WO2023226759A1

WO2023226759A1 - Communication method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2023226759A1
Application number: PCT/CN2023/093181
Authority: WO
Inventors: 何泓利; 李雪茹
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2022-05-23
Filing date: 2023-05-10
Publication date: 2023-11-30
Also published as: CN117155720A

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and apparatus, relates to the technical field of wireless communication, and can accurately and timely control the working state of a forwarding channel of a relay device. The method comprises: a first network device determining that a first condition is satisfied. The first condition comprises at least one of the following: a first terminal device switching from a first cell to a target cell, or the first terminal device initiating random access in the target cell; a network device corresponding to the target cell being a first network device; and the first network device receiving first request information from the first terminal device, and the first request information requesting to turn on a forwarding channel in the relay device. The first network device sending first indication information to the relay device, so as to instruct the relay device to turn on the forwarding channel. The relay device comprises the forwarding channel, and the relay device is associated with the first terminal device.

Description

Communication methods and devices

This application requires the priority of the Chinese patent application submitted to the State Intellectual Property Office on May 23, 2022, with the application number 202210562194.9 and the invention name "an NCR control method, network equipment, and terminal equipment", and in June 2022 The priority of the Chinese patent application submitted to the State Intellectual Property Office on the 24th with the application number 202210726875.4 and the application title "Communication Method and Device", the entire content of which is incorporated into this application by reference.

Technical field

The present application relates to the field of wireless communications, and in particular, to a communication method and device.

Background technique

Relay equipment can provide signal enhancement services to improve the coverage of wireless networks. If the terminal device is within the signal coverage of the relay device, the relay device needs to open its own forwarding channel to provide signal enhancement services for the terminal device. If there is no terminal device associated with the relay device within its signal coverage, the relay device needs to close its own forwarding channel to reduce its own power consumption and interference to other communication devices. How to accurately and timely control the working status of the forwarding channel of relay equipment is an issue that needs to be solved urgently.

Contents of the invention

This application provides a communication method and device that can accurately and timely control the working status of the forwarding channel of the relay device. In order to achieve the above purpose, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

The first aspect is to provide a communication method. The execution subject of the method may be the first network device, or may be a chip applied in the first network device. The following description takes the execution subject being the first network device as an example. The method includes:

The first network device determines that the first condition is met, where the first condition includes at least one of the following:

The first item is that the first terminal device switches from the first cell to the target cell, or the first terminal device initiates random access in the target cell. Wherein, the network device corresponding to the target cell is the first network device. The first cell is a cell other than the target cell.

Item 2: The first network device receives the first request information from the first terminal device. The first request information requests opening of a forwarding channel in the relay device.

The first network device sends first indication information to the relay device. The first instruction information instructs the relay device to open the forwarding channel. The forwarding channel is used to forward uplink information from the first terminal device to the first network device, and/or the forwarding channel is used to forward downlink information from the first network device to the first terminal device. The relay device is associated with the first terminal device.

That is to say, when the first condition is met, the first network device can determine that the first terminal device has entered its coverage area, and therefore will also or will soon enter the coverage area of the relay device. Therefore, the first network device can send the third terminal device to the relay device. An instruction message instructs it to open the forwarding channel in advance to provide services for the first terminal device; when the second condition is met, the first network device can determine that the first terminal has the need to open the forwarding channel of the relay device, and therefore, can The relay device sends first instruction information to instruct it to open a forwarding channel and provide services for the first terminal device. The first request information is information sent by the first terminal device to the first network device, and the first instruction information is information sent by the first network device to the relay device. Therefore, the first request information and the first instruction information It does not rely on the short-distance connection between the first terminal equipment and the relay equipment. Generally, the available power between the first terminal equipment and the first network equipment is higher, and the transmission module has stronger capabilities, so it avoids the short-distance connection between the first terminal equipment and the first network equipment. The forwarding channel is not opened in time due to poor signal quality of the connection, so as to control the working status of the forwarding channel in a timely and accurate manner.

It should be understood that after the relay device opens the forwarding channel, the relay device can also provide signal forwarding services for other terminal devices.

In a possible design, before the first network device sends the first indication information to the relay device, the method further includes: the first network device determines, based on the first identification and the first association relationship, that the relay device is related to the first Terminal device association, wherein the first identification is used to identify the first terminal device, and the first association relationship indicates that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device, so that the first network device knows the relationship between the relay device and the first terminal device. connection relation. That is to say, after determining that the relay device has an association relationship with the first terminal device, the first network device will send the first instruction information to the relay device to instruct it to open the forwarding channel.

In a possible design, the method further includes: the first network device receiving the first identification from the first terminal device, so that the first network device obtains the first identification.

In a possible design, the first request information includes a first identifier. The first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device.

That is to say, the first request information carries the first identifier, and the first network device can also obtain the first identifier while obtaining the first request information.

In a possible design, before the first network device determines that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device based on the first identification and the first association relationship, the method further includes: the first network device receives a message from the relay device. Second instruction information. The second indication information at least indicates that the relay device has an association relationship with the first terminal device.

That is to say, the relay device reports the association relationship between itself and the first terminal device to the first network device, so that the first network device learns that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device.

In a possible design, the second indication information at least includes the first identification. Alternatively, the second indication information at least includes a first identification and a second identification. The second identifier is used to identify the relay device.

In a possible design, before the first network device determines that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device based on the first identification and the first association relationship, the method further includes: the first network device receives a message from the relay device. Identification information. The identification information includes at least a first identification, or the identification information includes at least a first identification and a second identification. The second identification is used to identify the relay device, so that the first network device can learn the association between the relay device and the first terminal device based on the identification information.

In a possible design, the first identifier is the International Mobile Subscriber Identity IMSI of the first terminal device. Alternatively, the first identifier is the media access control MAC address of the network card of the first terminal device.

In a possible design, the second identifier is the IMSI of the relay device. Alternatively, the second identifier is the MAC address of the network card of the relay device.

In a possible design, the first identity and/or the second identity may be other stable identities that are not assigned by network devices.

In a possible design, after the first network device sends the first indication information to the relay device, the method further includes: the first network device determines that a second condition is met, where the second condition includes at least one of the following:

The first item is that the first terminal equipment switches from the target cell to the first cell.

In the second item, the first network device receives the second request information from the first terminal device. The second request information requests closing of the forwarding channel.

The first network device sends the third indication information to the relay device, or, if the third condition is met, the first network device sends the third indication information to the relay device. Among them, the third condition includes: all terminal devices associated with the relay device , a terminal device other than the first terminal device is switched from the target cell to a cell other than the target cell. The third instruction information instructs the relay device to close the forwarding channel.

That is to say, when the first condition is met, the first network device can determine that the first terminal device has left its coverage area, and therefore also left the coverage area of the relay device. Therefore, the first network device can send the third indication information to the relay device. , instructing it to close the forwarding channel; when the second condition is met, the first network device can determine that the first terminal has a need to close the forwarding channel of the relay device or no longer has a need to open the forwarding channel of the relay device. Therefore, it can The relay device sends third instruction information to instruct it to close the forwarding channel. The second request information is information sent by the first terminal device to the first network device, and the third instruction information is information sent by the first network device to the relay device. Therefore, the second request information and the third instruction information It does not rely on the short-distance connection between the first terminal equipment and the relay equipment. Generally, the available power between the first terminal equipment and the first network equipment is higher, and the transmission module has stronger capabilities, so it avoids the short-distance connection between the first terminal equipment and the first network equipment. The forwarding channel is not closed in time due to poor signal quality of the connection, so as to control the working status of the forwarding channel in a timely and accurate manner.

In a possible design, before the first network device receives the second indication information from the relay device, the method further includes: the first network device sends the first capability information. The first capability information indicates at least one of the following functions: the first network device can receive and process the second indication information. Alternatively, the first network device can receive and process the first request information. Alternatively, the first network device can receive and process the second request information. In this way, communication devices within the signal coverage range of the first network device, such as the first terminal device, relay device, etc., can learn the device capabilities of the first network device.

In a possible design, before the first network device receives the second indication information from the relay device, the method further includes: the first network device receives at least one of the following information from the relay device: device type information, or secondary capability information. The device type information is used to indicate the device type of the relay device. The second capability information indicates that the relay device can report the second indication information, so that the first network device can learn the device capabilities of the relay device.

In a possible design, before the first network device receives the first identification from the first terminal device, the method further includes: the first network device receives third capability information from the first terminal device. The third capability information indicates that the first terminal device can report the first identifier, so that the first network device can learn the device capabilities of the first terminal device.

The second aspect is to provide a communication method. The execution subject of the method may be the first network device, or may be a chip applied in the first network device. The following description takes the execution subject being the first network device as an example. The method includes:

The first network device determines that the second condition is met, where the second condition includes at least one of the following:

The first network device sends the third indication information to the relay device, or, if the third condition is met, the first network device sends the third indication information to the relay device. The third condition includes: among all terminal devices associated with the relay device, the terminal device other than the first terminal device switches from the target cell to a cell other than the target cell. The third instruction information instructs the relay device to close the forwarding channel. The forwarding channel is used to forward uplink information from the first terminal device to the first network device, and/or the forwarding channel is used to forward downlink information from the first network device to the first terminal device. The relay device is associated with the first terminal device.

In a possible design, before the first network device sends the third indication information to the relay device, the method further includes: the first network device determines, based on the first identification and the first association relationship, that the relay device is related to the first Terminal device association, wherein the first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device, and the first association relationship indicates that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device.

In a possible design, the first network device determines, based on the first identification and the first association relationship, the relay device and Before the first terminal device is associated, the method further includes: the first network device receiving second indication information from the relay device. The second indication information at least indicates that the relay device has an association relationship with the first terminal device.

In a possible design, before the first network device determines that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device based on the first identification and the first association relationship, the method further includes: the first network device receives a message from the relay device. Identification information. The identification information includes at least a first identification, or the identification information includes at least a first identification and a second identification. The second identifier is used to identify the relay device.

Any implementation manner of the second aspect corresponds to part of the implementation manner of the first aspect. The technical effects corresponding to the second aspect and any implementation method in the second aspect can be found in the technical effects corresponding to the corresponding implementation methods in the above-mentioned first aspect, and will not be described again here.

The third aspect is to provide a communication method. The execution subject of this method may be a relay device or a chip applied in the relay device. The following description takes the execution subject as a relay device as an example. The method includes: the relay device receives first indication information from the first network device. The relay device opens the forwarding channel according to the first instruction information. Among them, the relay device includes a forwarding channel. The forwarding channel is used to forward uplink information from the first terminal device to the first network device, and/or the forwarding channel is used to forward downlink information from the first network device to the first terminal device. The relay device is associated with the first terminal device.

That is to say, the first indication information is information sent by the first network device to the relay device. Therefore, the first indication information does not rely on the short-distance connection between the first terminal device and the relay device, avoiding the short-distance connection between the first terminal device and the relay device. The forwarding channel is not opened in a timely manner due to poor signal quality of the remote connection, so as to control the working status of the forwarding channel in a timely and accurate manner.

In a possible design, before the relay device receives the first indication information from the first network device, the method further includes: the relay device sends the second indication information to the first network device. The second indication information at least indicates that the relay device has an association relationship with the first terminal device, so as to report the association relationship between itself and the first terminal device to the first network device.

In a possible design, the second indication information at least includes the first identification. Alternatively, the second indication information at least includes a first identification and a second identification. The first identification is used to identify the first terminal device, and the first identification is an identification obtained by the relay device from the first terminal device. The second identifier is used to identify the relay device.

In a possible design, before the relay device receives the first indication information from the first network device, the method further includes: the relay device sends identification information to the first network device. The identification information includes at least a first identification, or the identification information includes at least a first identification and a second identification. The first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device, and the second identifier is used to identify the relay device to report the association relationship between itself and the first terminal device to the first network device.

In a possible design, the first identifier is the International Mobile Subscriber Identity IMSI of the first terminal device. Or, no. A media access control MAC address identified as the network card of the first terminal device.

In a possible design, before the relay device sends the second indication information to the first network device, the method further includes: the relay device sends a broadcast message. The relay device receives the response message from the first terminal device. The response message includes the first identifier. Alternatively, the response message is used by the relay device to determine to establish the first connection. The first connection is a connection between the relay device and the first terminal device. The first connection is used to transmit the first identification so that the relay device obtains the first connection. logo.

In a possible design, before the relay device sends the second indication information to the first network device and after the first connection is established, the method further includes: the relay device receives a message from the first terminal device through the first connection. The first identification enables the relay device to obtain the first identification.

In a possible design, the response message is also used by the relay device to determine that it is associated with the first terminal device.

In a possible design, after the relay device opens the forwarding channel according to the first indication information, the method further includes: the relay device receives third indication information from the first network device. The relay device closes the forwarding channel according to the third instruction information.

That is to say, the third indication information is information sent by the first network device to the relay device. Therefore, the third indication information does not rely on the short-distance connection between the first terminal device and the relay device, avoiding the short-distance connection between the first terminal device and the relay device. The problem of untimely closing of the forwarding channel caused by poor signal quality of the connection can be solved in a timely and accurate manner to control the working status of the forwarding channel.

In a possible design, before the relay device sends the second indication information to the first network device, the method further includes: the relay device receives the first capability information from the first network device. The first capability information indicates that the first network device can receive and process the second indication information, so that the relay device obtains the device capability of the first network device.

In a possible design, the method further includes: the relay device sending second indication information to the second network device to report the association relationship between itself and the first terminal device to other network devices.

In a possible design, before the relay device sends the second indication information to the first network device, the method further includes: the relay device sends at least one of the following information to the first network device: device type information, or the first network device. 2. Capability information. The device type information is used to indicate the device type of the relay device. The second capability information indicates that the relay device can report the second indication information to report its own device capability to the first network device.

