Patent Description:
A D2D (Device-to-Device) communication is a SL (Sidelink) transmission technology, which is different from a manner of communication data being receiving or sending by a base station in a traditional cellular system. An IoV system adopts a manner of a terminal-to-terminal direct communication, such that a higher spectral efficiency and a lower transmission delay may be achieved. In a D2D communication system, a terminal device may be required to report capability information to a network side. In the related art, there is no specific reporting way for the capability information of the terminal device, in particular information such as frequency-band combination information in the capability information.

<CIT> describes a method employed by a transmitting Vehicle User Equipment (Tx V-UE). The process involves sending a set of parameters, including the Tx V-UE's capability, V2X service information, and channel details, to a Radio Access Network (RAN). Subsequently, the Tx V-UE receives from the RAN information such as Side-link Radio Bearer (SL-RB) configuration, activation status of the primary Sidelink (SL) channel, activation status of secondary SL channels, and at least one grant for SL radio resources associated with each activated SL channel. Finally, the Tx V-UE transmits duplicated packets, utilizing SL radio resources from both the primary SL channel and the activated secondary SL channels, to a Receiving Vehicle User Equipment (Rx V-UE).

XP051849949, in section <NUM>. <NUM> for UECapabilityEnquiry, addresses various RAT type scenarios, including NR, LTE, and MR-DC.

A sidelink capability sending method and a terminal device, and a sidelink capability receiving method and a network device are provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, as set out in the appended set of claims, so as to achieve reporting capability information of the terminal device.

Technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in the following with reference to accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

It should be noted that a term "first" and a term "second", etc., in specification and claims of the embodiments of the present disclosure and the accompanying drawings above are configured to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily configured for describing a specific order or a sequence. In addition, the objects described by the term "first" and the term "second", etc., may be the same or different.

The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to various communication systems, for example, a Global System of Mobile communication (GSM) system, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, an Advanced long term evolution (LTE-A) system , a NR system, an evolution system of the NR system, a LTE-based access to unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U), a NR-based access to unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) system, a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), a Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), a 5th-Generation (<NUM>) system, or other communication systems, etc..

In general, connections supported by a traditional communication system have a limited number and are easy to achieve. However, with a communication technology developing, a mobile communication system may not only support traditional communications, but also support, for example, the D2D communication, a Machine to Machine (M2M) communication, a Machine Type Communication (MTC), and a Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) communication, etc. The embodiments of the present disclosure may also be applied to these communication systems.

In some embodiments, a communication system in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to a CA (Carrier Aggregation,) scenario, a DC (Dual Connectivity) scenario, or a SA (Standalone) network-deploying scenario.

A spectrum applied is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to a licensed spectrum, or may also be applied to an unlicensed spectrum.

Each embodiment is described in the embodiments of present disclosure in conjunction with a network device and a terminal device. The terminal device may also be referred to as a User Equipment (UE), an access terminal, a user unit, a user station, a mobile station, a mobile platform, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user device, etc. The terminal device may be a STAION (ST) in the WLAN, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld device having wireless communication functions, a computing device, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, and a next-generation communication system, for example, the terminal device in a NR network or the terminal device in an evolving-in-future Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN).

For an example but not a limitation, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminal device may also be the wearable device. The wearable device may also be referred to as a wearable smart device, which is a general term for the wearable device developed through performing an intelligent design for a daily wear by adopting a wearable technology, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. The wearable device is a portable device which is worn directly on a body or integrated into the clothing or accessories. The wearable device is not only a hardware device, but also configured to implement powerful functions through a software support, a data interaction, and a cloud interaction. The wearable smart device in a broad sense may include devices which have complete functions and a large size, and may implement full or a part of the functions without relying on a smart phone, such as smart watches or smart glasses; and devices which may only focus on a certain type of application function and are required to be used cooperating with other devices for example, smart phones, such as all kinds of smart bracelets, smart jewelry, etc. for physical body-sign monitoring.

The network device may be a device configured to communicate with the mobile device. The network device may be an Access Point (AP) and the GSM in the WLAN, or a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in the CDMA, or a NodeB (NB) in the WCDMA, or an eNB or Evolutional Node B (eNodeB) in the LTE, or a relay station, or the AP, or the in-vehicle device, the wearable device, and a gNB in the NR network, or the network device in the evolving-in-future PLMN, and the like.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the network device may provide services for a cell. The terminal device may communicate with the network device through transmission resources (for example, frequency domain resources, i.e., spectrum resources) used by the cell. The cell may be a cell corresponding to the network device (e.g., the base station). The cell may belong to a macro base station, or belong to a base station corresponding to a small cell. The small cell herein may include a Metro cell, a Micro cell, a Pico cell, a Femto cell, etc. These small cells have such characteristics of a small coverage and a low transmit power that the small cells are suitable for providing a high-speed data-transmitting service.

