example, a radio resource control release message, which is used to indicate that the first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network device is released.

The connection release indication information may be carried in a RRC message sent by the first network device to the first terminal. That is, the first network device may transmit the connection release indication information to the first terminal through the first radio resource control connection before releasing the first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network device.

The first network device may release the first radio resource control connection and send a radio resource control release message to the first terminal when at least one of: receiving network side RRC connection release information, loading of the first network device exceeds a preset value, high-layer authentication fails, bottom layer errors (such as medium access control (media access control, MAC) layer link failure, radio link control (radio link control, RLC) layer link failure, etc.), radio link control resumes and there is no session belonging to the first terminal, a timer corresponding to the first radio resource control connection times out, message interaction through the first radio resource control connection fails, handover conditions are satisfied, and there is no session belonging to the first terminal, etc.

At S330, first indication information is sent to the second terminal, where the first terminal is a relay device that the second terminal accesses to the first network device, and the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following information: and releasing the side uplink between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the side uplink is used for indicating that the first radio resource control connection is released and indicating that the state of the first radio resource control connection is a connection unavailable state.

The first indication information may be carried in an RRC message transmitted by the first terminal to the second terminal through the side uplink. The side-link between the first terminal and the second terminal may be an RRC connection established between the first terminal and the second terminal. The RRC message sent by the first terminal to the second terminal through the side uplink may also be referred to as a PC5-RRC message.

The first indication information may be carried in the PC5-RRC message as a field of the PC5-RRC message. Alternatively, the first indication information may be a PC5-RRC message.

By means of the method 300, in case that the radio resource control connection between the first terminal as the relay device and the network device is released, the first indication information is sent to the second terminal as the remote terminal, so that the second terminal can perform subsequent operations according to the first indication information, thereby avoiding data interruption.

The first indication information may be used to indicate release of a side-link between the first terminal and the second terminal. In this case, the second terminal may perform relay reselection after receiving the first indication information, or may initiate random access to the network device and establish an RRC connection with the network device.

The first indication information may also be used to indicate that the first radio resource control connection is released, or to indicate that the state of the first radio resource control connection is a connection unavailable state.

Compared with a specific event that the first indication information indicates that the first radio resource control connection is released, the redundancy of the first indication information can be reduced when the first indication information indicates the state of a radio resource control connection.

Specifically, in the case that a radio link failure (radio link failure, RLF) occurs in a radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network device, radio resource control release information is received, RLF recovery fails, RRC connection establishment fails, handover fails, or the like, as a second terminal for providing a relay service for the second terminal and the network device, third status information may be transmitted to the second terminal to indicate a status of the radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network device. Thus, the second terminal may perform relay reselection after receiving the third state information, or may initiate random access to the network device, and establish an RRC connection with the network device. The first terminal sends the third state information to the second terminal, so that different specific events related to a certain connection state of the radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network device can be indicated by adopting the same information, and the redundancy of the first indication information can be reduced.

In some embodiments, the first terminal may release the side uplink between the first terminal and the second terminal after the first indication information is transmitted.

In other embodiments, the first terminal may perform subsequent operations according to the response of the second terminal to the first indication information.

In case the response of the second terminal is used to indicate that the side-link is maintained, the first terminal may establish a second radio resource control connection with the second network device. A second radio resource control connection is for the second terminal to access the second network device. That is, the first terminal reselects the network device for the second terminal and provides the service for the second terminal.

The second terminal may transmit the second indication information to the first terminal after receiving the first indication information. The second indication information is used to indicate that the side link is maintained. The second indication information may be understood as a response of the second terminal to the first indication information. The first terminal receives the second indication information, i.e. a response is obtained by the second terminal indicating that the side uplink is maintained.

The second terminal may disconnect or maintain the side uplink with the first terminal after receiving the first indication information. The first terminal may detect the side link at a detection time point when the first duration elapses after the first indication information is transmitted. If the detection result at the detection time point is that the side link still exists, that is, the side link is not released by the second terminal but is held by the second terminal, the first terminal acquires a response indicating that the second terminal holds the side link.

It should be understood that the first duration may be preset, may be determined by a protocol between the second terminal and the first terminal, or may be determined by the first terminal according to information such as communication quality of the side uplink. The embodiments of the present application are not limited in this regard.

After the first terminal obtains a response that the second terminal represents to maintain the side-link, the first terminal may establish a second radio resource control connection with the second network device. Otherwise, if the first terminal does not receive the second indication information sent by the second terminal, or the side uplink at the detection time point has been released by the second terminal, the first terminal may no longer establish the second radio resource control connection with the second terminal.

The first terminal not receiving the second indication information sent by the second terminal may mean that the first terminal does not receive the second indication information sent by the second terminal after the first indication information is sent for a second period of time. The second duration may be preset, or may be determined by a protocol between the second terminal and the first terminal, or may be determined by the first terminal according to information such as communication quality of the side uplink.

Illustratively, after S320, the first terminal may establish a second radio resource control connection with the second network device. The establishment of the second radio resource control connection may not depend on the proceeding of S330.

By establishing the second radio resource control connection, data interruption of the second terminal can be avoided.

In addition, the apparatus for performing the method 300 may determine a connection state of a radio resource control connection between a first terminal and a first network device, and send status indication information to a second terminal, where the status indication information includes first status information, second status information, or third status information, where the first status information is used to indicate that the connection state is an establishment state, the second status information is used to indicate that the connection state is an establishment completion state, and the third status information is used to indicate that the connection state is an establishment failure state, and the first terminal is a relay device for the second terminal to access the first network device.

Specifically, an on-establishment state is used to indicate that a connection is being established or is being established. And determining that the connection state is the establishment state when the first terminal is switching, the radio resource control connection is being established, the radio resource control connection with radio link failure is being restored (Uu-RLF recovery), and the like.

And the establishment completion state is used for indicating that the connection has completed establishment or that the connection establishment is successful. And determining that the connection state is the establishment completion state when the first terminal completes the handover, the establishment of the radio resource control connection is completed, or the radio link failure recovery of the radio resource control connection (Uu-RLF recovery) is completed, and the like.

The failed establishment state is used to indicate that the connection has failed to be established or that the connection is unavailable. And determining that the connection state is the establishment failure state when the first terminal equipment fails to switch (HO failure), the radio resource control connection fails to establish a radio link, the radio resource control connection fails to recover (Uu-RLF failure) or the radio resource control connection fails to release, and the like.

In an exemplary embodiment, when receiving radio resource control release information sent by the first network device, where the radio resource control release information is used to instruct to release the radio resource control connection, the connection state is determined to be the establishment failure state.

Fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication method 400 includes S410 to S460.

An RRC connection is established between the first terminal and the first network device.

After the first terminal establishes an RRC connection with the first network device, the first network device may send at least one measurement event to the first terminal.

The first terminal detects signals of each cell and judges whether the detection result accords with the at least one measurement event. In the case where the detection result accords with any one of the measurement events, S410 may be performed.

At S410, the first terminal transmits a measurement report to the first network device.

The measurement report may, for example, comprise measurement events fulfilled by the first terminal.

At S420, the first network device determines that there is no session belonging to the first terminal.

The at least one measurement event may include at least one of measurement event A2, measurement event A3, measurement event A4, measurement event A5, measurement event A6, measurement event B1, measurement event B2.

The measurement event A2 is that the serving cell signal quality becomes below a corresponding threshold.

The measurement event A3 is that the neighbor cell signal quality starts to be a certain offset higher than the serving cell signal quality.