The fourth aspect is to provide a communication method. The execution subject of this method may be a relay device or a chip applied in the relay device. The following description takes the execution subject as a relay device as an example. The method includes: the relay device receives third indication information from the first network device. The relay device closes the forwarding channel according to the third instruction information. Among them, the relay device includes a forwarding channel. The forwarding channel is used to forward uplink information from the first terminal device to the first network device, and/or the forwarding channel is used to forward downlink information from the first network device to the first terminal device. The relay device is associated with the first terminal device.

In a possible design, before the relay device receives the third indication information from the first network device, the method further includes: the relay device sends the second indication information to the first network device. The second indication information at least indicates that the relay device has an association relationship with the first terminal device.

In a possible design, the second indication information at least includes the first identification. Alternatively, the second indication information at least includes a first identification and a second identification. Wherein, the first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device, and the first identifier is the relay device from the first The identification obtained by the terminal device. The second identifier is used to identify the relay device.

In a possible design, before the relay device receives the third indication information from the first network device, the method further includes: the relay device sends identification information to the first network device. The identification information includes at least a first identification, or the identification information includes at least a first identification and a second identification. The first identification is used to identify the first terminal device, and the second identification is used to identify the relay device.

In a possible design, before the relay device sends the second indication information to the first network device, the method further includes: the relay device sends a broadcast message. The relay device receives the response message from the first terminal device. The response message includes the first identifier. Alternatively, the response message is used by the relay device to determine to establish the first connection. The first connection is a connection between the relay device and the first terminal device, and the first connection is used to transmit the first identification.

Any implementation method of the fourth aspect corresponds to some implementation methods of the third aspect. The technical effects corresponding to the fourth aspect and any implementation method in the fourth aspect can be found in the technical effects corresponding to the corresponding implementation methods in the above-mentioned third aspect, and will not be described again here.

The fifth aspect provides a communication method. The execution subject of the method may be the first terminal device, or may be a chip applied in the first terminal device. The following description takes the execution subject being the first terminal device as an example. The method includes:

The first terminal device determines that the third condition is met, where the third condition includes at least one of the following:

The first item is that the first terminal device can receive the first synchronization signal block SSB from the first network device, and the cell identity corresponding to the first SSB is the same as the identity of the target cell.

The second item is that the distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is less than or equal to the first threshold.

The first terminal device sends first request information to the first network device. The first request information is used to request the first network device to open a forwarding channel in the relay device. The forwarding channel is used to forward uplink information from the first terminal device to the first network device, and/or the forwarding channel is used to forward downlink information from the first network device to the first terminal device. The first terminal device is associated with the relay device.

In a possible design, the first request information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device. The first identification is used by the first network device to determine that the first terminal device is associated with the relay device.

In a possible design, the first terminal device also meets the fourth condition. Among them, the fourth condition includes: the first terminal device has service data transmission requirements.

In a possible design, before the first terminal device determines that the third condition is met, the method further includes: the first terminal device receives a broadcast message from the relay device. The first terminal device sends a response message to the relay device. The response message includes the first identifier. Alternatively, the response message is used by the relay device to determine to establish the first connection, and the first connection is the relay device. The connection with the first terminal device, the first connection is used to transmit the first identification.

In a possible design, before the first terminal device determines that the third condition is met and after the first connection is established, the method further includes: the first terminal device transmits the first identification to the relay device through the first connection, so that The relay device obtains the first identification.

In a possible design, after the first connection is established, the method further includes: the first terminal device receives a second SSB from the first network device, and the first terminal device determines the current cell as the target cell according to the second SSB.

In a possible design, after the first connection is established, the method further includes: the first terminal device determines the target location according to its own location. For example, the first terminal device uses its current position as the target position.

Any implementation manner of the fifth aspect corresponds to part of the implementation manners of the first aspect and the third aspect. The technical effects corresponding to the fifth aspect and any implementation method in the fifth aspect can be found in the technical effects corresponding to the corresponding implementation methods in the above-mentioned first aspect and third aspect, and will not be described again here.

The sixth aspect is to provide a communication method. The execution subject of the method may be the first terminal device, or may be a chip applied in the first terminal device. The following description takes the execution subject being the first terminal device as an example. The method includes:

The first terminal device sends the first identification to the first network device. The first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device, and the first identifier is used by the first network device to determine that the first terminal device is associated with the relay device.

In a possible design, before the first terminal device sends the first identifier to the first network device, the method further includes: if the first terminal device does not establish an access layer connection with the first network device, the first terminal device The device initiates an access layer connection to the first network device. Wherein, the access layer connection is used to send the first identifier.

In a possible design, before the first terminal device determines that the third condition is met, the method further includes: the first terminal device receives a broadcast message from the relay device. The first terminal device sends a response message to the relay device. The response message includes the first identifier. Alternatively, the response message is used by the relay device to determine to establish the first connection. The first connection is a connection between the relay device and the first terminal device, and the first connection is used to transmit the first identification.

In a possible design, before the first terminal device determines that the third condition is met and after the first connection is established, the method further includes: the first terminal device transmits the first identification to the relay device through the first connection.

Any implementation manner of the sixth aspect corresponds to part of the implementation manners of the first aspect and the third aspect. The technical effects corresponding to the sixth aspect and any implementation method in the sixth aspect can be found in the technical effects corresponding to the corresponding implementation methods in the above-mentioned first aspect and third aspect, and will not be described again here.

The seventh aspect provides a communication method. The execution subject of the method may be the first terminal device, or may be a chip applied in the first terminal device. The following description takes the execution subject being the first terminal device as an example. The method includes:

The first terminal device determines that the fifth condition is met, where the fifth condition includes at least one of the following:

The first item is that the cell where the first terminal equipment resides is about to be reselected from the target cell to a cell other than the target cell. The target cell The area is the cell corresponding to the first network device.

The second item is that the distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is greater than or equal to the first threshold.

The first terminal device sends second request information to the first network device. The second request information is used to request the first network device to close the forwarding channel in the relay device. The forwarding channel is used to forward uplink information from the first terminal device to the first network device, and/or the forwarding channel is used to forward downlink information from the first network device to the first terminal device. The first terminal device is associated with the relay device.

In a possible design, the second request information includes the first identification. The first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device. The first identification is used by the first network device to determine that the first terminal device is associated with the relay device.

In a possible design, before the first terminal device determines that the fifth condition is met, the method further includes: the first terminal device receives a broadcast message from the relay device. The first terminal device sends a response message to the relay device. The response message includes the first identifier. Alternatively, the response message is used by the relay device to determine to establish the first connection. The first connection is a connection between the relay device and the first terminal device, and the first connection is used to transmit the first identification.

In a possible design, after the first connection is established, the method further includes: the first terminal device receives a second physical broadcast channel block SSB from the second network device, and the first terminal device determines the current cell according to the second SSB. for the target community.

In a possible design, after the first connection is established, the method further includes: the first terminal device determines the target location according to its own location.

Any implementation manner of the seventh aspect corresponds to part of the implementation manners of the first aspect and the third aspect. The technical effects corresponding to the seventh aspect and any implementation method in the seventh aspect can be found in the technical effects corresponding to the corresponding implementation methods in the above-mentioned first aspect and third aspect, and will not be described again here.

An eighth aspect provides a communication method. The execution subject of the method may be the first terminal device, or may be a chip applied in the first terminal device. The following description takes the execution subject being the first terminal device as an example. The method includes:

The first item is that the cell where the first terminal equipment resides is about to be reselected from the target cell to a cell other than the target cell. The target cell is a cell corresponding to the first network device.

In a possible design, before the first terminal device sends the first identifier to the first network device, the method further includes: if the first terminal device does not establish an access layer connection with the first network device, the first terminal device Initiate an access layer connection to the first network device. Wherein, the access layer connection is used to send the first identifier.

Any implementation manner of the eighth aspect corresponds to part of the implementation manners of the first aspect and the third aspect. The technical effects corresponding to the eighth aspect and any implementation method in the eighth aspect can be found in the technical effects corresponding to the corresponding implementation methods in the above-mentioned first aspect and third aspect, and will not be described again here.

In a ninth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes: a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions, and when the processor executes the instructions, the communication device causes the communication device to execute any of the above aspects or the first network in any possible design of any aspect. The method performed by the device. The communication device may be the first network device in the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or the communication device may be the first network device in the above-mentioned second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect. Network equipment, or a chip that implements the function of the above-mentioned first network equipment.

In a tenth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes: a processor; the processor is coupled to a memory, and is used to read instructions in the memory and execute them, so that the communication device performs any of the above aspects or any possible design of any aspect. The method performed by the first network device. The communication device may be the first network device in the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or the first network device in the above-mentioned second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or A chip that implements the function of the above-mentioned first network device.

In an eleventh aspect, a chip is provided. The chip includes processing circuits and input and output interfaces. The input and output interface is used to communicate with a module outside the chip. For example, the chip may be a chip that implements the first network device function in the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect. The processing circuit is used to run computer programs or instructions to implement the method in the above first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect. For another example, the chip may be a chip that implements the first network device function in the above second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect. The processing circuit is used to run computer programs or instructions to implement the above second aspect or any method in the possible design of the second aspect.

In a twelfth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes: a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions. When the processor executes the instructions, the communication device causes the communication device to execute any of the above aspects or any possible relay device in the design. The method performed. The communication device may be a relay device in the above-mentioned third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, or the communication device may be a relay device in the above-mentioned fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect. , or a chip that implements the above relay device functions.

In a thirteenth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes: a processor; the processor is coupled to a memory, and is used to read instructions in the memory and execute them, so that the communication device performs any of the above aspects or any possible design of any aspect. The method performed by the relay device. The communication device may be a relay device in the above-mentioned third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, or a relay device in the above-mentioned fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect, or implement the above-mentioned A chip that relays device functionality.

A fourteenth aspect provides a chip. The chip includes processing circuits and input and output interfaces. The input and output interface is used to communicate with a module outside the chip. For example, the chip may be a chip that implements the relay device function in the above third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect. The processing circuit is used to run computer programs or instructions to implement the method in the above third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect. For another example, the chip may be a chip that implements the relay device function in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect. Processing circuitry is used to run computer programs or instructions to Methods in realizing the above fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect.

In a fifteenth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes: a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions. When the processor executes the instructions, the communication device causes the communication device to execute any of the above aspects or the first terminal in any possible design of any aspect. The method performed by the device. The communication device may be the first terminal device in the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect, or the communication device may be the first terminal device in any possible design of the sixth aspect or the sixth aspect. The terminal equipment, or the communication device may be the first terminal equipment in the above-mentioned seventh aspect or any possible design of the seventh aspect, or the communication device may be the above-mentioned eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect The first terminal device in the device, or the chip that implements the function of the first terminal device.

In a sixteenth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes: a processor; the processor is coupled to a memory, and is used to read instructions in the memory and execute them, so that the communication device performs any of the above aspects or any possible design of any aspect. The method executed by the first terminal device. The communication device may be the first terminal device in the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect, or the first terminal device in any possible design of the sixth aspect or the sixth aspect, or Be the first terminal device in the above-mentioned seventh aspect or any possible design of the seventh aspect, or be the first terminal device in the above-mentioned eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect, or implement the above-mentioned first Chips for terminal device functions.

In a seventeenth aspect, a chip is provided. The chip includes processing circuits and input and output interfaces. The input and output interface is used to communicate with a module outside the chip. For example, the chip may be a chip that implements the function of the first terminal device in the above-mentioned fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect. The processing circuit is used to run computer programs or instructions to implement the above fifth aspect or any method in the possible design of the fifth aspect. For another example, the chip may be a chip that implements the function of the first terminal device in the above-mentioned sixth aspect or any possible design of the sixth aspect. The processing circuit is used to run computer programs or instructions to implement the above sixth aspect or any method in the possible design of the sixth aspect. For another example, the chip may be a chip that implements the function of the first terminal device in the seventh aspect or any possible design of the seventh aspect. The processing circuit is used to run computer programs or instructions to implement the above seventh aspect or any method in the possible design of the seventh aspect. For another example, the chip may be a chip that implements the function of the first terminal device in the eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect. The processing circuit is used to run computer programs or instructions to implement the above eighth aspect or any method in the possible design of the eighth aspect.

In an eighteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions, which when run on a computer, enable the computer to perform any of the methods in any of the above aspects.

A nineteenth aspect provides a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on a computer, enable the computer to perform any of the methods of any of the above aspects.

A twentieth aspect provides a circuit system. The circuitry includes processing circuitry configured to perform a method as in any one of the above aspects.

Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design in the ninth aspect to the twentieth aspect can be referred to the beneficial effects in the corresponding methods provided above, and will not be described again here.

Description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic architectural diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 2a is a schematic structural diagram of a forwarding channel provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 2b is a schematic structural diagram of a relay device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 3a is a schematic diagram of a signal enhancement service scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 3b is a schematic diagram of another signal enhancement service scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 4 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 5 is a schematic flowchart of yet another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 6 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 7 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 8a is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 8b is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 8c is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 8d is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 8e is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 9 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 10 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 11a is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 11b is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 11c is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 11d is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 12a is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 12b is a schematic structural diagram of yet another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed ways

The terms “first” and “second” in the description of this application and the drawings are used to distinguish different objects, or to distinguish different processes on the same object, rather than to describe a specific order of objects. Furthermore, references to the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the description of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but optionally also includes other unlisted steps or units, or optionally also Includes other steps or units that are inherent to such processes, methods, products, or devices. It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to represent examples, illustrations or explanations. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "such as" in the embodiments of the present application is not to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, use of the words "exemplary" or "such as" is intended to present the concept in a concrete manner. In the embodiment of this application, two or more includes two itself. Multiple can include two, three, or more.