<FIG> exemplarily shows a network device <NUM> and two terminal devices <NUM>. In some embodiments, a wireless communication system <NUM> may include multiple of network devices <NUM>. A covering range of each network device <NUM> may include other numbers of terminal devices <NUM>, which will not be limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to a terminal device <NUM> and a network device <NUM>, or may also be applied to a terminal device <NUM> and another terminal device <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication system <NUM> may further include other network entities such as a Mobility Management Entity (MME), an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), which will not be limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

It should be understood that the term "system" and the term "network" may be often used interchangeably herein. The term "and/or" herein is only an association relationship for describing associated objects, indicating three relationships may exist. For example, A and/or B, may mean three cases that A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, a character "/" herein generally indicates a "or" relationship between an object before the character "/" and a related object behind the character "/".

A SL capability sending method is provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure. A SL is a new link introduced to support direct communications between devices, and may also be referring to as a straight-through link. The SL may support the direct communications between UEs. <FIG> is an implementation flowchart of a sidelink capability sending method <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, including the following operations.

At block S210, generating, by a terminal device, a capability-reporting message, the capability-reporting message including capability information of the terminal device, and the capability information including at least one of a combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands, a combination of NR PC5 frequency bands, and a combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands.

At block S220, sending, by the terminal device, the capability-reporting message.

In some embodiments, the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands may refer to that frequency bands of LTE PC5 interfaces may be combined to operate together. The combination of NR PC5 frequency bands may refer to that frequency bands of NR PC5 interfaces may be combined to operate together. The combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands may refer to that the frequency bands of LTE PC5 interfaces and the frequency bands of NR PC5 interfaces may be combined to operate together.

For a UE, a frequency-band combination may include, for RAN4, defining radio-frequency parameters such as a bandwidth level, a power level, and a bandwidth combination set. For RAN4, physical layer parameters such as a multi-antenna parameter set (mimo), a modulation and demodulation parameter set, and a basic parameter set are defined. The basic parameter set may include a subcarrier-space parameter.

In some embodiments, the capability information may further include at least one of a capability of an LTE-Uu interface, a capability of an NR-Uu interface, and a capability of a dual connection of the LTE-Uu interface and the NR-Uu interface.

In some embodiments, the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands may be carried in at least one way of being carried in a UE-NR-capability field, being carried in a UE-EUTRA-capability field, and being carried in a first field which is different from the UE-NR-capability field and the UE-EUTRA-capability field.

These fields may also be referred to as a container.

In some embodiments, a new field (or container) may be defined. For example, a UE-EUTRA-CapabilitySL field is defined, and the UE-EUTRA-CapabilitySL field is configured to carry the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands.

In some embodiments, the combination of NR PC5 frequency bands may be carried in at least one way of being carried in the UE-NR-capability field, being carried in the UE-EUTRA-capability field, and being carried in a second field which is different from the UE-NR-capability field and the UE-EUTRA-capability field.

In some embodiments, the new field (or container) may be defined. For example, a UE-NR-CapabilitySL field is defined, and the UE-NR-CapabilitySL field is configured to carry the combination of NR PC5 frequency bands.

In some embodiments, the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands may be carried in at least one way of being carried in the UE-NR-capability field, being carried in the UE-EUTRA-capability field, and being carried in a UE-MRDC (Multi-Radio Dual Connectivity)-capability field, and being carried in a third field which is different from the UE-NR-capability field, the UE-EUTRA-capability field, and the a UE-MRDC-capability field.

In some embodiments, the capability-reporting message may include at least one field of the UE-NR-capability field, the UE-EUTRA-capability field, the UE-MRDC-capability field, and an extension field.

The extension field is a field different from the UE-NR-capability field, the UE-EUTRA-capability field, and the UE-MRDC-capability field.

Afield in the capability-reporting message is configured to carry the capability information of the terminal device.

In some embodiments, in response to the capability information including the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands, the capability-reporting message is configured to indicate the capability information in at least one way of the following.

