Patent ID: 12238748

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

To make objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of embodiments of this application clearer, the following further describes the embodiments of this application in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

The following describes some terms in the embodiments of this application, to facilitate understanding of a person skilled in the art.

(1) A terminal device includes a device that provides a voice and/or data connectivity for a user. Specifically, the terminal device includes a device that provides a voice for the user, includes a device that provides data connectivity for the user, or includes a device that provides a voice and data connectivity for the user. For example, the terminal device may include a handheld device having a wireless connection function or a processing device connected to a wireless modem. The terminal may communicate with a core network through a radio access network (radio access network, RAN), and exchange a voice or data with the RAN, or exchange a voice and data with the RAN. The terminal may include user equipment (user equipment, UE), a wireless terminal, a mobile terminal, a device-to-device communication (device-to-device, D2D) terminal, a vehicle-to-everything (vehicle to everything, V2X) terminal, a machine-to-machine/machine type communication (machine-to-machine/machine-type communication, M2M/MTC) terminal, an internet of things (internet of things, IoT) terminal, a subscriber unit (subscriber unit), a subscriber station (subscriber station), a mobile station (mobile station), a remote station (remote station), an access point (access point, AP), a remote terminal (remote terminal), an access terminal (access terminal), a user terminal (user terminal), a user agent (user agent), a user device (user device), or the like. For example, the terminal may include a mobile phone (or referred to as a “cellular” phone), a computer with a mobile terminal device, or a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, or computer built-in mobile apparatus. For example, the terminal device may include a device such as a personal communication service (personal communication service, PCS) phone, a cordless telephone set, a session initiation protocol (session initiation protocol, SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (wireless local loop, WLL) station, or a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA). The terminal device may alternatively include a limited device, for example, a device with relatively low power consumption, a device with a limited storage capability, or a device with a limited computing capability. For example, the terminal device includes an information sensing device such as a barcode, radio frequency identification (radio frequency identification, RFID), a sensor, a global positioning system (global positioning system, GPS), or a laser scanner.

As an example instead of a limitation, in the embodiments of this application, the terminal may alternatively be a wearable device. The wearable device may also be referred to as a wearable intelligent device, an intelligent wearable device, or the like, and is a general term of wearable devices that are intelligently designed and developed for daily wear by using a wearable technology, for example, glasses, gloves, watches, bands, clothes, and shoes. The wearable device is a portable device that is directly worn on a body or integrated into clothes or an accessory of a user. The wearable device is not only a hardware device, but also implements a powerful function through software support, data exchange, and cloud interaction. In a broad sense, wearable intelligent devices include full-featured and large-sized devices that can implement all or a part of functions without depending on smartphones, for example, smart watches or smart glasses, and include devices that focus on only one type of application function and need to collaboratively work with other devices such as smartphones, for example, various smart bands, smart helmets, or smart jewelry for monitoring physical signs.

If the various terminals described above are located on a vehicle (for example, placed in the vehicle or installed in the vehicle), the terminals may be considered as vehicle-mounted terminals. For example, the vehicle-mounted terminal is also referred to as an on board unit (on-board unit, OBU).

In the embodiments of this application, the terminal may further include a relay (relay). Alternatively, it may be understood that any device that can perform data communication with a base station may be considered as a terminal.

In the embodiments of this application, an apparatus configured to implement a terminal function may be a terminal, or may be an apparatus, for example, a chip system, that can support the terminal in implementing the function. The apparatus may be installed in the terminal. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system may include a chip, or may include a chip and another discrete component. In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application, an example in which an apparatus for implementing a terminal function is a terminal is used to describe the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application.

(2) A network side device includes, for example, an access network (access network, AN) device such as a base station (for example, an access point), and may be a device that communicates with a wireless terminal over an air interface through one or more cells in an access network. Alternatively, for example, the network side device in a vehicle-to-everything (vehicle-to-everything, V2X) technology is a road side unit (road side unit, RSU). The base station may be configured to mutually convert a received over-the-air frame and an IP packet, and serve as a router between the terminal and a remaining part of the access network. The remaining part of the access network may include an IP network. The RSU may be a fixed infrastructure entity supporting a V2X application, and may exchange a message with another entity supporting the V2X application. The network side device may further coordinate attribute management of the air interface. For example, the network side device may include an evolved NodeB (NodeB, eNB, or e-NodeB, evolved NodeB) in a long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system or a long term evolution-advanced (long term evolution-advanced, LTE-A) system, may include a next generation NodeB (next generation NodeB, gNB) in a 5th generation (the 5th generation, 5G) mobile communication technology new radio (new radio, NR) system (also briefly referred to as an NR system), or may include a centralized unit (centralized unit, CU) and a distributed unit (distributed unit, DU) in a cloud radio access network (cloud radio access network, Cloud RAN) system. This is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

The network side device may further include a core network device, and the core network device includes, for example, an access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF).

In the embodiments of this application, an apparatus configured to implement a network side device function may be a network side device, or may be an apparatus, for example, a chip system, that can support the network side device in implementing the function. The apparatus may be installed in the network side device. In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application, an example in which an apparatus for implementing a network side device function is a network side device is used to describe the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application.