FIG. 1 is a schematic architectural diagram of a communication system 1000 applied in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1 , a communication system 1000 includes a terminal device 11 , a relay device 12 and a network device 13 .

Among them, the terminal device 11 includes a device that provides voice and/or data connectivity to the user. Specifically, it includes a device that provides voice to the user, or includes a device that provides data connectivity to the user, or includes a device that provides voice and data to the user. Connectivity devices. This may include, for example, a handheld device with wireless connectivity, or a processing device connected to a wireless modem. The terminal equipment can communicate with the core network via a radio access network (radio access network, RAN), and exchange voice or data with the RAN. The terminal equipment may include user equipment (UE), wireless terminal equipment, mobile terminal equipment, device-to-device communication (D2D) terminal equipment, vehicle to everything (V2X) terminal equipment , machine-to-machine/machine-type communications (M2M/MTC) terminal equipment, Internet of things (IoT) terminal equipment, subscriber unit, Subscriber station, mobile station, remote station, access point (AP), remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal terminal), user agent (user agent), or user device (user device), etc. For example, this may include a mobile phone (or "cellular" phone), a computer with a mobile terminal device, a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-built-in mobile device, etc. For example, personal communication service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants, PDA) and other equipment. Also includes constrained devices, such as devices with lower power consumption, or devices with limited storage capabilities, or devices with limited computing capabilities. Examples include barcodes, radio frequency identification (RFID), sensors, global positioning systems (GPS), laser scanners and other information sensing equipment.

The various terminal devices introduced above can be considered as vehicle-mounted terminal equipment if they are located on the vehicle (for example, placed or installed in the vehicle). The vehicle-mounted terminal equipment is also called an on-board unit (OBU), for example. ).

In the embodiment of the present application, the device used to implement the functions of the terminal device may be a terminal device, or may be a device that can support the terminal device to implement the function, such as a chip system, and the device may be installed in the terminal device. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system may be composed of chips, or may include chips and other discrete devices. In the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application, the device for realizing the functions of the terminal device is a terminal device as an example for introduction.

The relay device 12 is one or more devices added between the terminal device 11 and the network device 13, and is responsible for forwarding wireless signals one or more times. That is, the wireless signal of the network device 13 can reach the terminal device 11 through multiple hops. , the wireless signal of the terminal device 11 can reach the network device 13 through multiple hops. Taking the simpler two-hop relay as an example, the link from a network device 13 to the terminal device 11 is divided into a link from the network device 13 to the relay device 12, and a link from the relay device 12 to the terminal device 11. The relay device 12 The received signal can be amplified, thereby replacing a poor quality link with a better quality link to obtain higher link capacity or better coverage. For example, the relay device 12 may be a radio frequency (radio frequency, RF) repeater (RF repeater), a network controlled repeater (network controlled repeater, NCR) or a smart repeater. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology and specific equipment form used by the relay equipment.

For example, as shown in Figure 2a, the relay device receives the downlink signal of the network device 13 through the donor antenna (donor antenna), and then after filtering, amplification and other operations, the amplified signal is finally transmitted through the service antenna (service antenna). Forwarded to terminal device 11. Among them, the donor antenna can also be called a forward antenna, and the service antenna can also be called a backward antenna, a retransmission antenna or a coverage antenna. This mode can be called downlink forwarding mode. In the downlink forwarding mode, the channel between the donor antenna and the service antenna can also be called the downlink forwarding channel. On the other hand, the relay device can receive the uplink signal from the terminal device 11 through the service antenna, and then through filtering, amplification and other operations, finally forward the amplified signal to the network device 13 through the donor antenna. This mode can be called uplink forwarding mode. In the uplink forwarding mode, the channel between the service antenna and the donor antenna can also be called the uplink forwarding channel. Optionally, the uplink forwarding channel and the downlink forwarding channel may also include mixers. As shown in Figure 2a, taking the uplink forwarding channel as an example, the relay device 12 first downconverts the high-frequency signal to an intermediate frequency (or baseband) through a mixer, filters the intermediate frequency (or baseband), and then passes it through a mixer. After converting the frequency back to high frequency, the signal is forwarded. Optionally, the uplink forwarding channel and the downlink forwarding channel also include power amplifiers, such as low-noise amplifiers (LNA). Among them, the donor antenna can also be called the forward antenna. Service antenna, also known as backward antenna or retransmission antenna.

It should be noted that the uplink forwarding channel can also be described as an uplink forwarding module. In the embodiment of the present application, the uplink forwarding channel The forwarding channel is taken as an example to introduce. The downlink forwarding channel can also be described as a downlink forwarding module. In the embodiment of this application, the downlink forwarding channel is taken as an example for introduction.

For example, Figure 2b shows a schematic structural diagram of a relay device. The relay device includes a control signal receiving and processing module, a forwarding module and an antenna. Among them, the control signal receiving and processing module and the forwarding module are connected. The forwarding module includes RF devices (the devices that perform filtering operations in Figure 2a) and power amplifiers (power amplifiers, PA) connected in sequence. When the relay device is in the downlink forwarding mode, the antenna on the network device side is connected to the RF device of the downlink forwarding channel, and the antenna on the terminal device side is connected to the PA on the downlink forwarding channel, so that the relay device forwards data from the network to the terminal device. Downlink information of the device. When the relay device is in the uplink forwarding mode, the antenna on the network device side is connected to the PA of the uplink forwarding channel, and the antenna on the terminal device side is connected to the RF of the uplink forwarding channel, so that the relay device forwards data from the terminal device to the network device. upstream information. The control signal receiving and processing module can receive the control signal sent by the network device and use the connection with the forwarding module to adjust the parameters of the forwarding module, such as the direction of the antenna beam, the switch of the forwarding module, the amplification gain of the forwarding module, etc. It should be understood that the forwarding module can also be described as a wireless unit (radio unit, RU) or a forwarding unit or a transponder, and the control signal receiving and processing module can also be described as a mobile terminal (mobile terminal, MT).

The network device 13 may be an access point for wireless communication or wired communication, such as a base station, an evolved base station (evolved NodeB, eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a fifth generation (5th generation) , the next generation base station (next generation NodeB, gNB) in the 5G) mobile communication system, the next generation base station in the sixth generation (6th generation, 6G) mobile communication system, the base station or wireless fidelity (wireless) in the future mobile communication system fidelity, WiFi) system; it can also be a module or unit that completes some functions of the base station, for example, it can be a centralized unit (central unit, CU) or a distributed unit (DU) . The CU here completes the functions of the base station's radio resource control protocol and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), and can also complete the functions of the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP); DU completes the functions of the base station The functions of the wireless link control layer and medium access control (MAC) layer can also complete some or all of the physical layer functions. For specific descriptions of each of the above protocol layers, please refer to the Third Generation Partner Program (3rd generation partnership project, 3GPP) related technical specifications. The network equipment can be a macro base station, a micro base station, an indoor station, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology and specific equipment form used by the network equipment.

In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, the scenarios involved in this application are briefly introduced below.

When a relay device is purchased and installed by a consumer, the relay device needs to serve the consumer's terminal equipment as much as possible. For example, as shown in Figure 3a and Figure 3b, consumer A purchased the relay device 12. At the same time, consumer A also owns his own terminal device, such as a mobile phone device 11a, a laptop device, a tablet device, etc., then the relay device Provide signal enhancement services to consumer A's terminal equipment (such as the above-mentioned mobile phone device 11a, laptop computer device, tablet device) as much as possible. When at least one terminal device of consumer A is within the coverage of relay device 12, such as mobile phone device 11a in Figure 3a, which is within the coverage of relay device 13, relay device 1 opens the forwarding channel (uplink forwarding in Figure 2a channel and/or downlink forwarding channel) to amplify and forward uplink and downlink signals to avoid the problem of poor service quality on the terminal device side caused by weak signals. When any terminal device of consumer A is not within the coverage of relay device 1, as shown in Figure 3b, relay device 1 closes the forwarding channel (the uplink forwarding channel and downlink forwarding channel in Figure 2a) and no longer provides Signal enhancement service, or only provide signal enhancement service for broadcast channels (such as synchronization signal physical broadcast channel blocks, or random access channels) to avoid signals transmitted by relay devices from causing interference to other communication devices. In addition, as shown in Figure 3a and Figure 3b shows that the mobile phone device 11b belongs to the terminal device of consumer B, then the relay device 12 does not provide signal enhancement services for the mobile phone device 11b. Among them, the above-mentioned consumer A can include individuals, families, companies, etc.

In this case, the above-mentioned relay device 12 is associated with the mobile phone device 11a, the notebook computer device, and the tablet device respectively. That is to say, in this embodiment of the present application, the relay device and the terminal device belonging to the same consumer can be said to be that the relay device is associated with the terminal device. On the contrary, relay equipment and terminal equipment belonging to different consumers can be said to be independent of relay equipment and terminal equipment.

Next, through related technology 1, the process of the relay device controlling the forwarding channel is introduced:

Figure 4 shows the steps of related technology 1 as follows:

Step 1. Establish a short-distance connection between the terminal device and the relay device.

Among them, the relay equipment also includes a short-range transceiver module. The short-range transceiver module includes at least one of the following: a Bluetooth (bluetooth, BL) module, a Wi-Fi module, or a sidelink (sidelink, SL) module. Relay equipment can communicate with terminal equipment through short-range transceiver modules. By default, the relay device can close the forwarding channel and open the short-range transceiver module.

Exemplarily, the implementation process of step 1 includes:

When the terminal device is associated with the relay device and the terminal device is in the coverage area of the relay device, the terminal device can establish a short-distance connection with the relay device.

For example, the short-range connection established in step 1 includes a Wi-Fi short-range connection, and the terminal device associated with the relay device can obtain the password of the Wi-Fi short-range connection. In this case, the terminal device sends the password of the Wi-Fi short-distance connection to the relay device. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the password of the Wi-Fi short-range connection from the terminal device through the short-range transceiver module. The relay device establishes the Wi-Fi connection with the terminal device based on the received password of the Wi-Fi short-range connection. Fi short distance connection.

For another example, the short-range connection established in step 1 includes a Bluetooth short-range connection, and the terminal device associated with the relay device can obtain the password of the Bluetooth short-range connection. In this case, the terminal device sends the password of the Bluetooth short-range connection to the relay device. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the Bluetooth short-range connection password from the terminal device through the short-range transceiver module, and the relay device establishes a Bluetooth short-range connection with the terminal device based on the received Bluetooth short-range connection password.

Therefore, step 1 can ensure that only the terminal device associated with the relay device can establish a short-distance connection with the relay device.

For the terminal device, after establishing a short-distance connection with the relay device, if the terminal device has service data to transmit, perform step 2:

Step 2: The terminal device sends request information 1 to the relay device. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the request information 1 from the terminal device.

Among them, request information 1 is used to request to open the forwarding channel of the relay device. For example, request information 1 can be recorded as Trigger ON request information.

Step 3. The relay device opens the forwarding channel according to request information 1.

For the relay device, after the relay device opens the forwarding channel, it can provide signal enhancement services for the terminal device. For example, it can receive and amplify the cellular downlink signal of the network device and forward it to the terminal device, or forward the signal of the terminal device. The cellular uplink signal is received, amplified, and forwarded to the network equipment.

After the relay device opens the forwarding channel, the relay device can also perform the following steps:

Step 4. The terminal device sends a heart beat signal 1 to the relay device. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the heartbeat signal 1 from the terminal device.

Among them, the heartbeat signal 1 can be transmitted through the short-distance connection established in step 1.

Step 5. The terminal device sends heartbeat signal 2 to the relay device. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the heartbeat from the terminal device. Jump signal 2.

Among them, the heartbeat signal 2 can be transmitted through the short-distance connection established in step 1. The duration of the interval between heartbeat signal 2 and heartbeat signal 1 may be preset. That is, the terminal device periodically sends heartbeat signals to the relay device. Correspondingly, the relay device periodically receives heartbeat signals from the terminal device.

For the relay device, each time the relay device receives a heartbeat signal, it starts or restarts the timer, and the timer duration is preset. If the relay device can receive the heartbeat signal, the relay device believes that there is a terminal device associated with itself in its coverage area, and the forwarding channel of the relay device needs to be opened. On the other hand, if the timer times out and the relay device has not received the heartbeat signal from the terminal device, the relay device considers that there is no terminal device associated with it within its coverage area, and the relay device performs step 6:

Step 6. The relay device closes the forwarding channel.

It should be noted that the above heartbeat signal can be replaced by a heartbeat response signal. That is to say, the relay device sends a heartbeat request signal to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the heartbeat request signal from the relay device. The terminal device sends a heartbeat response signal to the relay device according to the heartbeat request signal. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the heartbeat response signal from the terminal device.

In summary, it can be seen that the forwarding channel control of the relay device relies on the short-distance connection between the terminal device and the relay device. However, short-range connections have a limited coverage area. For example, in scenarios where there are obstacles, such as walls, between the terminal device and the relay device, the short-distance connection may not be established in time between the terminal device and the relay device, or the information transmitted through the short-distance connection (such as request information 1 , heartbeat signal, etc.), cannot be received and demodulated in time, resulting in the forwarding channel not being opened or closed in time.

For example, after consumer A returns home from outdoors, the terminal device carried by consumer A sends request information 1 to the relay device. However, there are obstacles between the terminal device and the relay device. For example, the signal needs to pass through a wall, causing the relay device to be unable to successfully receive the request information from the terminal device 1. Therefore, the relay device cannot open the forwarding channel in time and cannot provide the terminal device with enhanced signal coverage service.