The measurement event A4 is that the neighbor signal quality becomes higher than the corresponding threshold.

Measurement event A5 is that the serving cell signal quality becomes below threshold 1 and the neighbor signal quality becomes above threshold 2.

The measurement event A6 is that the neighbor cell signal quality starts to be a certain offset higher than the secondary cell (Scell) signal quality.

The measurement event B1 is that the Inter-system (Inter-RAT) neighbor signal quality becomes higher than the corresponding threshold.

The measurement event B2 is that the primary cell (Pcell) signal quality becomes lower than the threshold 1 and the inter-system neighbor signal quality becomes higher than the threshold 2.

It should be understood that the primary cell and the secondary cell are both cells covered by the first network device for providing services to the first terminal. The primary cell and the secondary cell correspond to different frequency bands. The neighbor cell is a cell other than the serving cell, which is a cell covered by the first network device. The serving cell provides a service for the first terminal.

The first network device may determine whether a session of the first terminal exists after receiving the measurement report. In case the first network device determines that there is no session of the first terminal, the first network device may release the RRC context of the first terminal and proceed to S430. The first network device may release the RRC context of the first terminal, i.e. the first access network device disconnects the RRC connection with the first terminal.

When the first network device determines that there is no session belonging to the first terminal, a determination may be made as to whether there is a protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session belonging to the first terminal. In case the first network device determines that there is no PDU session of the first terminal, the first network device may proceed with S430 and disconnect the RRC connection with the first terminal.

At S430, the first network device transmits RRC release information to the first terminal. The RRC release information is used to indicate that the first network device releases the RRC connection of the first terminal.

After the first terminal receives the RRC release information, it enters an RRC IDLE state (rrc_idle), and may perform any one of S440, S450, S460.

At S440, the first terminal transmits side uplink release instruction information to the second terminal.

The side-downlink release indication information is used to indicate that the second terminal disconnects the side-downlink connection with the first terminal.

After receiving the side-downlink release indication information, the second terminal may disconnect the side-downlink connection with the first terminal. I.e. the second terminal may release the side-link context.

After disconnecting the side-link connection with the first terminal, the second terminal may perform relay reselection or cell (re) selection. That is, the second terminal may re-determine the relay terminal, or the second terminal may initiate random access to the second network device and establish an RRC connection with the second network device.

S450 includes S451 to S453.

In S451, the first terminal may transmit Uu port RRC release information to the second terminal.

The Uu port RRC release information is used to indicate that the RRC connection between the first terminal and the first network device has been broken. Illustratively, uu port RRC release information is used to indicate that the first network device releases the RRC context of the first terminal.

After receiving Uu port RRC release information sent by the first terminal, the second terminal may release a side uplink with the first terminal.

Alternatively, the second terminal may maintain a side-link with the first terminal, i.e. maintain a connection with the first terminal.

In some embodiments, the second terminal may send the side-link maintenance information to the first terminal in case it is determined to maintain the side-link.

At S452, the first terminal acquires a response of the second terminal to maintain the side uplink.

Illustratively, the first terminal receiving the side-link maintenance information sent by the second terminal may be understood as the first terminal acquiring a response that the second terminal maintains the side-link.

For example, a timer may be set in the first terminal. The first terminal may start a timer when transmitting Uu port RRC release information. The timer is started and the timer is ended after a first time period. The first duration may be preset, or may be determined by a protocol between the second terminal and the first terminal, or may be determined by the first terminal according to information such as communication quality of the side uplink. The first terminal may determine whether a side uplink with the second terminal remains connected at the end of the timer. In the case where it is determined that the side-link remains connected, the first terminal acquires a response that the second terminal remains the side-link. That is, at a detection time point of a preset duration after the Uu port RRC release information is transmitted, if the first terminal determines that the side uplink with the second terminal is not disconnected, the first terminal acquires a response that the second terminal maintains the side uplink.

In S453, the first terminal establishes an RRC connection with the second network device.

After the first terminal accesses the second network device, the first terminal may reside in a cell covered by the second network device.

It should be understood that the second network device may be the first network device or may be another network device other than the first network device.

In the case where the second network device is the first network device, the cell in which the first terminal resides after performing random access may be a cell different from the serving cell of the first terminal before S410.

After the first terminal establishes the RRC connection with the second network device, the first terminal may act as a relay terminal for the second terminal, and may relay data between the second terminal and the second network device.

After S451, if the first terminal does not acquire a response that the second terminal maintains the side-link, the first terminal may release the side-link with the second terminal.

S460 includes S461 to S463.

In S461, the first terminal may transmit the status indication information to the second terminal.

In case that the RRC connection state between the first terminal and the network device changes, the first terminal may transmit the state indication information to the second terminal.

The RRC connection state between the first terminal and the network device may be any one of a connection establishment state, a connection completion state, and a connection unavailable state.

Before S410, the RRC connection state between the first terminal and the first network device is a connection complete state. The first network device may send RRC release information to the first terminal and release the RRC connection with the first terminal. In S410, the first terminal receives the RRC release information sent by the first network device, and may determine that the RRC connection state between the first terminal and the first network device changes to a connection unavailable state, and perform S461.

Or, the first terminal receives the RRC release information sent by the first network device, and may detect an RRC connection state between the first terminal and the first network device. Upon detecting that the RRC connection state between the first terminal and the first network device is a connection unavailable state, the first terminal may proceed to S461.

At S462, the first terminal acquires a response of the second terminal to maintain the side uplink.

Similar to S452, the first terminal receives the side-link maintenance information sent by the second terminal, or, if the first terminal determines that the side-link with the second terminal is not disconnected at the detection time point of the preset duration after the state indication information is sent in S461, the first terminal acquires the response of the second terminal to maintain the side-link. After that, the first terminal may proceed to S463.

At S463, the first terminal establishes an RRC connection with the second network device.

After S461, if the first terminal does not acquire a response of the second terminal to maintain the side-link, the first terminal may release the side-link with the second terminal.

Alternatively, after S440, the first terminal may not release the side uplink and establish an RRC connection with the second network device after acquiring the response of the second terminal to maintain the side uplink.

Fig. 5 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

In the case where the first terminal is a relay device where the second terminal accesses the network device, the first terminal may send event information to the second terminal to indicate an event related to a radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network device. For example, after the first terminal confirms that the radio resource control connection between the network device has RLF, event information may be transmitted to the second terminal to indicate that the radio resource control connection has RLF. That is, different times may correspond to different event information.

The operations performed by the second terminal after receiving the different event information may be the same. For example, event 1 is a handover failure of the first terminal, and event 2 is an RLF occurrence of a radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network device. Event 1 is different from event information corresponding to event 2. However, after the second terminal receives the event information corresponding to the event 1 and the event information corresponding to the event 2, the operations performed may be releasing the side uplink with the first terminal.

That is, the first terminal transmits event information to the second terminal to indicate an event related to a radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network device. Since the number of events related to the radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network device is large, the event information requires a larger number of bits (bits) in order to distinguish different event information, which may lead to redundancy of information. To solve the above-described problems, the present embodiment of the application provides a communication method 500. The method 500 includes S510 to S520.

At S510, a connection state of a radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network device is determined.

Specifically, in the case where the first terminal is switching, the radio resource control connection is being established, or the radio resource control connection for which a radio link failure occurs is being restored, the connection state may be determined to be the establishing state.

And when the first terminal completes the handover, the establishment of the radio resource control connection is completed, or the recovery of the radio link failure of the radio resource control connection is completed, the connection state can be determined to be the establishment completion state.