In a first way, the capability-reporting message indicates a combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands which is supported by the terminal device.

For example, the capability-reporting message includes each combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands.

For example, combination I may include a frequency band <NUM>, a frequency band <NUM>, a frequency band A, and a frequency band B. The frequency band <NUM> and the frequency band <NUM> are frequency bands of the LTE PC5 interface, and the frequency band A and the frequency band B are frequency bands of the NR PC5 interface.

Combination II may include a frequency band <NUM>, a frequency band <NUM>, a frequency band <NUM>, a frequency band C, and a frequency band D. The frequency band <NUM>, the frequency band <NUM>, and the frequency band <NUM> are frequency bands of the LTE PC5 interface, and the frequency band C and the frequency band D are frequency bands of the NR PC5 interface.

The capability-reporting message may include the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands supported by the terminal device. For example, the capability-reporting message may include an identifier of each frequency band in each frequency-band combination, so as to explicitly indicate the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands supported by the terminal device.

In a second way, for each combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands, the capability-reporting message indicates whether the terminal device supports a combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands which includes the each combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and each combination of NR PC5 frequency bands.

For example, the terminal device may support <NUM> combinations of LTE PC5 frequency bands, including from a frequency-band combination <NUM> to a frequency-band combination <NUM>. The terminal device may also support <NUM> combinations of NR PC5 frequency bands, including a frequency-band combination <NUM>' to a frequency-band combination <NUM>'.

Thus, the capability-reporting message may include <NUM>,<NUM> bits. Bits <NUM> to <NUM> may correspond to a frequency-band combination <NUM>. Specifically, the <NUM> bits may respectively indicate whether the frequency-band combination <NUM> supports being combined with frequency-band combinations <NUM>' to <NUM>' to be combinations of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands. Bits <NUM> to <NUM> may correspond to a frequency-band combination <NUM>. Specifically, the <NUM> bits may respectively indicate whether the frequency-band combination <NUM> supports being combined with frequency-band combinations <NUM>' to <NUM>' to be combinations of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands. Table <NUM> below shows an example of an indicating relationship between each bit in the capability-reporting message and the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands.

Taking the above Table <NUM> as an example, when a value of bit <NUM> is <NUM>, it may be indicated that the terminal device supports the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands including the frequency-band combination <NUM> and the frequency-band combination <NUM>'. When the value of bit <NUM> is <NUM>, it may be indicated that the terminal device does not support the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands including the frequency-band combination <NUM> and the frequency-band combination <NUM>'.

In a third way, for each combination of NR PC5 frequency bands, the capability-reporting message indicates whether the terminal device supports a combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands which includes the each combination of the NR PC5 frequency bands and each combination of the LTE PC5 frequency bands.

For example, the terminal device may support <NUM> combinations of LTE PC5 frequency bands, including from the frequency-band combination <NUM> to the frequency-band combination <NUM>. The terminal device may also support <NUM> combinations of NR PC5 frequency bands, including the frequency-band combination <NUM>' to the frequency-band combination <NUM>'.

Thus, the capability-reporting message may include <NUM>,<NUM> bits. Bits <NUM> to <NUM> may correspond to the frequency-band combination <NUM>'. Specifically, the <NUM> bits may respectively indicate whether the frequency-band combination <NUM>' supports being combined with frequency-band combinations <NUM> to <NUM> to be combinations of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands. Bits <NUM> to <NUM> may correspond to a frequency-band combination <NUM>'. Specifically, the <NUM> bits may respectively indicate whether the frequency-band combination <NUM>' supports being combined with frequency-band combinations <NUM> to <NUM> to be combinations of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands. Table <NUM> below shows an example of the indicating relationship between each bit in the capability-reporting message and the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands.

In a fourth way, for each combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands, the capability-reporting message indicates whether the terminal device supports the each combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands.

The fourth way is similar to the second way and the third way. Each bit corresponds to a possible combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands. One of two values of each bit represent that the terminal device supports the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands corresponding to the bit. The other of the two values of the each bit represent that the terminal device does not support the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands corresponding to the bit.

In some embodiments, the terminal device may determine a carrying manner based on carrying manner indication information. In some embodiments, the carrying manner indication information may include at least one of a first indication configured to indicate a carrying manner of the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands, a second indication configured to indicate a carrying manner of the combination of NR PC5 frequency bands, and a third indication configured to indicate a carrying manner of the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and LTE PC5 frequency bands.