That is to say, in the above related art 1, the forwarding channel control of the relay device is overly dependent on the short-distance connection between the terminal device and the relay device. Judging from the above processing methods, there are certain problems in transmitting information used to control the forwarding channel through short-distance connections. For example, the short-distance connection fails to successfully transmit the information used to control the forwarding channel, resulting in problems such as the forwarding channel not being opened in time. Therefore, how to better control the working status of the forwarding channel of the relay device is an urgent technical issue that needs to be solved.

In view of this, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which can be applied to the communication system in Figure 1 . In this embodiment of the present application, the first network device determines that condition A is met, where condition A includes at least one of the following: the first terminal device switches from the first cell to the target cell, or the first terminal device is in the target cell. Random access is initiated; the network device corresponding to the target cell is the first network device; the first network device receives the first request information from the first terminal device, and the first request information requests opening of the forwarding channel in the relay device. Afterwards, the first network device sends the first indication information to the relay device. Wherein, the first instruction information instructs the relay device to open a forwarding channel; the forwarding channel is used to forward the uplink information from the first terminal device to the first network device, and/or the forwarding channel is used to forward the uplink information from the first terminal device to the first terminal device. Downlink information of network devices. The relay device is associated with the first terminal device. In this way, when the first terminal device switches to the target cell or initiates random access in the target cell, or when the first terminal device requests the first network device to open the forwarding channel of the relay device, The first network device sends first instruction information to the relay device to instruct the relay device to open a forwarding channel. Since the first request information is information sent by the first terminal device to the first network device, and the first indication information is information sent by the first network device to the relay device, the first request information and the first indication letter The information does not rely on the short-distance connection between the first terminal device and the relay device, avoiding the problem of untimely opening of the forwarding channel due to poor signal quality of the short-distance connection, thereby controlling the work of the forwarding channel in a timely and accurate manner. state.

It should be noted that in the following embodiments of the present application, the names of the messages between the devices or the names of the parameters in the messages are just examples, and other names may also be used in specific implementations. This is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application. .

Next, the communication method 500 proposed in the embodiment of the present application will be introduced in detail with reference to Figures 5 to 11d. The communication method 500 proposed in the embodiment of this application includes the following three stages: preprocessing stage, forwarding channel opening stage and forwarding channel closing stage.

Stage 1, preprocessing stage

The preprocessing stage is mainly used to achieve purpose 1 and purpose 2:

Purpose 1: The first network device obtains the first association relationship. The first association relationship indicates that the first terminal device is associated with the relay device.

Purpose 2: The first terminal device obtains the information of the target cell and/or the information of the target location, so as to know at which locations it can be provided with signal enhancement services by the relay device. Wherein, the network device corresponding to the target cell includes the first network device, and the target location may be a part of the coverage area of the target cell.

As shown in Figure 5, the preprocessing stage includes the following steps:

S501. The relay device sends the first broadcast message.

Wherein, the first broadcast message is used to indicate the existence of the relay device to the terminal device.

As an example, the relay device includes a short-range transceiver module. For the short-distance transceiver module, please refer to the introduction of step 1 in Figure 4, and will not be repeated here. The first broadcast message may be transmitted through the short-range transceiver module. For example, in the case where the short-range transceiver module includes a Bluetooth module, S501 includes: the relay device sends a beacon message through the Bluetooth module. For another example, when the short-range transceiver module includes a Wi-Fi module, S501 includes: the relay device sends a beacon message through the Wi-Fi module. For another example, in the case where the short-range transceiver module includes a SL communication module, S501 includes: the relay device sends a discovery message through the SL communication module.

Correspondingly, if the first terminal device is within the coverage area of the relay device, the first terminal device receives the first broadcast message from the relay device.

For the first terminal device, after receiving the first broadcast message, the first terminal device executes S502:

S502. The first terminal device sends a first response message to the relay device. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the first response message from the first terminal device.

The first response message includes at least one of the following:

The first item, the first logo. The first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device. The first identifier can be found in the introduction of S504, and will not be described in detail here.

The second item is the password information for the first connection. Exemplarily, the first connection includes a short-distance connection, such as a Bluetooth connection, a Wi-Fi connection, etc. It should be understood that in this embodiment of the present application, only the terminal device associated with the relay device can obtain the password information.

For example, the first connection includes a Bluetooth connection. In this case, the first terminal device obtains the password information of the Bluetooth connection in advance. After receiving the first broadcast message, the first terminal device carries the password information of the Bluetooth connection in the first response message sent, so that the relay device obtains the password information of the Bluetooth connection. Afterwards, the relay device determines that it is associated with the first terminal device based on the password information of the Bluetooth connection.

For another example, the first connection includes a Wi-Fi connection. In this case, the first terminal device obtains the password information of the Wi-Fi connection in advance. After receiving the first broadcast message, the first terminal device carries the password of the Wi-Fi connection in the first response message sent. code information so that the relay device can obtain the password information for the Wi-Fi connection. Afterwards, the relay device determines that it is associated with the first terminal device based on the password information of the Wi-Fi connection.

It should be noted that in S502, the first identification and password information are transmitted through the same message (ie, the first response message) as an example for introduction. Of course, the first identification and password information can also be transmitted through different messages, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

For the relay device, after receiving the first response message, the relay device executes S503:

S503. The first terminal device establishes a first connection with the relay device.

For example, when the first connection includes a Bluetooth connection, the first terminal device establishes a Bluetooth connection with the relay device. For the specific process, please refer to related technologies, which will not be described again here. In the case where the first connection includes a Wi-Fi connection, the first terminal device establishes a Wi-Fi connection with the relay device. For the specific process, please refer to related technologies and will not be described again here.

In some embodiments, after the first terminal device performs S503, the first terminal device sends the first service confirmation information to the relay device. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the first service confirmation information from the first terminal device. Wherein, the first service confirmation information indicates that the first connection is used to transmit information related to the forwarding function of the relay device. Alternatively, after the relay device executes S503, the relay device sends the second service confirmation information to the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the second service confirmation information from the relay device. Wherein, the second service confirmation information indicates that the first connection is used to transmit information related to the forwarding function of the relay device. For example, the information transmitted by the first connection includes but is not limited to the first identifier. For details, please refer to the introduction of S504, which will not be described again here.

In some embodiments, after the relay device performs S503, the relay device opens its own forwarding channel, thereby providing signal enhancement services to the first terminal device. The forwarding channel is used to forward uplink information from the first terminal device to the first network device, and/or the forwarding channel is used to forward downlink information from the first network device to the first terminal device. For an exemplary forwarding channel of the relay device, please refer to the detailed introduction in Figure 2a, which will not be described again here.

It should be noted that S501 and S502 can be replaced by the following steps: the first terminal device sends a second broadcast message. Wherein, the second broadcast message is used to indicate the existence of the first terminal device to the relay device. For the relay device, if the relay device is within the signal coverage of the first terminal device, the relay device receives the second broadcast message from the first terminal device. The relay device determines that it is associated with the first terminal device based on the password information of the first connection that it has obtained, and establishes the first connection between itself and the first terminal device, that is, executing S503.

For the first terminal device, after the first connection is established, if the first response message does not include the first identifier, the first terminal device performs S504:

S504. The first terminal device sends the first identification to the relay device. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the first identification from the first terminal device.

Wherein, the first identification is transmitted through the first connection. The first connection in S504 is consistent with the first connection in S503, and will not be described again here.

Among them, the first identification is introduced as follows: the first identification is a device identification that does not change dynamically within a certain period of time. For example, the first identifier is the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of the first terminal device. The IMSI used to identify the terminal device can distinguish different terminal devices in the cellular network, and any two IMSIs do not overlap in different cellular networks. For another example, the first identifier is the international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) of the first terminal device. Among them, IMEI is used to distinguish different terminal devices in the mobile phone network. For another example, the first identifier is the MAC address of the network card of the first terminal device.

For the relay device, after obtaining the first identifier, the relay device executes S505:

S505. The relay device sends the second instruction information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the second indication information from the relay device.

The second indication information at least indicates that the relay device has an association relationship with the first terminal device.

For example, the second indication information at least includes the first identification. Alternatively, the second indication information includes a first identification and a second identification. For the first identifier, please refer to the introduction of S504, which will not be described again here. The second identifier is used to identify the relay device. The introduction of the second identification is as follows: The second identification is also a device identification that will not change dynamically within a certain period of time. For example, the second identifier is the IMSI of the relay device. The IMSI used to identify the relay device can distinguish different relay devices in the cellular network, and any two IMSIs do not overlap in different cellular networks. For another example, the second identifier is the MAC address of the network card of the relay device.

It should be understood that in the case where the relay device also receives the identification of another terminal device, for example, the relay device also receives the identification of the second terminal device, the second indication information also indicates that the relay device has an association relationship with the second terminal device. . For example, the second indication information also includes the identification of the second terminal device.

It should be noted that for the relay device, when there are multiple network devices (such as a first network device and a second network device) near the relay device, the relay device in addition to sending the second network device to the first network device In addition to the indication information (ie, executing S505), the second indication information may also be sent to other network devices (such as the second network device). For example, the relay device sends the second indication information to the second network device. Correspondingly, the second network device receives the second indication information from the relay device, so that the second network device obtains the association relationship between the relay device and the first terminal device. Wherein, the relay device may first send the second indication information to the first network device, and then send the second indication information to the second network device; or, the relay device may first send the second indication information to the second network device, and then send the second indication information to the second network device. A network device sends the second instruction information; or the relay device sends the second instruction information to the first network device and the second network device at the same time, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

It is easy to understand that the above-mentioned second instruction information itself has an instruction function. Of course, the second indication information can also be replaced by identification information. For example, the relay device sends identification information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the identification information from the relay device. The identification information includes at least a first identification, or the identification information includes at least a first identification and a second identification. In this case, after receiving the identification information, the first network device determines that the relay device has an association relationship with the first terminal device based on the identification information.

For the first network device, after receiving the second indication information, the first network device executes S506:

S506. The first network device stores the first association relationship according to the second instruction information.

The second instruction information in S506 is consistent with the second instruction information in S505, and will not be described again here.

Wherein, the first association relationship indicates that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device.

For the first terminal device, after the first terminal device executes S503, the first terminal device also executes S507 and/or S508:

S507. After the first terminal device and the first relay device establish the first connection, the first terminal device determines the current cell as the target cell according to the second synchronization signal physical broadcast channel block (SSB). .

Wherein, the second SSB is the SSB sent by the first network device. After the first terminal device and the first relay device establish the first connection, when the first terminal device is within the signal coverage of the first network device, the first terminal device can receive the second SSB from the first network device. For example, as a possible implementation manner, the first terminal device may directly receive the second SSB from the first network device. As another possible implementation manner, the first terminal device may receive the SSB forwarded by the relay device.

For example, the first terminal device determines the current cell as the target cell according to the reference signal received power (RSRP) of the second SSB. If the RSRP of the second SSB is greater than a threshold value. In this case, the network device corresponding to the target cell determined in S507 includes the first network device. In this embodiment of the present application, the network device corresponding to the target cell can be understood as a network device that manages the target cell, such as allocating time-frequency resources to the target cell, user access control, etc. In addition, each cell may correspond to an identifier, which may include a physical cell identifier (PCI). The identity of the target cell is related to the second SSB. For details, please refer to the relevant technical specifications of 3GPP, which will not be described again here.

It should be noted that, for the first terminal device and the relay device, when there are multiple network devices (such as the first network device and the second network device) nearby, the first terminal device in addition to receiving the first network device In addition to the second SSB, SSB from other network devices (such as the second network device) may also be received. For example, the second network device sends a third SSB. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the third SSB from the second network device through forwarding by the relay device or directly receives the third SSB from the second network device, so that the first terminal device determines another SSB based on the acquired third SSB. A target community. It can be understood that the number of target cells determined by the first terminal device may be one or more, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

S508. After the first terminal device and the first relay device establish the first connection, the first terminal device determines the target location according to its own location.

For example, the first terminal device can obtain its own position through the global positioning system (GPS) and use its own position as the target position. In this embodiment of the present application, the target location may be a point identified by a three-dimensional coordinate or a two-dimensional coordinate (such as longitude and latitude).

For example, the first terminal device may obtain its own position through positioning on the first network device, and use its own position as the target position.

It should be understood that in the case where the first terminal device performs S507 and S508, the target location may be a part of the target cell coverage area.

It should be noted that after the first terminal device executes S503, it may execute S504 first and then S507, or it may execute S507 first and then S504, or it may execute S504 and S507 at the same time. Similarly, after the first terminal device executes S503, it may execute S504 first, and then execute S508, or it may execute S508 first, and then execute S504, or it may execute S504 and S508 at the same time. This is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

In some embodiments, the communication method 500 in this embodiment of the present application further includes the following steps:

S509. The first network device sends the first capability information.

The first capability information indicates functions supported by the first network device. For example, the first capability information includes at least one of the following:

The first item is that the first network device can receive and process the second indication information. For the second instruction information, please refer to the introduction of S505, which will not be described again here.

Item 2: The first network device can receive and process the first request information. For the first request information, please refer to the introduction of S5212a, which will not be described again here.

Item 3: The first network device can receive and process the second request information. For the second request information, please refer to the introduction of S5412a, which will not be described again here.

For example, the first capability information may be carried in a system information block (SIB) or SIB-extension. SIB and SIB extensions can be found in the relevant technical specifications of 3GPP and will not be described again here.

If the relay device is within the signal coverage of the first network device, the relay device receives the first capability information from the first network device. After receiving the first capability information, the relay device executes S505 according to the first capability information.

If the first terminal device is within the signal coverage of the first network device, the first terminal device receives the first capability information from the first network device. After receiving the first capability information, the first terminal device executes S5212a and/or S5412a according to the first capability information.

S510. The relay device sends device type information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the device type information from the relay device.

The device type information is used to indicate the device type of the relay device.