And when the first terminal equipment fails in handover, the radio resource control connection fails in establishment, the radio resource control connection fails in radio link, and the radio resource control connection which fails in radio link is recovered, or the radio resource control connection is released, the connection state can be determined to be the establishment failure state.

In S520, status indication information is sent to a second terminal, where the status indication information includes first status information, second status information, or third status information, where the first status indication information is used to indicate that the connection status is an establishment status, the second status information is used to indicate that the connection status is an establishment completion status, and the third status information is used to indicate that the connection status is an establishment failure status, and the first terminal is a relay device that the second terminal accesses the network device.

The operation of the second terminal may be the same for events corresponding to the connection state of the radio resource control connection between the same first terminal and the network device. By means of the method 500, the first terminal sends the state indication information to the second terminal to indicate the connection state of the radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network device, and the number of the connection states of the radio resource control connection is smaller than the number of events related to the radio resource control connection, so that the number of bits of information can be saved, redundancy of the information can be avoided, and processing of the first terminal and the second terminal is simpler.

It should be appreciated that the first terminal may periodically or aperiodically detect the state of the radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network device, determine the connection state of the radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network device, and send the state indication information to the second terminal.

Alternatively, the first terminal may send the status indication information to the second terminal in case it is determined that the connection status of the radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the network device has changed.

Specifically, in the case that the first terminal receives the radio resource control release information sent by the first network device, the connection state may be determined to be the establishment failure state. The radio resource control release information is used for indicating to release the radio resource control connection.

The radio resource control release information indicates that the connection state of the radio resource control connection has changed.

After receiving the radio resource control release signal sent by the first network device, the first terminal may establish a second radio resource control connection with a second network device, where the second radio resource control connection is used for the second terminal to access the second network device.

For example, the first terminal may establish a second radio resource control connection with the second network device after receiving the second indication information transmitted by the second terminal. The second indication information is used for indicating that the side link is kept.

The second indication information may be understood as response information of the first indication information.

For example, the first terminal may establish an RRC connection with the second network device in a case where the side uplink is not disconnected at a detection time point including a first time point after the first indication information is transmitted.

Fig. 6 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication method 600 includes S610 to S630.

At S610, it is determined that there is no session belonging to the first terminal.

The first network device may determine whether a session belonging to the first terminal exists between the first terminal and the first network device, and may send the same or a different radio resource control reconfiguration message to the first terminal according to whether the session belonging to the first terminal exists. The first terminal is a relay device of the first network device accessed by the second terminal, and the first terminal and the second terminal communicate through a side uplink. A first radio resource control connection exists between the first terminal and the first network device.

For example, the first network device may periodically determine whether there is a session belonging to the first terminal. Alternatively, the first network device may determine whether or not there is a session belonging to the first terminal after receiving the indication information for instructing the first network device to determine whether or not there is a session belonging to the first terminal. Alternatively, the first network device may determine whether a session belonging to the first terminal exists after determining that the first terminal satisfies the handover condition, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

When the first network device determines whether there is a session belonging to the first terminal, a determination may be made as to whether there is a PDU session of the first terminal.

In some embodiments, the first network device may perform step S620 after determining that there is no session belonging to the first terminal.

In other embodiments, the first network device may not perform step S620 and maintain the first RRC connection with the first terminal after determining that there is no session belonging to the first terminal. That is, when there is no session belonging to the first terminal, the first network device may not send the RRC reconfiguration message or the handover indication information to the first terminal if the first terminal satisfies the handover condition, so that the second terminal may continue to maintain connection with the first network device through the first terminal, and avoid interruption of data transmitted.

At S620, a first RRC reconfiguration message is transmitted to the first terminal.

The first network device may send a first RRC reconfiguration message (i.e., a first radio resource control reconfiguration message) to the first terminal when the first network device determines that there is no session between the first terminal and the first network device that belongs to the first terminal. The first RRC reconfiguration message includes information indicating at least one non-measurable cell and/or at least one measurable cell covered by the first network device.

The at least one non-measurable cell may be, for example, a non-measurable cell covered by the first network device, or may be another non-measurable cell. The other non-measurable cells are non-measurable cells covered by network devices other than the first network device.

For example, the information in the first RRC reconfiguration message indicating the at least one non-measurable cell may be in the form of a non-measurable cell blacklist, and the information in the first RRC reconfiguration message indicating the at least one measurable cell covered by the first network device may be in the form of a measurable cell whitelist. That is, the measurable cell white list and/or the non-measurable cell black list may be included in the first RRC reconfiguration message.

In some embodiments, the first network device may send a second RRC reconfiguration message (i.e., a second radio resource control reconfiguration message) to the first terminal when the first network device determines that there is a session between the first terminal and the first network device that belongs to the first terminal. The second RRC reconfiguration message includes information indicating cells and/or other cells covered by the first network device.

Illustratively, the second RRC reconfiguration message may include any one or more of the following: at least one measurement event, a measurable cell white list or a non-measurable cell black list. The whitelist of measurable cells in the second RRC reconfiguration message includes at least one measurable cell and/or other measurable cells covered by the first network device. The other measurable cells are measurable cells covered by a network device other than the first network device. The non-measurable blacklist in the second RRC reconfiguration message includes at least one non-measurable cell, where the at least one non-measurable cell may be a non-measurable cell covered by the first network device, or may be other non-measurable cells. The other non-measurable cells are non-measurable cells covered by network devices other than the first network device.

Illustratively, the at least one measurement event in the second RRC reconfiguration message may include: the serving cell signal quality becomes higher than the corresponding threshold; the serving cell signal quality becomes lower than the corresponding threshold; the signal quality of the adjacent cell is higher than the signal quality of the service cell by a certain bias; the neighbor cell signal quality becomes higher than the corresponding threshold; the serving cell signal quality becomes lower than threshold 1 and the neighbor cell signal quality becomes higher than threshold 2; the neighbor cell signal quality starts to be higher than the secondary cell signal quality by a certain offset, etc., which is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

In some embodiments, if the first network device determines that there is a session belonging to the first terminal at the first time and the first network device determines that there is no session belonging to the first terminal at the second time, the first network device may send a first RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal at the second time. The first time is different from the second time and the first time is earlier than the second time.

In other embodiments, if the first network device determines at the third time that there is no session belonging to the first terminal, and the first network device determines at the fourth time that there is a session belonging to the first terminal, the first network device may send a second RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal at the fourth time. The third time is different from the fourth time and the third time is earlier than the fourth time.

In S630, signal measurement is performed according to the first RRC reconfiguration message.

After receiving the first RRC reconfiguration message from the first network device, the first terminal may perform signal measurement according to the first RRC reconfiguration message.

For example, if the first RRC reconfiguration message includes information indicating at least one measurable cell covered by the first network device, the first terminal may measure a signal strength of each of the at least one measurable cell.

For example, if the first RRC reconfiguration message includes information indicating at least one non-measurable cell, the first terminal may not measure signal strengths of cells included in the at least one non-measurable cell. In this case, the first terminal may also measure the signal strength of cells other than the at least one non-measurable cell.

In some embodiments, after receiving the second RRC reconfiguration message from the first network device, the first terminal may perform signal measurement according to the second RRC reconfiguration message.

For example, if the second RRC reconfiguration message includes at least one measurement event, the first terminal may perform measurement according to the at least one measurement event. For example, one of the at least one measurement event may be measurement event A3, and the first terminal may measure signal strengths of the serving cell and cells other than the serving cell.