The first indication, the second indication, and the third indication may be in the same instruction, or may be in different instructions.

In some embodiments, the carrying manner indication information includes an indicator of RAT (Radio Access Type)-RequestList in UE-capability.

In some embodiments, the carrying manner indication information includes a value related to rat-Type and/or a value related to mrdc (multi-radio access type dual connectivity)-Request.

In some embodiments, the method may further include the terminal receiving an indication for reporting the capability information of the terminal device, for example, an indication of reporting LTE capability information, an indication of reporting NR capability information, and an indication of reporting LTE and NR DC capability information. The terminal device may send the capability-reporting message to the network device. The capability-reporting message may include different fields which are configured to carry various frequency bands supported by the terminal device. Furthermore, the terminal device may also adopt the fields to carry the LTE capability information, the NR capability information, or the LTE and NR DC capability information required to be reported by the network device.

Some specific ways of sending the capability-reporting message are described in the following.

In some embodiments, the terminal device sending the capability-reporting message includes the following.

The terminal device sends the capability-reporting message. The capability-reporting message may include the UE-NR-capability field. The UE-NR-capability field may carry a capability of an LTE-Uu interface and at least one of the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands, the combination of NR-PC5 frequency bands, and the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands.

In some embodiments, the method may further include the terminal device receiving an indication of reporting the capability information of LTE.

In some embodiments, the terminal device may determine whether the capability-reporting massage includes the UE-EUTRA-Capability field based on a fourth indication.

<FIG> is an implementation flowchart according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the present embodiment may include the following operations.

At block S310, indicating, by the network device, the terminal device to report the capability information of LTE.

At block S320, reporting, by the terminal device, the capability of the LTE-Uu interface and at least one of the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands, the combination of NR-PC5 frequency bands, and the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands in the UE-EUTRA-capability field.

In some embodiments, an indicating manner of the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands may include at least one of the following.

Explicitly indicating the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands supported by the terminal device.

For each combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands, indicating whether the terminal device supports each combination of NR PC5 frequency bands simultaneously.

For each combination of NR PC5 frequency bands, indicating whether the terminal device supports each combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands simultaneously.

For each possible combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands, indicating whether the terminal device supports the possible combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands.

In addition, before the block S320, the network device may further send a fourth indication to the terminal device. The fourth indication is configured to indicate whether the terminal device reports the UE-EUTRA-Capability field. In response to not reporting the UE-EUTRA-Capability field, the terminal device may adopt other fields to report various frequency-band combination information.

In some embodiments, the terminal device sending the capability-reporting message may include the following.

The terminal device sends the capability-reporting message. The capability-reporting message may include the UE-NR-capability field. The UE-NR-capability field may carry a capability of an NR-Uu interface and at least one of the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands, the combination of NR-PC5 frequency bands, and the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands.

In some embodiments, the method may further include the terminal device receiving an indication of reporting the capability information of NR.

In some embodiments, the terminal device may determine whether the capability-reporting massage includes the UE-NR-Capability field based on a fifth indication.

<FIG> is an implementation flowchart according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the present embodiment may include the following operations.

At block S410, indicating, by the network device, the terminal device to report the capability information of NR.

At block S420, reporting, by the terminal device, the capability of the NR-Uu interface and at least one of the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands, the combination of NR-PC5 frequency bands, and the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands in the UE-NR-capability field.

In some embodiments, the indicating manner of the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands may include at least one of the following.

In addition, before the block S420, the network device may further send a fifth indication to the terminal device. The fifth indication is configured to indicate whether the terminal device reports the UE-NR-capability field. In response to not reporting the UE-NR-capability field, the terminal device may adopt other fields to report various frequency-band combination information.

The terminal device sends the capability-reporting message. The capability-reporting message may include at least one of the UE-EUTRA-capability field, the UE-NR-capability field, and the UE-MRDC-capability field.

The LTE-EUTRA-capability field may be configured to carry the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands.

The UE-NR-capability field may be configured to carry the combination of NR PC5 frequency bands.

The UE-MRDC-capability may be configured to carry the combination of NR PC5 frequency bands and LTE PC5 frequency bands.

In some embodiments, the method may further include the terminal device receiving an indication of reporting capability information of a DC of LTE and NR.