For example, the device type information is used to indicate to the first network device that it is a relay device, or the device type information is used to indicate to the first network device that it is a consumer-type relay device. It should be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, a consumer-type relay device can be understood to mean that the relay device has a need to be associated with other terminal devices, or that the relay device has associated terminal devices.

For example, the device type information may be transmitted through a radio resource control layer (RRC) message, or may be transmitted through other messages, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

S511. The relay device sends the second capability information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the second capability information from the relay device.

The second capability information indicates functions supported by the relay device. For example, the second capability information indicates at least one of the following:

The first item, the second capability information indicates that the relay device can report the second indication information. For the second instruction information, please refer to the introduction of S505, which will not be described again here.

The second item, the second capability information indicates that the relay device is capable of receiving control information from the first network device. Exemplarily, the control information includes airspace parameters used to control the forwarding beam of the relay device.

For example, the second capability information may be transmitted through the extension field of the UE capability message, or may be transmitted through other messages, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

It should be understood that the device type information and the second capability information may be carried in the same message or in different messages, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

S512. The first terminal device sends the third capability information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the third capability information from the first terminal device.

The third capability information indicates that the first terminal device can report the first identification. For the process of the first terminal device reporting the first identifier to the first network device, please refer to the introduction of S5211a, which will not be described again here.

It should be noted that each communication device (such as the above-mentioned first terminal device, relay device, and first network device) only needs to perform the steps of the above-mentioned phase one once. For example, after consumers purchase and install relay equipment, the relevant instructions for use of the relay equipment can guide consumers to actively carry their terminal equipment close to the relay equipment, under the conditions of relatively good short-distance connection quality such as Bluetooth. Complete the above steps. In the use process after stage one, the short-distance connection is not relied on, thereby reducing the quality requirements for the short-distance connection between the relay device and the first terminal device. For example, after the short-distance connection between the first terminal device and the relay device is established, even if the first terminal device receives a broadcast message from the relay device again, it does not need to feed back a first response message. For another example, after the short-distance connection between the first terminal device and the relay device is established, the first terminal device starts and maintains a timer. Before the timer expires, the first terminal device receives no more messages from the relay device. broadcast message, and there is no need to feed back the first response message. For another example, after the short-distance connection between the first terminal device and the relay device is established, the first terminal device Even if the end device receives a broadcast message from the relay device again, it does not need to feed back the first response message by default. Only when the first terminal device determines that the signal quality is poor will the first response message be fed back to the relay device again. For example, when the first terminal device determines that it is located in the target cell or target location but the signal quality is still very poor. , the consumer can be prompted through the prompt information of the software to actively carry the first terminal device close to the relay device again, and perform the relevant steps of the above-mentioned phase one again.

It should be understood that each step in phase one is an exemplary processing process for achieving purpose 1 and purpose 2. Of course, purpose 1 and purpose 2 can also be achieved through other processing methods, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

It should be understood that the method in phase one for the first network device to determine that the first terminal device and the relay device have an association relationship can also be applied to other scenarios. For example, when the relay device can use a beam to forward the reference signal to the first terminal device, Or when a beam is used to receive the reference signal sent by the first terminal device, and the beam can be dynamically adjusted, the first network device can control the relay device to align the sending/receiving beam according to the association between the first terminal device and the relay device. The first terminal device enables the relay device to provide coverage services only for terminal devices associated with it as much as possible.

Phase 2: Forwarding channel opening phase

The forwarding channel opening phase is mainly used to implement: when the first network device determines that condition A is met, the first network device sends first indication information to the relay device. Among them, condition A is related to the first terminal device. The first instruction information instructs the relay device to open a forwarding channel, so that the relay device provides signal enhancement services for the first terminal device.

As shown in Figure 6, the forwarding channel opening phase includes the following steps:

S521. The first network device determines that condition A is met.

Among them, condition A includes at least one of the following (that is, condition A includes condition a1 and/or condition a2):

Condition a1: the first terminal device switches from the first cell to the target cell, or the first terminal device initiates random access in the target cell. The first cell is a cell other than the target cell. For example, the network device corresponding to the first cell may be the second network device. The network device corresponding to the target cell is the first network device. "Network equipment corresponding to the target cell" can be found in the introduction of S507 and will not be described again here. For example, S521 includes S5211. Among them, S5211 includes: the first network device determines that condition a1 is met, which will not be described again here. It should be understood that when condition a1 is met, the first network device can determine that the first terminal device has entered its coverage area, and therefore will also or will soon enter the coverage area of the relay device. Therefore, the first network device can send the message to the relay device. The first instruction information instructs it to open the forwarding channel in advance to provide services for the first terminal device.

Condition a2: The first network device receives the first request information from the first terminal device. The first request information requests opening of a forwarding channel in the relay device. Exemplarily, S521 includes S5212. Among them, S5212 includes: the first network device determines that condition a2 is met, which will not be described again here. It should be understood that when condition a2 is met, the first network device can determine that the first terminal has a need to open the forwarding channel of the relay device. Therefore, the first network device can send the first instruction information to the relay device to instruct it to open the forwarding channel. Provide services to the first terminal device.

Wherein, the first terminal device and the first relay device have an association relationship.

For the first network device, after determining that condition A is met, S522 is executed:

S522. The first network device sends the first instruction information to the relay device. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the first indication information from the first network device.

The first instruction information instructs the relay device to open the forwarding channel. The forwarding channel of the relay device is used to forward uplink information from the first terminal device to the first network device, and/or the forwarding channel of the relay device is used to forward downlink information from the first network device to the first terminal device, For details, please refer to the introduction in Figure 2a and will not be repeated here.

Exemplarily, the implementation process of S522 can also be described as: the first network device determines the direction to the destination according to the first association relationship. The relay device sends first indication information. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the first indication information from the first network device. Wherein, the first association relationship indicates that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device. Exemplarily, the first network device also performs S524. S524 includes: the first network device determines that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device according to the first identification and the first association relationship, which will not be described again here.

For the relay device, after receiving the first indication information, the relay device executes S523:

S523. The relay device opens the forwarding channel according to the first instruction information.

Exemplarily, the forwarding channel of the relay device includes an uplink forwarding channel and/or a downlink forwarding channel. See the introduction in Figure 2a for details. After the relay device opens the forwarding channel, it can provide signal enhancement services to the first terminal device.

That is to say, the first request information is information sent by the first terminal device to the first network device, and the first indication information is information sent by the first network device to the relay device. Therefore, the first request information and The first indication information does not depend on the short-distance connection between the first terminal device and the relay device. Since generally the available power between the first terminal device and the first network device is higher and the transmission module has stronger capabilities, it is avoided. Due to the problem of delayed opening of the forwarding channel due to poor signal quality in short-distance connections, the working status of the forwarding channel can be controlled promptly and accurately.

Next, as shown in Figure 7, from the perspective of the first network device, S5211, S5212 and S524 are explained in detail:

S5211. The first network device determines that condition a1 is met.

The condition a1 includes: the first terminal device switches from the first cell to the target cell, or the first terminal device initiates random access in the target cell.

For example, S5211 includes S5211a and S5211b:

S5211a. The first terminal device sends the first identification to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the first identification from the first terminal device.

The first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device. For the first identifier, please refer to the introduction of S504, which will not be described again here.

For example, the timing of sending the first identifier can be referred to the introduction of Figure 8b and Figure 8c below, which will not be described again here.

For example, the first identification may be transmitted through an access layer connection. That is to say, the first terminal device sends the first identifier to the first network device through the access layer connection. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the first identification from the first terminal device through the access layer connection. For the establishment process of the access layer connection, please refer to the introduction of S525 and will not be described in detail here.

For the first network device, after receiving the first identification, the first network device executes S5211b:

S5211b. The first network device determines that condition a1 is satisfied based on the first identification and the first signaling of the first terminal device.

For example, in the case where the first signaling includes signaling related to the first terminal device switching to the target cell, the first network device determines the first terminal device based on the first identification of the first terminal device and the related signaling of cell switching. The device switches from the first cell to the target cell, that is, condition a1 is satisfied.

For another example, in the case where the first signaling includes related signaling of the first terminal device initiating random access, the first network device determines the first terminal device based on the first identification of the first terminal device and the related signaling of random access. The terminal device initiates random access in the target cell, that is, condition a1 is satisfied.

S5212. The first network device determines that condition a2 is met.

The condition a2 includes: the first network device receives the first request information from the first terminal device. The first request information requests opening of a forwarding channel in the relay device.

Exemplarily, S5212 includes S5212a:

S5212a. The first terminal device sends the first request information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the first request information from the first terminal device.

The first request information requests opening of a forwarding channel in the relay device.

Exemplarily, the first request information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device. For the first identifier, please refer to the introduction of S504, which will not be described again here.

For example, the timing of sending the first request information can be referred to the introduction of Figure 8d and Figure 8e below, which will not be described again here.

Exemplarily, the first request information is transmitted after completing the access layer connection.

That is to say, for the first network device, if the first network device can receive the first request information, it can be determined that condition a2 is met.

It should be noted that for the first network device, the first network device may execute S5211a but not S5212a, or the first network device may not execute S5211a but execute S5212a, or the first network device may execute S5211a and S5212a. S5212a, the embodiment of the present application does not limit this. Further, when S5211a and S5212a are executed, the first network device may execute S5211a first and then S5212a, or may execute S5211a and S5212a at the same time, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

For the first network device, after the first network device obtains the first identifier, the first network device executes S524:

S524. The first network device determines that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device according to the first identification and the first association relationship.

Wherein, the first association relationship indicates that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device. The first association relationship can be found in the introduction of S506 and will not be described again here.

It should be understood that during the forwarding channel opening phase, the first network device obtains the first identifier as follows: the first network device can execute S5211a, or the first network device can execute S5212a, and the first request information in S5212a includes the first identifier. , thereby causing the first network device to obtain the first identification.

For example, for the first network device, when the first network device obtains the first identifier by executing S5211a, the first identifier in S5211a is consistent with the first identifier in S524. Alternatively, when the first request information includes the first identifier and the first network device obtains the first identifier through S5212a, the first identifier in S5212a is consistent with the first identifier in S524. The first network device can determine the association between the relay device and the first terminal device based on the first identification.

It should be noted that, for the first network device, in the forwarding channel opening phase (ie, phase 2), the first network device may execute S524 before executing S522.

Next, as shown in Figures 8a to 8e, from the perspective of the first terminal device, the steps performed by the first terminal device are introduced:

First, the solutions one and two that can be executed by the first terminal device are described in detail:

Solution 1: The first terminal device sends the first identifier each time an access layer connection is established. That is to say, each time the first terminal device establishes an access layer connection with a network device or thereafter, the first terminal device sends the first identifier of the first terminal device to the network device. Specifically, as shown in Figure 8a, solution one includes S525 and S526:

S525. The first terminal device establishes an access layer connection with the network device.

For example, the network device in S525 may only include the first network device in phase one (or be understood as the network device corresponding to the target cell), or may include any network device, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

By way of example, S525 is introduced in three ways (the following ways 1, 2 and 3):

Mode 1, as shown in the dotted box where "Mode 1" is located in Figure 8a, S525 includes S525a:

S525a. The first terminal device establishes an RRC connection with the network device through the RRC connection establishment process.

Among them, the access layer connection includes RRC connection. The RRC connection establishment process can be recorded as RRC connection establishment. For the specific process, please refer to the relevant technical specifications of 3GPP and will not be repeated here. In this case, the first terminal device is in idle state.

For example, in the case where the first terminal device determines that the RRC establishment condition is met, the first terminal device executes S525a.

Mode 2, as shown in the dotted box where "Mode 2" is located in Figure 8a, S525 includes S525b:

S525b. The first terminal device establishes an RRC connection with the network device through the RRC connection reestablishment process.

Among them, the access layer connection includes RRC connection. The RRC connection re-establishment process can be recorded as RRC connection re-establishment. For the specific process, please refer to the relevant technical specifications of 3GPP and will not be repeated here. In this case, the first terminal device is in idle state.

For example, in the case where the first terminal device determines that the RRC re-establishment condition is met, the first terminal device executes S525b.

Mode 3, as shown in the dotted box where "Mode 3" is located in Figure 8a, S525 includes S525c:

S525c. The first terminal device switches to the cell corresponding to the network device through the cell handover process.

For the cell handover process, please refer to the relevant technical specifications of 3GPP and will not be described again here. In this case, the first terminal device is in the connected state.

Among them, the cell corresponding to the network device can be understood as the network device manages the cell, such as allocating time and frequency resources to the cell, user access control, etc.

It should be understood that, in the case where the network device in S525c is the first network device, the first terminal device switches to the target cell corresponding to the first network device through the cell handover process. For the process of determining the target cell by the first terminal device, please refer to the introduction of S507, which will not be described again here.

That is to say, the first terminal device can establish an access layer connection with the network device through an RRC connection establishment process, an RRC connection re-establishment process or a cell handover process.

For the first terminal device, the first terminal device also executes S526:

S526. The first terminal device sends the first identifier to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the first identification from the first terminal device.

The first identifier in S526 is consistent with the first identifier in S504, which will not be described again here.

As an example, as a possible implementation manner, the first identity is transmitted through the access layer connection. That is to say, the first terminal device sends the first identifier to the network device through the access layer connection. Correspondingly, the network device receives the first identification from the first terminal device through the access layer connection. For example, taking the RRC connection establishment process as an example, the access layer connection includes an RRC connection. After the RRC connection establishment process, the first terminal device sends the first identifier through the RRC connection. For another example, taking the RRC connection re-establishment process as an example, the first terminal device sends the first identifier through the RRC connection after the RRC connection re-establishment process. As another example, taking cell handover as an example, the first terminal device sends the first identifier through the access layer connection after the cell handover process.