For example, if the second RRC reconfiguration message includes a measurable cell white list, the first terminal may measure signal strength of cells included in the measurable cell white list.

For example, if the second RRC reconfiguration message includes a non-measurable cell blacklist, the first terminal may not measure signal strengths of cells included in the non-measurable cell blacklist. In this case, the first terminal may also measure the signal strength of cells other than the cells included in the non-measurable cell blacklist.

In some embodiments, the first terminal may send a first measurement report to the first network device based on the measured signal quality. The first measurement report is determined according to a first RRC reconfiguration message or a second RRC reconfiguration message.

In other embodiments, the first network device may determine whether handover indication information needs to be sent to the first terminal according to the first measurement report received from the first terminal.

The first network device may send the same or different RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal according to whether there is a session belonging to the first terminal. When the session belonging to the first terminal does not exist, the first RRC reconfiguration message sent by the first network device to the first terminal can enable the first terminal to be connected with the first network device, so that the second terminal can transmit data to the first network device through the first terminal, and interruption of data transmitted by the second terminal is avoided.

Fig. 7 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication method 700 includes S710 to S740.

In S710, it is determined whether there is a session belonging to the first terminal.

A first radio resource control connection exists between the first network device and the first terminal. The first terminal is a relay device to which the second terminal accesses the first network device, and the first terminal and the second terminal communicate through a side uplink.

For example, the first network device may periodically determine whether there is a session belonging to the first terminal. Alternatively, the first network device may determine whether a session belonging to the first terminal exists after the preset condition is satisfied. The preset conditions may include: receiving indication information, wherein the indication information is used for indicating whether a session belonging to a first terminal exists or not; or determining that the first terminal meets the handover condition, etc., the embodiment of the application is not limited to this.

The specific implementation of the first network device determining that there is no session belonging to the first terminal is similar to step S610, and will not be described here again.

In S720, a first RRC reconfiguration message or a second RRC reconfiguration message is transmitted to the first terminal.

Upon determining that there is no session belonging to the first terminal, the first network device may send a first RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal, the first RRC reconfiguration message including information indicating at least one non-measurable cell and/or at least one measurable cell covered by the first network device. The specific implementation manner of the first network device sending the first RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal is similar to step S620, and will not be described here again.

When it is determined that there is no session belonging to the first terminal, the first network device may send a second RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal, where the second RRC reconfiguration message includes information indicating a cell covered by the first network device and/or other cells, and the other cells are cells outside the cell covered by the first network device.

Illustratively, the second RRC reconfiguration message includes any one or more of: at least one measurement event, a measurable cell white list or a non-measurable cell black list. The white list of measurable cells includes at least one measurable cell within or outside of the coverage of the first network device, and the black list of non-measurable cells includes at least one non-measurable cell.

In S730, the first terminal performs signal measurement according to the first RRC reconfiguration message or the second RRC reconfiguration message. Step S730 is similar to step S630, and will not be described here.

In S740, a first measurement report is sent to the first network device.

The first terminal may perform signal measurement according to the first RRC reconfiguration message or the second RRC reconfiguration message, and send a first measurement report to the first network device. The first measurement report may include information indicating the signal quality obtained by the first terminal measurement.

For example, if the first RRC reconfiguration message includes at least one measurable cell covered by the first network device, the first measurement report may include a signal quality of each of the at least one measurable cell covered by the first network device.

For example, if the first RRC reconfiguration message includes at least one non-measurable cell, the first measurement report may include signal quality of cells other than the cells included in the at least one non-measurable cell.

For example, if the second RRC reconfiguration message includes at least one measurement event, the first measurement report may include a measurement event in which a measurement result of the at least one measurement event corresponds. Alternatively, the first measurement report may also include the target cell or target base station that conformed the measurement results to the measurement event. The target cell is a cell covered by the target base station. Alternatively, the first measurement report may also include the signal quality of the cell involved in the at least one measurement event.

For example, if the second RRC reconfiguration message includes a measurable cell white list, the first measurement report may include signal quality of cells included in the measurable cell white list.

For example, if the second RRC reconfiguration message includes a non-measurable cell blacklist, the first measurement report may include signal quality of cells other than the cells included in the non-measurable cell blacklist.

In some embodiments, the first network device may determine that the first terminal satisfies the handover condition after receiving the first measurement report from the first terminal, and send handover indication information to the first terminal.

For example, in the case that the first network device determines that there is no session belonging to the first terminal, the first network device may determine a target cell list or a target frequency point list that satisfies the handover condition according to the received first measurement report, and determine the first cell or the first frequency point from the target cell list or the target frequency point list. The cells or frequency points included in the target cell list or the target frequency point list are cells or frequency points covered by the first network device. The first network device may send handover indication information to the first terminal. The handover indication information is used for indicating the first terminal to be handed over from the current serving cell to the first cell. The first cell is the cell with the best signal quality in the cells which can provide service for the first terminal in the target cell list. The first frequency point is the frequency point with the best signal quality in the frequency points which can provide service for the first terminal for the corresponding cell in the target frequency point list. The cell corresponding to the first frequency point may be a first cell.

For example, in case the first network device determines that there is a session belonging to the first terminal, the first network device may determine a target cell list or a target frequency point list satisfying the handover condition according to the received first measurement report. The cells or frequency points included in the target cell list or the target frequency point list are cells or frequency points covered by the first network device, or may be cells or frequency points covered by network devices other than the first network device. The first network device may also determine a first cell or a first frequency point from a target cell list or a target frequency point list. The first cell may be a cell covered by the first network device or may be a cell covered by a network device other than the first network device. The first cell is the cell with the best signal quality in the cells which can provide service for the first terminal in the target cell list. The first frequency point is the frequency point with the best signal quality in the frequency points which can provide service for the first terminal for the corresponding cell in the target frequency point list. The cell corresponding to the first frequency point may be a first cell.

If the first cell is a cell covered by the first network device, the first network device may send handover indication information to the first terminal, where the handover indication information is used to instruct the first terminal to handover from the current serving cell to the first cell.

If the first cell is a cell covered by a network device other than the first network device and the network device to which the first cell belongs is a second network device, the first network device may send a handover request message to the second network device, thereby assisting the first terminal to handover from the current serving cell to the first cell covered by the second network device.

In some embodiments, after the first network device sends the handover indication information to the first terminal, the first terminal may establish a second RRC connection with the second network device. The first terminal serves as a relay terminal of the second terminal, and can relay data between the second terminal and the second network device. After the first terminal accesses the second network device, the first terminal may reside in a cell covered by the second network device.

The procedure of the first terminal switching from the current serving cell to the first cell may be a coverage-based on-channel switching procedure or may be a coverage-based off-channel switching procedure.

When the signal ranges of the current serving cell and the first cell have partial overlapping areas and the frequency points of the current serving cell and the first cell are the same, the process of switching the first terminal from the current serving cell to the first cell is coverage-based common-frequency switching.

In some embodiments of the coverage-based on-channel handover, the first network device may send a first RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal upon determining that there is no session belonging to the first terminal. The first RRC reconfiguration message includes information indicating at least one non-measurable cell and/or at least one measurable cell covered by the first network device.

Alternatively, the first network device may send a second RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal when it is determined that there is a session belonging to the first terminal. The second RRC reconfiguration message includes any one or more of: at least one measurement event, a measurable cell white list or a non-measurable cell black list. For example, the second RRC reconfiguration message may include measurement event A3.