In some embodiments, the UE-EUTRA-capability may further carry the capability of the LTE-Uu interface.

The UE-NR-capability may further carry the capability of the NR-Uu interface.

The UE-MRDC-capability may further carry the capability of the DC of the LTE-Uu interface and the NR-Uu interface.

In some embodiments, the terminal device may determine whether the capability-reporting massage includes the UE-EUTRA-Capability field based on a sixth indication.

In some embodiments, the terminal device may determine whether the capability-reporting massage includes the UE-NR-capability field based on a seventh indication.

In some embodiments, the terminal device may determine whether the capability-reporting massage includes the UE-MRDC-capability field based on an eighth indication. Embodiment <NUM>.

<FIG> is an implementation flowchart according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the present embodiment may include the following operations.

At block S510, indicating, by the network device, the terminal device to report the capability information of the DC of LTE and NR.

At block S520, reporting, by the terminal device, the capability of the LTE-Uu interface in the UE-EUTRA-capability field, reporting the capability of the NR-Uu interface in the UE-NR-capability field, and reporting the capability of the DC of the LTE-Uu interface and the NR-Uu interface in the UE-MRDC-Capability field. The terminal device may further report at least one of the following.

Reporting the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands in the UE-EUTRA-capability field.

Reporting the combination of NR PC5 frequency bands in the UE-NR-capability field.

Reporting the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands in the UE-MRDC-capability field.

In addition, before the block S520, the network device may further send a sixth indication, a seventh indication, and/or an eighth indication to the terminal device. The sixth indication is configured to indicate whether the terminal device reports the UE-EUTRA-Capability field. The seventh indication is configured to indicate whether the terminal device reports the UE-NR-Capability field. The eighth indication is configured to indicate whether the terminal device reports the UE-MRDC-Capability field. In response to not reporting a certain field above, the terminal device may adopt other fields to report corresponding frequency-band combination information.

The terminal device sends the capability-reporting message. The capability-reporting message may include at least one of a first field, a second field, and a third field. The first field, the second field, and the third field are fields different from the UE-NR-Capability field, the UE-EUTRA-Capability field, and the UE-MRDC-Capability field.

The first field is configured to carry the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands.

The second field is configured to carry the combination of NR PC5 frequency bands.

The third field is configured to carry the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands.

The first field, the second field, and the third field may be pre-defined new fields in the present embodiment.

In some embodiments, the terminal device may determine whether the capability-reporting massage includes the first field based on a ninth indication.

In some embodiments, the terminal device may determine whether the capability-reporting massage includes the second field based on a tenth indication.

In some embodiments, the terminal device may determine whether the capability-reporting massage includes the third field based on an eleventh indication.

<FIG> is an implementation flowchart according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the present embodiment may include the following operations.

At block S610, the terminal reporting the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands in a new field UE-EUTRA-CapabilitySL, reporting the combination of NR PC5 frequency bands in a new field UE-NR-CapabilitySL, and reporting the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands in a new field UE-MRDC-CapabilitySL.

In addition, before the block S610, the network device may further send a ninth indication, a tenth indication, and/or an eleventh indication to the terminal device. The ninth indication is configured to indicate whether the terminal device reports the field UE-EUTRA-CapabilitySL. The tenth indication is configured to indicate whether the terminal device reports the field UE-NR-CapabilitySL. The eleventh indication is configured to indicate whether the terminal device reports the field UE-MRDC-CapabilitySL. In response to not reporting a certain field above, the terminal device may adopt other fields to report corresponding frequency-band combination information.

It should be noted that, the first field, the second field, and third field may be the same field, or may be different fields. In addition, indications from the first indication to the eleventh indication may adopt the same indication message, or may adopt different indication messages.

A sidelink capability receiving method is provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, and may be applied to the network device. <FIG> is an implementation flowchart of a sidelink capability receiving method <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure and includes the following operations.

At block <NUM>, receiving, by the network device, the capability-reporting message. The capability-reporting message may include the capability information of the terminal device. The capability information may include at least one of the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands, the combination of NR PC5 frequency bands, and the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands.

In some embodiments, the capability-reporting message may further include at least one of the capability of an LTE-Uu interface, the capability of an NR-Uu interface, and the capability of the DC of the LTE-Uu interface and the NR-Uu interface.

In some embodiments, the capability-reporting message may include at least one field of the UE-NR-capability field, the UE-EUTRA-capability field, the UE-MRDC-capability field, and the extension field.