It should be understood that when the first identity is transmitted through the access layer connection, for the first terminal device, the first terminal device first performs S525 and then performs S526.

Exemplarily, as another possible implementation manner, the first identifier is transmitted during the access layer connection establishment process. For example, taking the RRC connection establishment process as an example, the access layer connection includes an RRC connection. The first terminal device sends the first identifier during the RRC connection establishment process, for example, the first identifier is carried in the RRC Setup Complete message. As another example, taking the RRC connection re-establishment process as an example, the access layer connection includes an RRC connection. The first terminal device re-establishes the RRC connection The first identifier is sent during the process, for example, the first identifier is carried in the RRC Setup Complete message. As another example, taking cell handover as an example, the first terminal device sends the first identifier during the cell handover process.

It should be understood that, in the case where the first identifier is transmitted during the access layer connection establishment process, for the first terminal device, the first terminal device performs S525 and S526 at the same time.

It should be noted that the above S526 is an optional step. For example, the first terminal device may not report the first identifier during the RRC connection reestablishment process. Specifically, before the RRC connection re-establishment process, the first terminal device has already performed the RRC connection initial establishment process, if the first terminal device sends the first identifier to the network device during the RRC connection initial establishment process, and If the network device stores the first identification of the first terminal device, the first terminal device does not need to repeatedly send the first identification, that is, there is no need to perform S526. Similarly, the first terminal device may not report the first identifier during cell handover. Specifically, before the cell handover process, when the first terminal device has performed the RRC connection initial establishment process, if the first terminal device sends the first identifier to the network device A during the RRC connection initial establishment process, and the network device A stores the first identification of the first terminal device. Even if the first terminal device switches from cell A (the cell corresponding to network device A) to cell B (the cell corresponding to network device B), the network devices corresponding to the two cells are in During the context exchange process of the first terminal device, the first identifier is included in the context information. That is to say, network device A can also provide the first identifier to network device B through context information, and the first terminal device does not need to repeatedly send the first identifier, that is, there is no need to perform S526.

For network equipment, as a possible implementation method, the network equipment can determine the association between the relay device and the first terminal device based on the first identifier. For details, please refer to the introduction of S524, which will not be described again here. .

Option 2: There is no binding relationship between the action of the first terminal device sending the first identifier and establishing the access layer connection. That is, in Option 2, the first terminal device is allowed to initiate access to the first network device or other network devices under certain circumstances. The first identifier is not sent after layer connection (for example, after RRC connection). Specifically, as shown in Figure 8a, solution two includes S527:

S527. The first terminal device sends the first identifier to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the first identification from the first terminal device.

The first identifier in S527 is consistent with the first identifier in S504, which will not be described again here.

For example, in the second solution, the first terminal device performs S527 when it has needs. For details, please refer to the introduction of Figure 8b, Figure 8c, Figure 11a or Figure 11b below, which will not be described again here.

It should be noted that during the execution of S527, if there is no access layer connection between the first terminal device and the network device, or the access layer connection between the first terminal device and the network device is disconnected, the first terminal device Actively initiate random access to the network device and establish an access layer connection so that there is an access layer connection between the first terminal device and the network device, and transmit the first identifier after completing the access layer connection; or, after the random access, During the entry process, the first identifier is sent through small packet transmission.

It should be understood that compared with the first terminal device, for the first terminal device in the second solution, before S527 is executed, even if the first terminal device and the network device perform the access layer connection establishment process, the first terminal device does not send a request to the network device. The first identifier is sent, but S527 is executed only when the trigger condition is met (as introduced in Figure 8b, Figure 8c, Figure 11a or Figure 11b below).

Then, combined with the forwarding channel opening stage, the first and second solutions implemented by the first terminal device are elaborated:

Method A: The first network device uses plan 1 according to condition a1 and the first terminal device. That is to say, mode A includes S525, S526, S524 and S522.

As shown in Figure 8b, for the first terminal device, two situations are introduced:

If the first terminal device is in the connected state, when the first terminal device switches from a cell other than the target cell to the target cell, the first terminal device sends the first identifier to the first network device. For details, see the relevant description of Solution 1.

If the first terminal device is in the idle state, when the first terminal device determines that condition B and/or condition C is met, the first terminal device executes S525 and S526, that is, the first terminal device initiates a random access to the first network device. , and establishes an access layer connection, and sends the first identifier to the first network device through the access layer connection. For details, please refer to the relevant description of Solution 1.

Condition B includes: the first terminal device can receive the first SSB from the first network device, and the cell identity corresponding to the first SSB is the same as the identity of the target cell. For the target cell, please refer to the introduction of S507 and will not be repeated here. The first network device sends the first SSB. The first terminal device moves, for example, from location A to location B. Wherein, the first terminal device cannot receive the first SSB when it is at location A, but can receive the first SSB when it is at location B. When the first terminal device is within the signal coverage of the first network device (for example, location B is within the signal coverage of the first network device), the first terminal device in the idle state receives the third signal from the first network device. One SSB. When the RSRP of the first SSB is greater than the first threshold, the cell identity determined by the first terminal device based on the first SSB is the same as the identity of the target cell. In this case, the first terminal device can determine that the cell where it is located is the target cell. The first terminal device camps on the target cell, initiates random access, and establishes an access layer connection with the first network device. It should be understood that when condition B is met, the first terminal device can determine that it has entered the coverage of the first network device, and therefore may also enter the coverage of the relay device. Therefore, the first terminal device sends the first identifier to the first network device, so that the first network device determines the association between the relay device and the first terminal device, and then instructs the relay device to open the forwarding channel.

The condition C includes: the distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is less than or equal to the first threshold. For example, the scenario corresponding to condition C may include: the first terminal device moves, and the distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is from greater than the first threshold to less than the first threshold. For the process of determining the target location by the first terminal device, please refer to the introduction of S508, which will not be described again here. For example, when the target location is the consumer's residential area, the first terminal device determines that its current location coincides with the target location, or the first terminal device determines that the distance between its current location and the target location is less than First threshold, the first terminal device may not be in the signal coverage area of the relay device, then the first terminal device sends the first identifier to the first network device, so that the first network device determines the first terminal device based on the first identifier The association relationship with the relay device enables the first network device to control the relay device to open the forwarding channel in advance. In this case, after the first terminal device enters the target location, the first terminal device can be provided with a signal enhancement service by the relay device to avoid the signal failure caused by the relay device not opening the forwarding channel in time after the first terminal device enters the target location. Problem of poor quality. It should be understood that when condition C is met, the first terminal device can determine that it has entered the coverage area of the relay device. Therefore, the first terminal device sends the first identifier to the first network device, so that the first network device determines the association between the relay device and the first terminal device, and then instructs the relay device to open the forwarding channel.

In some embodiments, the first terminal device also satisfies condition D. Among them, condition D includes: the first terminal device has service data transmission requirements. That is to say, the first terminal device needs to send uplink information to the first network device. In this case, it can be understood that when the first terminal device determines that condition B and condition D are met, and/or when the first terminal device determines that condition C and condition D are met, the first terminal device executes S525 and S526, that is, the first terminal device initiates random access to the first network device, establishes an access layer connection, and sends the first identifier to the first network device through the access layer connection.

As shown in Figure 8b, for the first network device, after receiving the first identification, the first network device determines that the first terminal device has an association relationship with the first relay device through the first association relationship obtained in stage one, and then , the first network device sends first indication information to the relay device based on condition a1. That is to say, after receiving the first identification, the first network device executes S524 and S522.

It should be noted that in method A, S526 and S5211a are corresponding steps.

Method B: The first network device uses method 2 according to condition a1 and the first terminal device. In other words, method B includes S527, S524 and S522.

As shown in Figure 8c, for the first terminal device, when the first terminal device determines that condition B and/or condition C is met, the first terminal device executes S527, that is, the first terminal device sends the first terminal device to the first network device. Logo. For details, please refer to the relevant description of Solution 2.

Among them, condition B includes: the first terminal device can receive the first SSB from the first network device, and the cell identity corresponding to the first SSB is the same as the identity of the target cell. For details, please refer to the introduction of method A above, here No longer. It should be understood that when condition B is met, the first terminal device can determine that it has entered the coverage of the first network device, and therefore may also enter the coverage of the relay device. Therefore, the first terminal device sends the first identifier to the first network device, so that the first network device determines the association between the relay device and the first terminal device, and then instructs the relay device to open the forwarding channel.

The condition C includes: the distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is less than or equal to the first threshold. For details, please refer to the introduction of the above method A, which will not be described again here. It should be understood that when condition C is met, the first terminal device can determine that it has entered the coverage area of the relay device. Therefore, the first terminal device sends the first identifier to the first network device, so that the first network device determines the association between the relay device and the first terminal device, and then instructs the relay device to open the forwarding channel.

In some embodiments, the first terminal device also satisfies condition D. Among them, condition D includes: the first terminal device has service data transmission requirements. That is to say, the first terminal device needs to send uplink information to the first network device. In this case, it can be understood that when the first terminal device determines that condition B and condition D are met, and/or when the first terminal device determines that condition C and condition D are met, the first terminal device executes S527: The first terminal device sends the first identification to the first network device.

As shown in Figure 8c, for the first network device, after receiving the first identification, the first network device determines that the first terminal device has an association relationship with the first relay device through the first association relationship obtained in stage one, and then , the first network device sends first indication information to the relay device based on condition a1. That is to say, after receiving the first identification, the first network device executes S524 and S522.

It should be noted that when the first terminal device does not establish an access layer connection with the first network device before sending the first identification, the first terminal device needs to actively initiate random access to the first network device through a small packet (for example, The first identifier is carried in the msgA or msg3) transmission method during the random access process to send the first identifier to the first network device, or after the access layer connection (such as RRC connection) is established, the first identifier is sent to the first network device. logo.

It should be noted that in method B, S527 and S5211a are corresponding steps.

Method C: The first network device is based on condition a2 and the first terminal device uses plan one. That is to say, mode C includes S525, S526, S5212a, S524 and S522.

As shown in Figure 8d, for the first terminal device, when the first terminal device determines that condition B and/or condition C is met, the first terminal device executes S5212a, that is, the first terminal device sends the first terminal device to the first network device. Request information.

Among them, condition B includes: the first terminal device can receive the first SSB from the first network device, and the cell identity corresponding to the first SSB is the same as the identity of the target cell. For details, please refer to the introduction of method A above, here No longer. It should be understood that when condition B is met, the first terminal device can determine that it has entered the coverage of the first network device, and therefore may also enter the coverage of the relay device. Therefore, the first terminal device sends the first request information to the first network device to request to open the forwarding channel of the relay device.

The condition C includes: the distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is less than or equal to the first threshold. Value, for details, please refer to the introduction of method A above, and will not be repeated here. It should be understood that when condition C is met, the first terminal device can determine that it has entered the coverage area of the relay device. Therefore, the first terminal device sends the first request information to the first network device to request to open the forwarding channel of the relay device.

In some embodiments, the first terminal device also satisfies condition D. Among them, condition D includes: the first terminal device has service data transmission requirements. That is to say, the first terminal device needs to send uplink information to the first network device. In this case, it can be understood that when the first terminal device determines that condition B and condition D are met, and/or when the first terminal device determines that condition C and condition D are met, the first terminal device executes S5212a, that is, the first terminal device sends the first request information to the first network device.

It should be noted that when the first terminal device has established an access layer connection with the first network device, through the relevant description of solution 1, the first terminal device has already communicated to the The first network device sends the first identification. In this case, the first terminal device may first send the first identification to the first network device, and then, if condition B and/or condition C are met, send the first request information to the first network device, as shown in Figure 8d "Method 1" is shown in the dotted box. When the first terminal device has not established an access layer connection with the first network device, before sending the first request information to the first network device, if the first terminal device determines that condition B and/or condition C is met, the first terminal device sends the first request information to the first network device. A network device initiates a random access process and establishes an access layer connection, and sends the first identifier to the first network device according to the relevant description of solution one. Afterwards, the first terminal device sends the first request information to the first network device, as shown in the dotted box where "Method 2" is located in Figure 8d.

As shown in Figure 8d, for the first network device, after the first network device receives the first identification and the first request information, the first network device determines the first identification based on the first identification and the first association relationship obtained in stage one. A terminal device has an association relationship with the first relay device, and then the first network device sends first indication information to the relay device based on condition a2. That is to say, after receiving the first request information, the first network device executes S524 and S522.

It should be noted that in mode C, S526 and S5211a are corresponding steps. In the communication method 500 in the embodiment of the present application, S5212a may be executed first, and then S524 may be executed, or S524 may be executed first, and then S5212a may be executed, or S5212a and S524 may be executed simultaneously, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

Method D: The first network device uses method 2 according to condition a2 and the first terminal device. That is to say, mode D includes S527, S5212a, S524 and S522.

As shown in Figure 8e, for the first terminal device, when the first terminal device determines that condition B and/or condition C is met, the first terminal device executes S5212a, that is, the first terminal device sends the first terminal device to the first network device. Request information. Wherein, the first request information includes a first identifier.

The condition C includes: the distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is less than or equal to the first threshold. For details, please refer to the introduction of the above method A, which will not be described again here. It should be understood that when condition C is met, the first terminal device can determine that it has entered the coverage area of the relay device. Therefore, the first terminal device sends the first request information to the first network device to request to open the forwarding channel of the relay device.

For the first network device, after the first network device receives the first request information (the first request information includes the first identification), the first network device based on the first identification in the first request information and the first obtained in phase one. An association relationship, it is determined that the first terminal device has an association relationship with the first relay device, and then the first network device sends the first indication information to the relay device based on condition a2. That is to say, after receiving the first request information, the first network device executes S524 and S522.