For example, after receiving the first RRC reconfiguration message or the second RRC reconfiguration message, the first terminal may perform signal measurement according to the first RRC reconfiguration message or the second RRC reconfiguration message. And, the first terminal may send a first measurement report to the first network device. The first measurement report is determined according to a first RRC reconfiguration message or a second RRC reconfiguration message. For example, in case the second RRC reconfiguration message includes the measurement event A3, the first measurement report may include at least one target cell or target frequency point satisfying the measurement event A3.

For example, after receiving the first measurement report from the first terminal, the first network device may generate a target cell list or a target frequency point list according to the first measurement report. The first network device may determine the first cell from a target cell list or a target frequency point list. When there is no session belonging to the first terminal, the first cell is a cell covered by the first network device. The first cell may be a cell covered by the first network device or may be a cell covered by a network device other than the first network device when there is a session belonging to the first terminal.

When a partial overlapping area exists between the signal ranges of the current service cell and the first cell and the frequency points of the current service cell and the first cell are different, the process of switching the first terminal from the current service cell to the first cell is coverage-based different-frequency switching.

In some embodiments of the coverage-based inter-frequency handover, the first network device may receive a second measurement report from the first terminal prior to performing S710. That is, S701 may also be included in the method 700.

In S701, the first terminal transmits a second measurement report to the first network device.

The second measurement report includes information indicating the signal quality obtained by the first terminal measurement.

For example, the second measurement report may be determined according to RRC configuration information recently received by the first terminal. The RRC configuration information recently received by the first terminal includes any one of the following: the first terminal establishes connection with the first network device and receives RRC configuration information, a first RRC reconfiguration message or a second RRC reconfiguration message. The RRC configuration information received when the first terminal establishes a connection with the first network device may include at least one measurement event.

For example, if the RRC configuration information recently received by the first terminal is RRC configuration information received when the first terminal establishes a connection with the first network device, and the RRC configuration information received when the first terminal establishes a connection with the first network device includes a measurement event A2, the second measurement report may include information indicating that the reference signal received power (reference signal receiving power, RSRP) or the reference signal received quality (reference signal receiving quality, RSRQ) of the second cell or the second frequency point satisfies the measurement event A2. The second cell or the second frequency point may be a cell or a frequency point covered by the first network device, or may be a cell or a frequency point covered by a network device other than the first network device.

For example, if the RRC configuration information most recently received by the first terminal is the first RRC reconfiguration message or the second RRC reconfiguration message, the second measurement report may be similar to the first measurement report.

In some embodiments of the coverage based inter-frequency handover, the first network device may determine whether a session belonging to the first terminal exists after receiving a second measurement report from the first terminal. Alternatively, the first network device may periodically determine whether there is a session belonging to the first terminal, or the like, which is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

In some embodiments of the coverage-based inter-frequency handover, the first network device may send a first RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal upon determining that there is no session belonging to the first terminal. The first RRC reconfiguration message includes information indicating at least one non-measurable cell and/or at least one measurable cell covered by the first network device.

Alternatively, the first network device may send a second RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal when it is determined that there is a session belonging to the first terminal. The second RRC reconfiguration message includes any one or more of: at least one measurement event, a measurable cell white list or a non-measurable cell black list. For example, the second RRC reconfiguration message may include measurement event A5 and measurement event A1, or the second RRC reconfiguration message may include measurement event A3 and measurement event A1. The measurement event A1 is that the serving cell signal quality becomes higher than the corresponding threshold.

In some embodiments of the coverage-based inter-frequency handover, the first network device may determine the specific content of the second RRC reconfiguration message according to configuration information of a cell or frequency point to which the second measurement report relates when the second measurement report is received and it is determined that there is a session belonging to the first terminal.

For example, when the second measurement report includes information for indicating that RSRP or RSRQ of the second cell or the second frequency point satisfies the measurement event A2 and it is determined that there is a session belonging to the first terminal, the first network device may determine at least one measurement event included in the second RRC reconfiguration message according to configuration information of the second cell or the second frequency point.

If the configuration information of the second cell or the second frequency point is event A5, the second RRC reconfiguration message may include measurement event A5 and measurement event A1. If the configuration information of the second cell or the second frequency point is event A3, the second RRC reconfiguration message may include measurement event A3 and measurement event A1.

Alternatively, the configuration information of the second cell or the second frequency point may be information stored in the first network device. Alternatively, the configuration information of the second cell or the second frequency point may be information that is sent by the first terminal to the first network device, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

For example, after receiving the first RRC reconfiguration message or the second RRC reconfiguration message, the first terminal may perform signal measurement according to the first RRC reconfiguration message or the second RRC reconfiguration message. And, the first terminal may send a first measurement report to the first network device. The first measurement report is determined according to a first RRC reconfiguration message or a second RRC reconfiguration message. For example, in case the second RRC reconfiguration message includes the measurement event A5 and the measurement event A1, the first measurement report may include at least one target cell or target frequency point satisfying the measurement event A5 and the measurement event A1.

For example, after receiving the first measurement report from the first terminal, the first network device may generate a target cell list or a target frequency point list according to the first measurement report. The first network device may determine the first cell from a target cell list or a target frequency point list. When there is no session belonging to the first terminal, the first cell is a cell covered by the first network device. The first cell may be a cell covered by the first network device or may be a cell covered by a network device other than the first network device when there is a session belonging to the first terminal.

In other embodiments of the coverage-based inter-frequency handover, the first network device may not send the first RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal and maintain the first RRC connection with the first terminal when receiving the second measurement report from the first terminal and determining that there is no session belonging to the first terminal. In this case, the second terminal may continue to remain connected with the first network device through the first terminal, thereby avoiding interruption of the transmitted data.

The first network device may send a second RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal when there is a session belonging to the first terminal, so that the first terminal may perform signal measurement according to the second RRC reconfiguration message, to determine whether there is a cell with better signal quality. The first network device may also send a first RRC reconfiguration message to the first terminal when there is no session belonging to the first terminal, so that the first terminal and the first network device remain connected, thereby avoiding interruption of data transmitted by the second terminal.

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

The communication device 800 includes a receiving module 810 and a transmitting module 820.

The receiving module 810 is configured to receive radio resource control release information sent by a first network device, where the radio resource control release information is used to instruct to release a first radio resource control connection between a first terminal and the first network device. The first terminal may comprise an apparatus 800.

The sending module 820 is configured to send first indication information to the second terminal, where the first terminal is a relay device that the second terminal accesses the first network device, and the first indication information is used to indicate that a side uplink between the first terminal and the second terminal is released, or is used to indicate that the first radio resource control connection is released, or is used to indicate that a state of the first radio resource control connection is a connection failure state.

Optionally, the communication apparatus 800 further comprises an establishing module, configured to establish a second radio resource control connection with a second network device, where the second radio resource control connection is used for the second terminal to access the second network device.

Optionally, the receiving module 810 is further configured to receive second indication information sent by the second terminal, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the side uplink is maintained.

Optionally, the establishing module is specifically configured to establish an RRC connection with the second network device when the side uplink is not disconnected at a detection time point, where the detection time point includes a first time point after the first indication information is sent.

Optionally, the radio resource control release information is received if the first terminal satisfies a handover condition and there is no session between the first terminal and the first network device belonging to the first terminal.

Optionally, the communication device 800 further comprises a processing module for determining a connection state of the first radio resource control connection.

The sending module 820 is further configured to send status indication information to the second terminal, where the status indication information includes first status information, second status information, or third status information, where the first status information is used to indicate that the connection status is an establishment status, the second status information is used to indicate that the connection status is an establishment completion status, and the third status information is used to indicate that the connection status is an establishment failure status.