A field in the capability-reporting message is configured to carry the capability information of the terminal device.

In some embodiments, in response to the capability information including the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands, the capability-reporting message may be configured to indicate the capability information in at least one way of the following.

The capability-reporting message may indicate the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands which is supported by the terminal device.

For each combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands, the capability-reporting message may indicate whether the terminal device supports a combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands which includes the each combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and each combination of NR PC5 frequency bands.

For each combination of NR PC5 frequency bands, the capability-reporting message may indicate whether the terminal device supports a combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands which includes the each combination of the NR PC5 frequency bands and each combination of the LTE PC5 frequency bands.

For each combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands, the capability-reporting message may indicate whether the terminal device supports the each combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands.

In some embodiments, the method may further include sending, by the network device, carrying manner indication information, the carrying manner indication information being configured to indicate a carrying manner for the capability information of the terminal device and including at least one of a first indication, a second indication, and a third indication.

The first indication is configured to indicate a carrying manner of the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands.

The second indication is configured to indicate a carrying manner of the combination of NR PC5 frequency bands.

The third indication is configured to indicate a carrying manner of the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and LTE PC5 frequency bands.

In some embodiments, the carrying manner indication information may include an indicator of RAT-RequestList in UE-capability.

In some embodiments, the carrying manner indication information may include a value related to rat-Type and/or a value related to mrdc-Request.

In some embodiments, the method may further include sending, by the network device, an indication for reporting the capability information of the terminal device.

A terminal device is provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a structural schematic view of a terminal device <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The terminal may include the following.

A generating module <NUM>, configured to generate a capability-reporting message. The capability-reporting message may include the capability information of the terminal device, and the capability information may include at least one of the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands, the combination of NR PC5 frequency band, and the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands.

A sending module <NUM>, configured to send the capability-reporting message.

In some embodiments, the capability information may further include at least one of the capability of the LTE-Uu interface, the capability of the NR-Uu interface, and the capability of the DC of the LTE-Uu interface and the NR-Uu interface.

The field in the capability-reporting message is configured to carry the capability information of the terminal device.

It should be understood that for concision, the above operations or other operations or functions of modules of the terminal device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure configured to implement a corresponding process of the terminal device in the method <NUM> in <FIG>, will not be repeated herein.

A network device is further provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a structural schematic view of a network device <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The network device may include the following.

A receiving module <NUM>, configured to receive a capability-reporting message, the capability-reporting message including capability information of the terminal device, and the capability information including at least one of a combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands; a combination of NR PC5 frequency bands; and a combination of LTE-PC5 frequency bands and NR-PC5 frequency bands.

In some embodiments, the capability information may further include at least one of a capability of an LTE-Uu interface, a capability of a NR-Uu interface, and a capability of a DC of the LTE-Uu interface and the NR-Uu interface.

In some embodiments, the capability-reporting message may include at least one field of a UE-NR-capability field, a UE-EUTRA-capability field, a UE-MRDC-capability field, and an extension field.

It should be understood that for concision, the above operations or other operations or functions of modules of the network device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure configured to implement a corresponding process of the network device in the method <NUM> in <FIG>, will not be repeated herein.

<FIG> is a structural schematic view of a communication device <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The communication device <NUM> as shown in <FIG> may include a processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be configured to call a computer program from a memory and run the computer program to implement the method in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the communication device <NUM> may further include the memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be configured to call and run the computer program from the memory <NUM> to implement the method in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the communication device <NUM> may further include a transceiver <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be configured to control the transceiver <NUM> to communicate with other devices. Specifically, the processor <NUM> may be configured to control the transceiver <NUM> to send information or data to other devices, or receive information or data sent by the other devices.

The transceiver <NUM> may further include antennas, and the number of the antennas may be one or more.

In some embodiments, the communication device <NUM> may be the terminal device <NUM> in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The terminal device <NUM> may implement a corresponding process implemented by the terminal device in each method of the embodiments of the present disclosure, which is not repeated herein for concision.

In some embodiments, the communication device <NUM> may be the network device <NUM> in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The network device <NUM> may implement the corresponding process implemented by the network device in each method in the embodiments of the present disclosure, which is not repeated herein for concision.