It should be noted that when the first terminal device does not establish an access layer connection with the first network device before sending the first request information, the first terminal device needs to actively initiate a random access process to the first network device through a small packet ( For example, the first request information is carried in the msgA or msg3) transmission method during the random access process to send the first request information to the first network device, or after the access layer connection (such as RRC connection) is established, the first request information is sent to the first network device. The device sends the first request information.

It should be noted that in mode D, S527 and S5212a are corresponding steps.

Phase 3: Forwarding channel closure phase

The forwarding channel closing phase is mainly used to implement: when the first network device determines that condition E is met, the first network device sends third indication information to the relay device. Among them, condition E is related to the first terminal device. The third instruction information instructs the relay device to close the forwarding channel, so that the relay device stops providing signal enhancement services to the first terminal device to avoid interference to other communication devices caused by signals transmitted by the relay device.

As shown in Figure 9, the forwarding channel closing phase includes the following steps:

S541. The first network device determines that condition E is met.

Among them, condition E includes at least one of the following (that is, condition E includes condition e1 and/or condition e2):

Condition e1: The first terminal equipment switches from the target cell to the first cell. Wherein, the first cell is a cell other than the target cell. The first cell in S541 and the first cell in S521 may be the same or different, and this is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. For the target cell, please refer to the introduction of S521 and will not be described again here. Exemplarily, S541 includes S5411. Among them, S5411 includes: the first network device determines that the condition e1 is met, which will not be described again here. It should be understood that when condition e1 is met, the first network device can determine that the first terminal device has left its coverage area, and therefore also left the coverage area of the relay device. Therefore, the first network device can send a third indication to the relay device. Information instructing it to close the forwarding channel.

Condition e2: The first network device receives the second request information from the first terminal device. The second request information requests closing of the forwarding channel in the relay device. Exemplarily, S541 includes S5412. Among them, S5412 includes: the first network device determines that condition e2 is met, which will not be described again here. It should be understood that when condition e2 is met, the first network device can determine that the first terminal has a need to close the forwarding channel of the relay device or no longer has a need to open the forwarding channel of the relay device. Therefore, the first network device can send a request to the relay device. The device sends third instruction information to instruct it to close the forwarding channel.

For the first network device, after the first network device determines that condition E is met, if the terminal device associated with the relay device is the first terminal device (that is, the terminal device associated with the relay device is one), then the first The network device executes S542a, as shown in the dotted box where "Scenario 1" is located in Figure 9, or, if the terminal device associated with the relay device is multiple terminal devices, the first network device executes S542b, as shown in "Scenario 1" in Figure 9 Scene 2" is shown in the dotted box. Among them, S542a and S542b are introduced as follows:

S542a. The first network device sends the third instruction information to the relay device. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the third indication information from the first network device.

The third instruction information instructs the relay device to close the forwarding channel. The forwarding channel of the relay device is used to forward uplink information from the first terminal device to the first network device, and/or the forwarding channel of the relay device is used to forward downlink information from the first network device to the first terminal device, For details, please refer to the introduction in Figure 2a and will not be repeated here.

Wherein, there is an association relationship between the relay device and the first terminal device. Correspondingly, the implementation process of S542a can also be described as: the first network device determines to send the third indication information to the relay device according to the first association relationship. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the third indication information from the first network device. Wherein, the first association relationship indicates that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device. For example, the first network device determines that there is an association relationship between the relay device and the first terminal device. For details, please refer to the introduction of S524, which will not be described again here.

S542b. When condition I is met, the first network device sends the third indication information to the relay device. Correspondingly, the relay device receives the third indication information from the first network device.

Condition I includes: among all terminal devices associated with the relay device, the terminal device other than the first terminal device switches from the target cell to a cell other than the target cell.

For example, when the terminal devices associated with the relay device are a first terminal device and a second terminal device, the first terminal device satisfies the above condition E, and the second terminal device also switches from the target cell to a cell other than the target cell. Correspondingly, a cell other than the target cell may refer to a cell.

For another example, in the case where the terminal devices associated with the relay device are the first terminal device, the second terminal device and the third terminal device, the first terminal device satisfies the above condition E, and the second terminal device and the third terminal device are also from The target cell is switched to a cell other than the target cell. The second terminal device and the third terminal device may be switched to the same cell or to different cells, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Correspondingly, a cell other than the target cell may refer to one cell or two cells. It should be understood that when the relay device is associated with more terminal devices, cells other than the target cell may also refer to more cells.

For the relay device, after receiving the third indication information, the relay device executes S543:

S543. The relay device closes the forwarding channel according to the third instruction information.

Exemplarily, the forwarding channel of the relay device includes an uplink forwarding channel and a downlink forwarding channel. See the introduction in Figure 2a for details. The relay device closes the uplink forwarding channel and the downlink forwarding channel according to the third instruction information, and no longer provides signal enhancement services to the first terminal device.

That is to say, the second request information is information sent by the first terminal device to the first network device, and the third indication information is information sent by the first network device to the relay device. Therefore, the second request information and The third indication information does not rely on the short-distance connection between the first terminal device and the relay device, and avoids the problem of untimely closing of the forwarding channel due to poor signal quality of the short-distance connection, thereby controlling the forwarding in a timely and accurate manner. The working status of the channel.

Next, as shown in Figure 10, from the perspective of the first network device, S5411 and S5412 are explained in detail:

S5411. The first network device determines that condition e1 is met.

The condition e1 includes: the first terminal device switches from the target cell to the first cell.

For example, S5411 includes S5411a and S5411b:

S5411a. The first terminal device and the first network device perform a cell switching process.

Exemplarily, the first network device sends a handover command to the first terminal device to instruct the first terminal device to perform cell handover. For details, please refer to 3GPP related technical specifications, which will not be described again here.

For the first network device, after receiving the first identification, the first network device executes S5411b:

S5411b. The first network device determines that condition e1 is met based on the second signaling.

For example, in the case where the first signaling includes relevant signaling for the first terminal device to switch from the target cell to the first cell, the first network device determines that the first terminal device is switched based on the relevant signaling for the cell switching of the first terminal device. When the device switches from the target cell to the first cell, condition e1 is satisfied.

That is to say, the first network device may determine that condition e1 is satisfied based on the relevant signaling of cell handover.

S5412. The first network device determines that condition e2 is met.

The condition e2 includes: the first network device receives the second request information from the first terminal device. The second request information requests closing of the forwarding channel in the relay device.

Exemplarily, S5412 includes S5412a:

S5412a. The first terminal device sends the second request information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the second request information from the first terminal device.

The second request information requests closing of the forwarding channel in the relay device.

Exemplarily, the second request information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device. For the first identifier, please refer to the introduction of S504, which will not be described again here.

For example, the timing of sending the second request information can be referred to the introduction of Figure 11c and Figure 11d below, which will not be described again here.

Exemplarily, the second request information is transmitted after the access layer connection. That is to say, for the first network device, if the first network device can receive the second request information, it can determine that the condition e2 is met.

Next, combined with the forwarding channel closing stage, the first and second solutions implemented by the first terminal device are elaborated:

Method E: The first network device is based on condition e1 and the first terminal device uses plan one. That is to say, mode E includes S525, S526, S524 and S542.

As shown in Figure 11a, for the first terminal device, when there is no access layer connection between the first terminal device and the first network device, or the access layer connection between the first terminal device and the first network device When disconnected, if the first terminal device determines that condition F and/or condition H is met, the first terminal device executes S525 and S526, that is, the first terminal device initiates random access to the first network device and establishes access. layer connection, and sends the first identifier to the first network device through the access layer connection. For details, please refer to the relevant description of Solution 1.

The condition F includes: the cell where the first terminal equipment is camped is about to be reselected from the target cell to a cell other than the target cell. For the target cell, please refer to the introduction of S507 and will not be repeated here.

For example, the first network device sends the first SSB. When the first terminal device is within the signal coverage of the first network device, the first terminal device in the idle state receives the first SSB from the first network device. When the RSRP of the first SSB is less than or equal to the first threshold, and the RSRP of the corresponding SSB of the first cell is greater than the first threshold, the first terminal device determines that it will be reselected from the target cell to a cell other than the target cell, such as the first cell. In this case, the first terminal device executes S525 and S526. For details, see the introduction of Solution 1, which will not be described again here. It should be understood that when the condition F is satisfied, the first terminal device can determine that it is about to leave the coverage of the first network device, and therefore may also leave the coverage of the relay device. Therefore, the first terminal device sends a message to the first network device. The first identification enables the first network device to determine the association between the relay device and the first terminal device, and then instructs the relay device to close the forwarding channel.

The condition H includes: the distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is greater than or equal to the first threshold. For the process of determining the target location by the first terminal device, please refer to the introduction of S508, which will not be described again here. For example, when the target location is the consumer's residential area, the first terminal device determines that its current location is outside the target location, And the distance to the target position is greater than the first threshold, then the first terminal device executes S525 and S526. For details, see the introduction of solution one, which will not be described again here. It should be understood that when condition H is met, the first terminal device can determine that it has left the coverage of the relay device. Therefore, the first terminal device sends the first identification to the first network device so that the first network device determines that the relay device and the first terminal device, thereby instructing the relay device to close the forwarding channel.

As shown in Figure 11a, for the first network device, after the first terminal device actively establishes an access layer connection with the first network device, when the first terminal device is about to leave the target cell, the first network device, A cell handover process is performed between the third network device and the first terminal device. The third network device is a network device that the first terminal device accesses after the cell handover process. After receiving the first identification, the first network device determines that the first terminal device has an association with the first relay device according to the first identification of the first terminal device and the first association relationship in stage one, and determines according to the cell handover process. When condition e1 is met, the third indication information is sent to the relay device. That is to say, after receiving the first identification, the first network device executes S524 and S542.

Method F: The first network device uses plan 2 according to condition e1 and the first terminal device. That is to say, mode F includes S527, S524 and S542.

As shown in Figure 11b, for the first terminal device, when the first terminal device determines that condition F and/or condition H is met, the first terminal device executes S527, that is, the first terminal device sends the first terminal device to the first network device. Logo. For details, please refer to the relevant description of Solution 2.

The condition F includes: the cell where the first terminal equipment is camped is about to be reselected from the target cell to a cell other than the target cell. For details, please refer to the introduction of the above method E, which will not be described again here. It should be understood that when the condition F is satisfied, the first terminal device can determine that it is about to leave the coverage of the first network device, and therefore may also leave the coverage of the relay device. Therefore, the first terminal device sends a message to the first network device. The first identification enables the first network device to determine the association between the relay device and the first terminal device, and then instructs the relay device to close the forwarding channel.

The condition H includes: the distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is greater than or equal to the first threshold. For details, please refer to the introduction of the above method E, which will not be described again here. It should be understood that when condition H is met, the first terminal device can determine that it has left the coverage of the relay device. Therefore, the first terminal device sends the first identification to the first network device so that the first network device determines that the relay device and the first terminal device, thereby instructing the relay device to close the forwarding channel.

It should be noted that when there is no access layer connection between the first terminal device and the first network device, or when the access layer connection between the first terminal device and the first network device is disconnected, the first terminal device When it is determined that condition F and/or condition H are met, random access is actively initiated to the first network device and an access layer connection is established, so that there is an access layer connection between the first terminal device and the first network device. After completing the access layer connection, the first terminal device sends the first identification to the first network device.

As shown in Figure 11b, for the first network device, after the first terminal device actively establishes an access layer connection with the first network device, when the first terminal is about to leave the target cell, the first network device and the first network device A cell handover process is performed between the third network device and the first terminal device. The third network device is a network device that the first terminal device accesses after the cell handover process. After receiving the first identification, the first network device determines that the first terminal device has an association with the first relay device through the first association relationship obtained in stage 1. Then, the first network device sends the first network device to the relay device based on condition e1. Three instructions. That is to say, after receiving the first identification, the first network device executes S524 and S542.

Method G: The first network device is based on condition e2 and the first terminal device uses plan one. That is to say, mode G includes S525, S526, S5412a, S524 and S542.

As shown in Figure 11c, for the first terminal device, when the first terminal device determines that condition F and/or condition H is met, the first terminal device executes S5412a, that is, the first terminal device sends the second Request information.

The condition F includes: the cell where the first terminal equipment is camped is about to be reselected from the target cell to a cell other than the target cell. For details, please refer to the introduction of the above method E, which will not be described again here. It should be understood that when the condition F is satisfied, the first terminal device can determine that it is about to leave the coverage of the first network device, and therefore may also leave the coverage of the relay device. Therefore, the first terminal device sends a message to the first network device. The second request information is to request the first network device to instruct the relay device to close the forwarding channel.

The condition H includes: the distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is greater than or equal to the first threshold. For details, please refer to the introduction of the above method E, which will not be described again here. It should be understood that when the condition H is met, the first terminal device can determine that it has left the coverage of the relay device. Therefore, the first terminal device sends the second request information to the first network device to request the first network device to instruct the relay. The device closes the forwarding channel.

It should be noted that when the first terminal device has established an access layer connection with the first network device, through the relevant description of solution 1, the first terminal device has already communicated to the The first network device sends the first identification. In this case, the first terminal device can first send the first identification to the first network device, and then, if condition F and/or condition H are met, send the second request information to the first network device, as shown in Figure 11c "Method 1" is shown in the dotted box. When the first terminal device does not establish an access layer connection with the first network device, before the first network device sends the second request information, if the first terminal device determines that condition F and/or condition H is met, the first network device sends a request to the first network device. The network device initiates a random access process and establishes an access layer connection, and sends the first identifier to the first network device according to the relevant description of solution one. After the access layer connection is established, the first terminal device sends the second request information to the first network device, as shown in the dotted box where "Method 2" is located in Figure 11c.