Optionally, the processing module is specifically configured to determine, when the first terminal is switching, the first radio resource control connection is being established, or the first radio resource control connection with radio link failure is being recovered, that the connection state is the establishing state.

The processing module is specifically configured to determine that the connection state is the establishment completion state when the first terminal completes handover, the first radio resource control connection is established, or the first radio resource control connection radio link fails to recover to be completed.

The processing module is specifically configured to determine, when the first terminal device fails to switch, the first radio resource control connection fails to establish, the first radio resource control connection fails to perform radio link, and recovery of the first radio resource control connection that fails to perform radio link fails, or the first radio resource control connection is released, that the connection state is the establishment failure state.

Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

The communication device 900 includes a processing module 910 and a transceiver module 920.

The processing module 910 is configured to determine a connection state of a first radio resource control connection between a first terminal and a first network device. The communication device 900 may be located in a first terminal.

The transceiver module 920 is configured to send status indication information to a second terminal, where the status indication information includes first status information, second status information, or third status information, the first status information is used to indicate that the connection status is an establishment status, the second status information is used to indicate that the connection status is an establishment completion status, the third status information is used to indicate that the connection status is an establishment failure status, and the first terminal is a relay device that the second terminal accesses the first network device.

Optionally, the processing module 910 is specifically configured to determine, in a case where the first terminal is switching, the first radio resource control connection is being established, or the first radio resource control connection with radio link failure is being restored, that the connection state is the establishing state.

The processing module 910 is specifically configured to determine that the connection state is the establishment completion state when the first terminal completes handover, the first rrc connection is established, or the first rrc connection radio link fails to resume being completed.

The processing module 910 is specifically configured to determine, when the handover of the first terminal device fails, the establishment of the first radio resource control connection fails, the radio link failure occurs in the first radio resource control connection, and the recovery failure is performed on the first radio resource control connection that has the radio link failure, or the first radio resource control connection is released, that the connection state is the establishment failure state.

Optionally, the processing module 910 is specifically configured to determine that the connection state is the failed establishment state when receiving radio resource control release information sent by the first network device, where the radio resource control release information is used to indicate to release the first radio resource control connection.

Optionally, the processing module 910 is further configured to establish a second radio resource control connection with a second network device, where the second radio resource control connection is used for the second terminal to access the second network device.

Optionally, the transceiver module 920 is configured to further include: and receiving second indication information sent by the second terminal, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating to keep the side uplink.

Optionally, the processing module 910 is specifically configured to establish an RRC connection with the second network device when the side uplink is not disconnected at a detection time point, where the detection time point includes a first time point after the first indication information is sent.

Optionally, the processing module 910 is specifically configured to receive the radio resource control release information when the first terminal satisfies a handover condition and there is no session belonging to the first terminal between the first terminal and the first network device.

In some embodiments, the transceiver module 920 may receive the first radio resource control reconfiguration message from the first network device when there is no session belonging to the first terminal between the first terminal and the first network device, and may also receive the second radio resource control reconfiguration message from the first network device when there is a session belonging to the first terminal. The transceiver module 920 may also send the first measurement report or the second measurement report to the first network device. The transceiver module 920 may perform step S620 in the method of fig. 6 or steps S701, S720, S740 in the method of fig. 7.

In some embodiments, the processing module 910 may perform signal measurements according to the first radio resource control reconfiguration message or the second radio resource control reconfiguration message. The processing module 910 may perform step S630 in the method of fig. 6 or step S730 in the method of fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

The communication device 1000 includes a processing module 1010 and a transceiver module 1020.

The processing module 1010 is configured to determine that the first terminal satisfies the handover condition, and that no session belonging to the first terminal exists between the first terminal and the first network device. The first terminal is a relay device for accessing the second terminal into the first network device, and a first radio resource control connection exists between the first terminal and the first network device.

The transceiver module 1020 is configured to send radio resource control release information to the first terminal. The radio resource control release information is used to indicate release of a first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network device.

In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1020 is further configured to receive a measurement report from the first terminal. The measurement report includes information indicating the signal quality obtained by the first terminal measurement.

In some embodiments, the processing module 1010 is further configured to determine that the first terminal satisfies the handover condition according to the received measurement report from the first terminal. The processing module 1010 may also be configured to release a first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network device.

In some embodiments, the processing module 1010 may determine whether a session exists between the first terminal and the first network device that belongs to the first terminal, the first terminal accessing a relay device of the first network device for the second terminal. The processing module 1010 may perform step S610 in the method of fig. 6 or step S710 in the method of fig. 7.

In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1020 may send the first radio resource control reconfiguration message to the first terminal when there is no session belonging to the first terminal, and may send the second radio resource control reconfiguration message to the first terminal when there is a session belonging to the first terminal. The transceiver module 1020 may also receive a first measurement report or a second measurement report from the first terminal. The transceiver module 1020 may perform step S620 in the method of fig. 6 or steps S701, S720, S740 in the method of fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

The communication device 2000 includes at least one processor 2010 and a communication interface 2020. The communication interface 2020 is used for information interaction between the terminal and other communication devices, and when the program instructions are executed in the at least one processor, the terminal is caused to perform the communication method described above. The first terminal may include a communication device 2000.

Specifically, in some embodiments, the at least one processor 2010 may be configured to receive, using the communication interface 2020, radio resource control release information sent by a first network device, where the radio resource control release information is used to instruct to release a first radio resource control connection between a first terminal and the first network device.

The at least one processor 2010 may also be configured to send, using the communication interface 2020, first indication information to the second terminal, the first terminal being a relay device for the second terminal to access the first network device, the first indication information being used to indicate that a sidelink between the first terminal and the second terminal is released, or to indicate that the first radio resource control connection is released, or to indicate that a state of the first radio resource control connection is a connection failure state.

Optionally, the at least one processor 2010 is further configured to establish a second radio resource control connection with a second network device, the second radio resource control connection being used for the second terminal to access the second network device.

Optionally, the at least one processor 2010 is further configured to receive, using the communication interface 2020, second indication information sent by the second terminal, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the side uplink is to be maintained.

Optionally, the at least one processor 2010 is specifically configured to establish an RRC connection with the second network device when the side uplink is not disconnected at a detection time point, where the detection time point includes a first time point after the first indication information is sent.

Optionally, the radio resource control release information is received if the first terminal satisfies a handover condition and there is no session between the first terminal and the first network device belonging to the first terminal.

Optionally, at least one processor 2010 is specifically configured to determine a connection state of the first radio resource control connection.

The at least one processor 2010 is further configured to send status indication information to a second terminal using the communication interface 2020, the status indication information including first status information indicating that the connection status is an establishment status, second status information indicating that the connection status is an establishment completion status, or third status information indicating that the connection status is an establishment failure status.

Optionally, the at least one processor 2010 is specifically configured to determine that the connection state is the establishing state in a case where the first terminal is switching, the first radio resource control connection is being established, or the first radio resource control connection for which a radio link failure occurs is being restored.

The at least one processor 2010 is specifically configured to determine that the connection state is the establishment complete state when the first terminal completes handover, the first rrc connection establishment is completed, or the first rrc connection radio link failure recovery is completed.

The at least one processor 2010 is specifically configured to determine, when the handover of the first terminal device fails, the establishment of the first radio resource control connection fails, the radio link failure occurs in the first radio resource control connection, the recovery failure is performed on the first radio resource control connection in which the radio link failure occurs, or the connection state is the establishment failure state if the first radio resource control connection is released.

In other embodiments, the at least one processor 2010 is configured to determine a connection status of a first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network device.