<FIG> is a structural schematic view of a chip <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The chip <NUM> shown in <FIG> includes a processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> can call a computer program from a memory and run the computer program to implement the method in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the chip <NUM> may further include the memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may call the computer program from the memory <NUM> and run the computer program to implement the method in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the chip <NUM> may further include an input interface <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may control the input interface <NUM> to communicate with other devices or chips. Specifically, the processor <NUM> may control the input interface <NUM> to acquire information or data sent by other devices or chips.

In some embodiments, the chip <NUM> may further include an output interface <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be configured to control the output interface <NUM> to communicate with the other devices or chips. Specifically, the processor <NUM> may be configured to control the output interface <NUM> to output information or data to the other devices or chips.

In some embodiments, the chip may be applied to the terminal device in the embodiments of the present disclosure, and implement the corresponding process implemented by the terminal device in each method of the embodiments of the present disclosure, which is not repeated herein for concision.

In some embodiments, the chip may be applied to the network device in the embodiments of the present disclosure, and implement the corresponding process implemented by the network device in each method of the embodiments of the present disclosure, which is not repeated herein for concision.

It should be understood that the chip described in the embodiments of the present disclosure may also be referred to as a system-on-chip, a system chip, a chip system, or system-on-chip chip, or the like.

The processor described above may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other programmable logic devices, a transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, etc. In some embodiments, the general-purpose processor described above may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, or the like.

The memory described above may be either a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically EPROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM).

It should be understood that above memories are exemplary but not limitative descriptions. For example, the memory in the embodiments of the present disclosure may also be a static RAM (SRAM), a dynamic RAM (DRAM), a synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), a double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), an enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), a synch link DRAM (SLDRAM), and a direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). That is, the memory in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be intended to include but not limited to these and any other suitable types of memories.

<FIG> is a structural schematic view of a communication system <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the communication system <NUM> may include a terminal device <NUM> and a network device <NUM>.

The terminal device <NUM> is configured to generate the capability-reporting message. The capability-reporting message may include the capability information of the terminal device. The capability information may include at least one of the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands, the combination of NR PC5 frequency bands, and the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR-PC5 frequency bands. The terminal device <NUM> is also configured to send the capability-reporting message. The network device <NUM> is configured to receive the capability-reporting message.

The terminal device <NUM> may be configured to implement corresponding functions implemented by the terminal device in the method <NUM> described above. A structure of the terminal device <NUM> may be as shown in the terminal device <NUM> in the above embodiments. The network device <NUM> may be configured to implement the corresponding functions implemented by the network device in the method <NUM> described above. A structure of the network device <NUM> may be as shown in the network device <NUM> in the above embodiment. For concision, details are not repeated herein.

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by a software, a hardware, a firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented by the software, it may be implemented in whole or in part in a form of a computer program product. The computer program product may include one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be generated. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, or be transmitted from the computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from a website site, a computer, a server, or a data center by wire (e.g., a coaxial cable, an optical fiber, a Digital User Line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) to another website site, another computer, another server, or another data center. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by the computer, or a data storage device such as a server, a data center, etc. including one or more available media integrated. The available media may be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., DVD), or semiconductor media (e.g., Solid State Disk (SSD)), and the like.

It should be understood that, in various embodiments of the present disclosure, a size of a sequence numbers of the above process does not mean an executing sequence. The executing sequence of each process should be determined based on its function and internal logic, and should be not understood as any limitation to an implementation process in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Those skilled in the art may clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of descriptions, a specific operating process of the above system, a specific operating process of the device, and a specific operating process of the unit may refer to a corresponding process in the above method embodiments, which will not be repeated herein.

Claim 1:
A sidelink capability sending method, characterized by comprising:
generating (S210), by a terminal device (<NUM>), a capability-reporting message, the capability-reporting message comprising capability information of the terminal device (<NUM>), and the capability information comprising a combination of Long Term Evolution, LTE, PC5 frequency bands and New Radio, NR, PC5 frequency bands; and
sending (S220), by the terminal device (<NUM>), the capability-reporting message;
wherein the capability-reporting message is configured to indicate the capability information in the following way:
the capability-reporting message indicating the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands which is supported by the terminal device (<NUM>);
wherein the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands indicates that the frequency bands of LTE PC5 interfaces and the frequency bands of NR PC5 interfaces are combined to operate together;
wherein the capability-reporting message comprises an identifier of each frequency band in the combination of LTE PC5 frequency bands and NR PC5 frequency bands.