As shown in Figure 11c, for the first network device, after the first network device receives the first identification and the second request information, the first network device determines the first identification based on the first identification and the first association relationship obtained in stage one. A terminal device has an association relationship with the first relay device, and then the first network device sends third indication information to the relay device based on condition e2. That is to say, after receiving the second request information, the first network device executes S542.

Method H: The first network device is based on condition e2 and the first terminal device uses plan 2. That is, mode H includes S527, S5412a, S524, and S542.

As shown in Figure 11d, for the first terminal device, when the first terminal device determines that condition F and/or condition H is met, the first terminal device executes S5412a, that is, the first terminal device sends the second Request information. Wherein, the second request information includes the first identifier.

As shown in Figure 11d, for the first network device, the first network device receives the second request information (the second request information After the information includes the first identifier), the first network device determines that the first terminal device has an association relationship with the first relay device based on the first identifier in the second request information and the first association relationship obtained in stage one, and then, The first network device sends third indication information to the relay device based on condition e2. That is to say, after receiving the second request information, the first network device executes S542.

It should be understood that the communication method 500 in the embodiment of this application can be applicable to the following three scenarios:

As a first scenario, this scenario can include phase one and phase two. In this scenario, the forwarding channel of the relay device is closed by default in the initial working state, and the forwarding channel is opened through each step of the second phase. That is, the communication method 500 in the embodiment of the present application can be opened accurately and timely. The forwarding channel of the relay device.

As a second scenario, the scenario may include phase one, phase two, and phase three. In this scenario, the forwarding channel of the relay device is closed by default in the initial working state. The forwarding channel is opened through each step of Phase 2, and there is no self-correlation within the signal coverage area of the relay device. When a terminal device is installed, the forwarding channel is closed through each step of phase three, that is, the communication method 500 in the embodiment of the present application can accurately and timely open and close the forwarding channel of the relay device.

As a third scenario, this scenario can include Phase One and Phase Three. In this scenario, the forwarding channel of the relay device is enabled by default in the initial working state. When there is no associated terminal device within the signal coverage area of the relay device, the forwarding channel is implemented through each step of phase three. closure, that is, the communication method 500 in the embodiment of the present application can accurately and timely close the forwarding channel of the relay device.

The above mainly introduces the solution provided by the embodiment of the present application from the perspective of interaction between various network elements. Correspondingly, embodiments of the present application also provide a communication device. The communication device may be the network element in the above method embodiment, or a device including the above network element, or a component that can be used for the network element. It can be understood that, in order to implement the above functions, the communication device includes corresponding hardware structures and/or software modules for performing each function. Persons skilled in the art should easily realize that, with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is performed by hardware or computer software driving the hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality using different methods for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

For example, FIG. 12a and FIG. 12b show a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1200. The communication device 1200 includes: a processor 1201, a communication interface 1202, and a memory 1203. Optionally, the communication device may also include a bus 1204. Among them, the communication interface 1202, the processor 1201 and the memory 1203 can be connected to each other through the bus 1204; the bus 1204 can be a peripheral component interconnect standard (peripheral component interconnect, PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus etc. The bus 1204 can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of presentation, only one thick line is used in Figures 12a and 12b, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

Among them, the processor 1201 can be a CPU, a general-purpose processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, Hardware components or any combination thereof. It may implement or execute the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with this disclosure. The processor can also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of DSP and microprocessors, and so on.

For example, the communication device 1200 in Figure 12a may be the first terminal device in the communication method 500 in this embodiment of the application, and the processor 1201 is used to support the first terminal device to perform processing operations. The communication interface 1202 is used to support the first terminal device Prepare to perform sending and receiving operations. Alternatively, the communication device 1200 in Figure 12a may be a relay device in the communication method 500 in this embodiment of the present application, and the processor 1201 is used to support the relay device to perform processing operations. The communication interface 1202 is used to support the relay device to perform sending and receiving operations. Alternatively, the communication device 1200 in Figure 12a may be the first network device in the communication method 500 in this embodiment of the present application, and the processor 1201 is used to support the first network device to perform processing operations. The communication interface 1202 is used to support the first network device to perform sending and receiving operations.

In another possible example, taking the communication device 1200 in Figure 12b as a relay device as an example, the introduction is as follows:

Compared with the communication device 1200 shown in FIG. 12a, the communication device 1200 shown in FIG. 12b further includes a repeater 1205. Among them, the processor 1201, communication interface 1202, memory 1203 and bus 1204 can be referred to the introduction in Figure 12a and will not be described again here.

In Figure 5, Figure 6 or Figure 9, the repeater 1205 is used to forward the uplink information from the first terminal device to the first network device, and/or the repeater 1205 is used to forward the uplink information from the first network to the first terminal device. Downlink information of the device. That is to say, opening the forwarding channel as mentioned above can be understood as opening the forwarder 1205. Closing the forwarding channel as mentioned above can be understood as closing the forwarder 1205. The transponder 1205 may include an RF device, a power amplifier, etc. For details, see the introduction of the transponder module in Figure 2b and will not be described again here.

Optionally, embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product carrying computer instructions. When the computer instructions are run on a computer, they cause the computer to execute the method described in the above embodiments.

Optionally, embodiments of the present application also provide a computer-readable storage medium that stores computer instructions. When the computer instructions are run on a computer, they cause the computer to execute the method described in the above embodiments.

Optionally, the embodiment of the present application also provides a chip, including: a processing circuit and a transceiver circuit. The processing circuit and the transceiver circuit are used to implement the method introduced in the above embodiment. The processing circuit is used to perform the processing actions in the corresponding method, and the transceiver circuit is used to perform the receiving/transmitting actions in the corresponding method.

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another, e.g., the computer instructions may be transferred from a website, computer, server, or data center Transmission to another website, computer, server or data center through wired (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. 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 or data center integrated with one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, tapes), optical media (e.g., digital video discs (DVD)), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid state drives (SSD)) wait.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only illustrative. For example, the division of modules is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple modules or components may be combined or can be integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored, or not implemented. On the other hand, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between each other shown or discussed may be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or modules, and may be in electrical or other forms.

The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place, or they may be distributed to multiple devices. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

Through the above description of the implementation, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the present application can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general hardware. Of course, it can also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases the former is a better implementation. . Based on this understanding, the essence or the contribution part of the technical solution of the present application can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a readable storage medium, such as a computer floppy disk, a hard disk or an optical disk. etc., including several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in various embodiments of the present application.

The above are only specific embodiments of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application shall be covered by the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

A communication method, characterized by including:

The first network device determines that a first condition is met, wherein the first condition includes at least one of the following:

The first terminal device switches from the first cell to the target cell, or the first terminal device initiates random access in the target cell; the network device corresponding to the target cell is the first network device;

The first network device receives first request information from the first terminal device, and the first request information requests opening of a forwarding channel in the relay device;

The first network device sends first instruction information to the relay device; wherein the first instruction information instructs the relay device to open the forwarding channel; the forwarding channel is used to send messages to the first network The device forwards uplink information from the first terminal device, and/or the forwarding channel is used to forward downlink information from the first network device to the first terminal device; the relay device and the First terminal device association.
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, before the first network device sends the first indication information to the relay device, the method further includes:

The first network device determines that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device according to a first identification and a first association relationship, wherein the first identification is used to identify the first terminal device, and the The first association relationship indicates that the relay device is associated with the first terminal device.
The method of claim 2, further comprising:

The first network device receives the first identification from the first terminal device.
The method according to claim 2, characterized in that:

The first request information includes the first identification.
The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, according to the first identification and the first association relationship, the first network device determines that the relay device and the first terminal device Before association, the method also includes:

The first network device receives second indication information from the relay device;

Wherein, the second indication information at least indicates that the relay device has an association relationship with the first terminal device.
The method according to claim 5, characterized in that:

The second indication information at least includes the first identification; or,

The second indication information includes at least the first identification and the second identification;

Wherein, the first identification is used to identify the first terminal device, and the second identification is used to identify the relay device.
The method according to claim 6, characterized in that:

The first identification is the International Mobile Subscriber Identity IMSI of the first terminal device; or,

The first identifier is the media access control MAC address of the network card of the first terminal device; or,

The second identification is the IMSI of the relay device; or,

The second identifier is the MAC address of the network card of the relay device.
The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that,

After the first network device sends the first indication information to the relay device, the method further includes:

The first network device determines that a second condition is met, wherein the second condition includes at least one of the following:

The first terminal device switches from the target cell to the first cell;

The first network device receives second request information from the first terminal device, and the second request information information request to close the forwarding channel;

The first network device sends third indication information to the relay device, or, if a third condition is met, the first network device sends the third indication information to the relay device;

Wherein, the third condition includes: among all terminal devices associated with the relay device, a terminal device other than the first terminal device switches from the target cell to a cell other than the target cell; The third instruction information instructs the relay device to close the forwarding channel.
A communication method, characterized by including:

The relay device receives first indication information from the first network device;

The relay device opens a forwarding channel according to the first instruction information; wherein the relay device includes the forwarding channel; the forwarding channel is used to forward the packet from the first terminal device to the first network device. Uplink information, and/or, the forwarding channel is used to forward downlink information from the first network device to the first terminal device; the relay device is associated with the first terminal device.
The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, before the relay device receives the first indication information from the first network device, the method further includes:

The relay device sends second indication information to the first network device;

Wherein, the second indication information at least indicates that the relay device has an association relationship with the first terminal device.
The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, before the relay device sends the second indication information to the first network device, the method further includes:

The relay device sends a broadcast message;

The relay device receives a response message from the first terminal device; wherein the response message includes the first identification; or the response message is used by the relay device to determine to establish a first connection, so The first connection is a connection between the relay device and the first terminal device, and the first connection is used to transmit the first identification.
The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the response message is also used by the relay device to determine that it is associated with the first terminal device.
A communication method, characterized by including:

The first terminal device determines that a third condition is met, wherein the third condition includes at least one of the following:

The first terminal device can receive the first synchronization signal block SSB from the first network device, and the cell identity corresponding to the first SSB is the same as the identity of the target cell; or,

The distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is less than or equal to the first threshold;

The first terminal device sends first request information to the first network device; wherein the first request information is used to request the first network device to open a forwarding channel in the relay device; the forwarding channel is The forwarding channel is used to forward the uplink information from the first terminal device to the first network device, and/or the forwarding channel is used to forward the downlink information from the first network device to the first terminal device; the third A terminal device is associated with the relay device.
The method according to claim 13, characterized in that:

The first request information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device; the first identifier is used by the first network device to determine whether the first terminal device is the same as the first terminal device. Follow device association.
A communication method, characterized by including:

The first terminal device determines that a third condition is met, wherein the third condition includes at least one of the following:

The first terminal device can receive the first synchronization signal block SSB from the first network device, and the first The cell identity corresponding to an SSB is the same as the identity of the target cell; or,

The distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is less than or equal to the first threshold;

The first terminal device sends a first identification to the first network device; the first identification is used to identify the first terminal device, and the first identification is used by the first network device to determine the first A terminal device is associated with the relay device.
The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, before the first terminal device sends the first identification to the first network device, the method further includes:

If the first terminal device does not establish an access layer connection with the first network device, the first terminal device initiates an access layer connection to the first network device, where the access layer connection uses to send the first identifier.
The method according to any one of claims 13-16, characterized in that,

The first terminal device also satisfies the fourth condition;

Wherein, the fourth condition includes: the first terminal device has service data transmission requirements.
A communication method, characterized by including:

The first terminal device determines that the fifth condition is met, wherein the fifth condition includes at least one of the following:

The cell where the first terminal equipment resides is about to be reselected from a target cell to a cell outside the target cell, and the target cell is the cell corresponding to the first network equipment; or,

The distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is greater than or equal to the first threshold;

The first terminal device sends second request information to the first network device; wherein the second request information is used to request the first network device to close a forwarding channel in the relay device, and the forwarding channel is The forwarding channel is used to forward the uplink information from the first terminal device to the first network device, and/or the forwarding channel is used to forward the downlink information from the first network device to the first terminal device; the third A terminal device is associated with the relay device.
The method according to claim 18, characterized in that:

The second request information includes a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device; the first identifier is used by the first network device to determine whether the first terminal device is the same as the first terminal device. Described relay device association.
A communication method, characterized by including:

The first terminal device determines that the fifth condition is met, wherein the fifth condition includes at least one of the following:

The cell where the first terminal equipment resides is about to be reselected from a target cell to a cell outside the target cell, and the target cell is the cell corresponding to the first network equipment; or,

The distance between the location of the first terminal device and the target location is greater than or equal to the first threshold;

The first terminal device sends a first identifier to the first network device; wherein the first identifier is used to identify the first terminal device, and the first identifier is used by the first network device to determine the The first terminal device is associated with the relay device.
The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, before the first terminal device sends the first identification to the first network device, the method further includes:

If the first terminal device does not establish an access layer connection with the first network device, the first terminal device initiates an access layer connection to the first network device, wherein the access layer connection is used to Send the first identification.
The method according to any one of claims 13-21, characterized in that the method further includes:

The first terminal device receives a broadcast message from the relay device;

The first terminal device sends a response message to the relay device, wherein the response message includes the first identification; or the response message is used by the relay device to determine to establish a first connection, and the The first connection is the relay device A connection between the device and the first terminal device, the first connection being used to transmit the first identification.
A communication device, characterized in that it includes: a processor and a memory, the processor is coupled to the memory, the memory stores program instructions, and when the program instructions stored in the memory are executed by the processor, The communication device is caused to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-22.
A chip, characterized in that it includes a processor and an input-output interface. The input-output interface is used to receive signals from other devices other than the chip and transmit them to the processor or to transfer signals from the processor. The signal is sent to other devices outside the chip, and the processor is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-22 through logic circuits or execution of code instructions.
A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program. When the computer program is run on a communication device, the communication device causes the communication device to execute any of claims 1-22. method described in one item.