The communication interface 2020 is configured to send status indication information to a second terminal, where the status indication information includes first status information, second status information, or third status information, the first status information is used to indicate that the connection status is an establishment status, the second status information is used to indicate that the connection status is an establishment completion status, the third status information is used to indicate that the connection status is an establishment failure status, and the first terminal is a relay device that the second terminal accesses the first network device.

Optionally, the at least one processor entity 2010 is configured to determine that the connection state is the establishing state if the first terminal is switching, the first radio resource control connection is being established, or the first radio resource control connection for which a radio link failure occurs is being restored.

The at least one processor is specifically configured to determine that the connection state is the establishment completion state when the first terminal completes handover, the first rrc connection establishment is completed, or the first rrc connection radio link failure recovery is completed.

The at least one processor is specifically configured to determine, when the handover of the first terminal device fails, the establishment of the first radio resource control connection fails, the radio link failure occurs in the first radio resource control connection, and the recovery failure is performed on the first radio resource control connection in which the radio link failure occurs, or the first radio resource control connection is released, that the connection state is the establishment failure state.

Optionally, the at least one processor is specifically configured to determine that the connection state is the failed establishment state when receiving radio resource control release information sent by the first network device, where the radio resource control release information is used to indicate to release the first radio resource control connection.

Optionally, the at least one processor body 2010 is configured to establish a second radio resource control connection with a second network device, where the second radio resource control connection is used for the second terminal to access the second network device.

Optionally, the communication interface 2020 is further configured, the method further includes: and receiving second indication information sent by the second terminal, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating to keep the side uplink.

Optionally, the at least one processor entity 2010 is configured to establish an RRC connection with the second network device if the side uplink is not disconnected at a detection time point, where the detection time point includes a first time point after the first indication information is sent.

Optionally, the radio resource control release information is received if the first terminal satisfies a handover condition and there is no session between the first terminal and the first network device belonging to the first terminal.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 2010 may be configured to receive a first radio resource control reconfiguration message from the first network device when there is no session between the first terminal and the first network device that belongs to the first terminal using the communication interface 2020.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 2010 may also be configured to receive a second radio resource control reconfiguration message from the first network device when there is a session belonging to the first terminal using the communication interface 2020.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 2010 may also be configured to perform signal measurements based on the first radio resource control reconfiguration message or the second radio resource control reconfiguration message.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 2010 may also be configured to send the first measurement report or the second measurement report to the first network device using the communication interface 2020.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 2010 may also be configured to establish a second RRC connection with a second network device. The second radio resource control connection is for a second terminal to access a second network device.

Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

The communication device 3000 includes at least one processor 3010 and a communication interface 3020. The communication interface 3020 is used for information interaction between the communication device and other communication devices, and when the program instructions are executed in the at least one processor, the communication device is caused to perform the communication method described above. The first network device may comprise a communication means 3000.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 3010 may be configured to determine that the first terminal satisfies the handover condition, and that there is no session between the first terminal and the first network device that belongs to the first terminal. The first terminal is a relay device for accessing the second terminal into the first network device, and a first radio resource control connection exists between the first terminal and the first network device.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 3010 may also be configured to send radio resource control release information to the first terminal using the communication interface 3020. The radio resource control release information is used to indicate release of a first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network device.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 3010 may also be configured to receive measurement reports from the first terminal using the communication interface 3020. The measurement report includes information indicating the signal quality obtained by the first terminal measurement.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 3010 may also be configured to determine that the first terminal satisfies the handover condition based on the received measurement report from the first terminal.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 3010 may also be configured to release the first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network device.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 3010 may be configured to determine whether a session exists between the first terminal and the first network device that belongs to the first terminal, the first terminal accessing a relay device of the first network device for the second terminal.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 3010 may also be configured to send a first radio resource control reconfiguration message to the first terminal when there is no session belonging to the first terminal using the communication interface 3020.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 3010 may also be configured to send a second radio resource control reconfiguration message to the first terminal when there is a session belonging to the first terminal using the communication interface 3020.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 3010 may also be configured to receive a first measurement report or a second measurement report from a first terminal using the communication interface 3020.

The embodiment of the application also provides a communication system, which comprises the first terminal, the second terminal and the first network equipment. In some embodiments, the communication system may further include a second network device.

The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program storage medium, characterized in that the computer program storage medium has program instructions which, when executed, cause the method in the foregoing to be performed.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a chip system, wherein the chip system includes at least one processor, and program instructions, when executed in the at least one processor, cause the method in the foregoing to be performed.

It should be appreciated that the processor in embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), but may also be other general purpose processors, digital signal processors (digital signal processor, DSP), application specific integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), off-the-shelf programmable gate arrays (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, or the like. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

It should also be appreciated that the memory in embodiments of the present application may be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile 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. The volatile memory may be random access memory (random access memory, RAM) which acts as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of random access memory (random access memory, RAM) are available, such as Static RAM (SRAM), dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (ESDRAM), synchronous Link DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct memory bus RAM (DR RAM).

The above embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any other combination. When implemented in software, the above-described embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product comprises one or more computer instructions or computer programs. When the computer instructions or computer program are loaded or executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the present application are all or partially produced. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable apparatus. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website site, computer, server, or data center to another website site, computer, server, or data center by wired (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that contains one or more sets of available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium. The semiconductor medium may be a solid state disk.

It should be understood that the term "and/or" is merely an association relationship describing the associated object, and means that three relationships may exist, for example, a and/or B may mean: there are three cases, a alone, a and B together, and B alone, wherein a, B may be singular or plural. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the associated object is an "or" relationship, but may also indicate an "and/or" relationship, and may be understood by referring to the context.

In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. "at least one of" or the like means any combination of these items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural items(s). 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 plural.

It should be understood that, in various embodiments of the present application, the sequence numbers of the foregoing processes do not mean the order of execution, and the order of execution of the processes should be determined by the functions and internal logic thereof, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, or combinations of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the 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.

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

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be implemented in other manners. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative, e.g., the division of the units is merely a logical function division, and there may be additional divisions when actually implemented, e.g., multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted or not performed. Alternatively, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed with each other may be an indirect coupling or communication connection via some interfaces, devices or units, which may be in electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate units may or may not be physically separate, and units shown 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 may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units may be integrated in 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 may be embodied essentially or in a part contributing to the prior art or in a part of the technical solution, in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium, including several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: a U-disk, a removable hard disk, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a random access Memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, or other various media capable of storing program codes.

The foregoing is merely 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 think about changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present application, and the changes and substitutions are intended to 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 (35)

1. A method of communication, the method comprising:

receiving radio resource control release information sent by first network equipment, wherein the radio resource control release information is used for indicating to release first radio resource control connection between a first terminal and the first network equipment;

sending first indication information to the second terminal, wherein the first terminal is a relay device of the second terminal accessed to the first network device, and the first indication information is used for indicating at least one of the following information: and releasing the side uplink between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the first radio resource control connection is released, and the state of the first radio resource control connection is a connection failure state.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

And establishing a second radio resource control connection with a second network device, wherein the second radio resource control connection is used for the second terminal to access the second network device.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,

the method further comprises the steps of: and receiving second indication information sent by the second terminal, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating to keep the side uplink.

4. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,

the establishing a second radio resource control connection with a second network device comprises: and the side uplink establishes an RRC connection with the second network equipment under the condition that a detection time point is not disconnected, wherein the detection time point comprises a first time point after the first indication information is sent.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein,

the radio resource control release information is received in a case where the first terminal satisfies a handover condition and a session belonging to the first terminal does not exist between the first terminal and the first network device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

Determining a connection state of the first radio resource control connection;

and sending state indication information to a second terminal, wherein the state indication information comprises first state information, second state information or third state information, the first state information is used for indicating that the connection state is an establishment state, the second state information is used for indicating that the connection state is an establishment completion state, and the third state information is used for indicating that the connection state is an establishment failure state.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining the connection state of the first radio resource control connection comprises:

determining that the connection state is the establishing state in the case that the first terminal is switching, the first radio resource control connection is being established, or the first radio resource control connection with radio link failure is being recovered; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

determining that the connection state is the establishment completion state when the first terminal completes the handover, the establishment of the first radio resource control connection is completed, or the failure recovery of the first radio resource control connection radio link is completed; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

And when the first terminal equipment fails in handover, the first radio resource control connection fails in establishment, the first radio resource control connection fails in radio link, and the first radio resource control connection which fails in radio link is recovered, or the first radio resource control connection is released, determining that the connection state is the establishment failure state.

8. A method of communication, the method comprising:

determining a connection state of a first radio resource control connection between a first terminal and a first network device;

and sending state indication information to a second terminal, wherein the state indication information comprises first state information, second state information or third state information, the first state information is used for indicating that the connection state is an establishment state, the second state information is used for indicating that the connection state is an establishment completion state, the third state information is used for indicating that the connection state is an establishment failure state, and the first terminal is a relay device of the second terminal accessed to the first network device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the connection state of the first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network device comprises:

Determining that the connection state is the establishing state in the case that the first terminal is switching, the first radio resource control connection is being established, or the first radio resource control connection with radio link failure is being recovered; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

determining that the connection state is the establishment completion state when the first terminal completes the handover, the establishment of the first radio resource control connection is completed, or the failure recovery of the first radio resource control connection radio link is completed; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

and when the first terminal equipment fails in handover, the first radio resource control connection fails in establishment, the first radio resource control connection fails in radio link, and the first radio resource control connection which fails in radio link is recovered, or the first radio resource control connection is released, determining that the connection state is the establishment failure state.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said determining a connection state of the first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network device comprises: and under the condition of receiving the radio resource control release information sent by the first network equipment, determining the connection state as the establishment failure state, wherein the radio resource control release information is used for indicating the release of the first radio resource control connection.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

and establishing a second radio resource control connection with a second network device, wherein the second radio resource control connection is used for the second terminal to access the second network device.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein,

the method further comprises the steps of: and receiving second indication information sent by the second terminal, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating to keep the side uplink.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein,

the establishing a second radio resource control connection with a second network device comprises: and the side uplink establishes an RRC connection with the second network equipment under the condition that a detection time point is not disconnected, wherein the detection time point comprises a first time point after the first indication information is sent.

14. The method according to any one of claims 10-13, wherein,

the radio resource control release information is received in a case where the first terminal satisfies a handover condition and a session belonging to the first terminal does not exist between the first terminal and the first network device.

15. A method of communication, the method comprising:

determining that a first terminal meets a switching condition, wherein a session belonging to the first terminal does not exist between the first terminal and first network equipment, the first terminal is relay equipment for accessing a second terminal into the first network equipment, and a first radio resource control connection exists between the first terminal and the first network equipment;

and sending radio resource control release information to the first terminal, wherein the radio resource control release information is used for indicating to release the first radio resource control connection.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a measurement report from the first terminal, the measurement report including information indicating signal quality obtained by the first terminal measurement;

and determining that the first terminal meets the switching condition according to the measurement report.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the method further comprises:

and releasing the first radio resource control connection between the first terminal and the first network equipment.

18. A method of communication, the method comprising:

Determining whether a session belonging to a first terminal exists between the first terminal and first network equipment, wherein the first terminal is relay equipment for accessing a second terminal into the first network equipment;

and when the session belonging to the first terminal does not exist, sending a first radio resource control reconfiguration message to the first terminal, wherein the first radio resource control reconfiguration message comprises information for indicating at least one non-measurable cell and/or at least one measurable cell covered by the first network equipment.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

and when the session belonging to the first terminal exists, sending a second radio resource control reconfiguration message to the first terminal, wherein the second radio resource control reconfiguration message comprises information for indicating a cell covered by the first network equipment and/or other cells, and the other cells are cells outside the cell covered by the first network equipment.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second radio resource control reconfiguration message comprises any one or more of: at least one measurement event, a measurable cell white list comprising at least one measurable cell in or out of coverage of the first network device, or an non-measurable cell black list comprising at least one non-measurable cell.

21. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, further comprising:

and receiving a first measurement report from the first terminal, wherein the first measurement report is determined according to a second radio resource control reconfiguration message or the first radio resource control reconfiguration message.

22. The method according to any of the claims 18 to 21, wherein before the determining that there is a session between a first terminal and a first network device belonging to the first terminal, the method further comprises:

receiving a second measurement report from the first terminal, the second measurement report including information indicating a signal quality obtained by the first terminal measurement;

and determining that the first terminal meets a switching condition according to the second measurement report.

23. A method of communication, the method comprising:

receiving a first radio resource control reconfiguration message from a first network device when a session belonging to the first terminal does not exist between the first terminal and the first network device, wherein the first radio resource control reconfiguration message comprises information for indicating at least one non-measurable cell and/or at least one measurable cell covered by the first network device, and the first terminal is a relay device for accessing a second terminal to the first network device;

And carrying out signal measurement according to the first radio resource control reconfiguration message.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second radio resource control reconfiguration message from the first network device when the session belonging to the first terminal exists, wherein the second radio resource control reconfiguration message comprises information for indicating a cell covered by the first network device and/or other cells, and the other cells are cells outside the cell covered by the first network device;

and carrying out signal measurement according to the second radio resource control reconfiguration message.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the second radio resource control reconfiguration message comprises any one or more of: at least one measurement event, a measurable cell white list comprising at least one measurable cell in or out of coverage of the first network device, or an non-measurable cell black list comprising at least one non-measurable cell.

26. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 25, further comprising:

And sending a first measurement report to the first network equipment, wherein the first measurement report is determined according to a second radio resource control reconfiguration message or the first radio resource control reconfiguration message.

27. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 26, further comprising:

before receiving a second radio resource control reconfiguration message or the first radio resource control reconfiguration message from the first network equipment, a second measurement report is sent to the first network equipment, wherein the second measurement report comprises information for indicating signal quality obtained by the first terminal measurement.

28. A communication device comprising means for performing the method of any of claims 1 to 14, or 23 to 27.

29. A communication device comprising means for performing the method of any of claims 15 to 17, or 18 to 22.

30. A communication device, the communication device comprising: at least one processor and a communication interface for the terminal to interact with other communication devices, which when executed in the at least one processor causes the communication device to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 14, or 23 to 27.

31. A communication device, the communication device comprising: at least one processor and a communication interface for the terminal to interact with other communication devices, which when executed in the at least one processor causes the communication device to perform the method of any of claims 15 to 17, or 18 to 22.

32. A computer program product comprising program instructions which, when executed, perform the method of any of claims 1 to 27.

33. A computer readable storage medium storing program code for device execution, when the program instructions are executed, the method of any one of claims 1 to 27.

34. A chip comprising at least one processor, wherein program instructions, when executed in the at least one processor, cause the method of any one of claims 1 to 27 to be performed.

35. A communication system comprising the communication device of claim 28 or 30, the communication device of claim 29 or 31, and the second terminal.