(3) In this embodiment of this application, a “user identity” (for example, a first user identity or a second user identity) is a logical concept. For example, the “user identity” may correspond to a SIM card, subscriber information, a virtual SIM card, or a user identity (such as an international mobile subscriber identity (international mobile subscriber identity, IMSI) or a temporary mobile subscriber identity (temporary mobile subscriber identity, TMSI)). From a perspective of a network side, different “user identities” logically correspond to different communication entities served by the network side. For example, for UE in a 4G system and a 5G system, a terminal supporting two user identities may be considered as two communication entities for the network side. For another example, when the “user identity” corresponds to a SIM card or subscriber information, the network side identifies two terminals supporting different SIM cards or different subscriber information as two different communication entities, and identifies one terminal device supporting a plurality of different SIM cards or a plurality of pieces of subscriber information as a plurality of different communication entities, even though physically the terminal supporting the plurality of different SIM cards or the plurality of pieces of subscriber information is just one physical entity. The embodiments of this application are mainly described by using an example in which the “user identity” corresponds to the SIM card.

For example, the SIM card may be understood as a key for a terminal to access a mobile network. For ease of description, the SIM card and evolution thereof are collectively referred to as a SIM card in the embodiments of this application. For example, the SIM card may be an identity card of a global system for mobile communication (global system for mobile communication, GSM) digital mobile phone user, and is configured to store an identity code and a key of the user, and support authentication performed by a GSM system on the user. For another example, the SIM card may also be a universal subscriber identity module (universal subscriber identity module, USIM), and may also be referred to as an upgraded SIM card.

An embodiment of this application provides a communication method. The method may be applied to a terminal supporting DR-DSDS. The terminal can support at least two user identities, for example, two SIM cards (a first SIM card and a second SIM card) may be installed. One radio frequency Tx channel and two radio frequency Rx channels are configured in the terminal. The first SIM card and the second SIM card in the terminal may occupy one of the two radio frequency Rx channels separately, and use one radio frequency Tx channel in the terminal at different time.FIG.1is a schematic diagram of a structure of the terminal supporting DR-DSDS according to the embodiment of this application. As shown inFIG.1, the terminal100may include a first SIM card interface110, a second SIM card interface120, a managing device140coupled to the first SIM card interface110and the second SIM card interface120, a processor130coupled to the managing device140, and a transceiver150connected to the processor130. The processor130may be a baseband processor (baseband processor, BBP). As shown inFIG.1, the transceiver150includes a radio frequency Rx1channel, a radio frequency Rx2channel, and a radio frequency Tx channel. The first SIM card interface110is configured to: install a SIM card1, and communicate with the SIM card1. The second SIM card interface120is configured to: install a SIM card2, and communicate with the SIM card2. The managing device140may send, to the processor130, an uplink data packet related to a service of the SIM card1, and send an uplink data packet related to a service of the SIM card2. The processor130may send each uplink data packet of the SIM card1and each uplink data packet of the SIM card2to a network side device on the radio frequency Tx channel.

It should be noted that, the radio frequency Tx channel in this embodiment of this application may be referred to as a Tx radio frequency resource or a transmitter (transmitter), and the radio frequency Rx channel may be referred to as an Rx radio frequency resource or a receiver (receiver). In this embodiment of this application, the radio frequency Tx channel and the radio frequency Rx1channel may also be referred to as a primary RF channel, and the radio frequency Rx2channel may also be referred to as a secondary RF channel. To be specific, uplink and downlink RF components (for example, the RF Tx channel and the RF Rx1channel) in the primary RF channel are multiplexed. Downlink RF components (such as the RF Rx2channel) are the only secondary RF channel. Specifically, the communication method provided in this embodiment of this application may be applied to a scenario in which the terminal supporting DR-DSDS needs to use the radio frequency Tx channel to send uplink data of the first SIM card or the SIM card1and uplink data of the second SIM card or the SIM card2simultaneously.

For example, each of the two SIM cards of the terminal supporting DR-DSDS provided in this embodiment of this application may be a SIM card supporting any one of standards such as a global system for mobile communication (global system for mobile communication, GSM) standard, a universal mobile telecommunication system (universal mobile telecommunication system, UMTS) standard, a time division-synchronous code division multiple access (time division-synchronous code division multiple access, TD-SCDMA) standard, a long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) standard, and a code division multiple access (code division multiple access, CDMA) standard. For example, the SIM card1and the SIM card2in the terminal100shown inFIG.1each may be a SIM card supporting the LTE standard. Alternatively, the SIM card1in the terminal100shown inFIG.1may be a SIM card supporting the LTE standard, and the SIM card2of the terminal100may be a SIM card supporting the GSM standard. Alternatively, the SIM card1and the SIM card2in the terminal100shown inFIG.1each may be a SIM card supporting the GSM standard and the like.

It should be understood that the SIM card1in the terminal100may be a primary card of the terminal100, and the SIM card2may be a secondary card of the terminal100, or the SIM card2in the terminal100may be a primary card of the terminal100, and the SIM card1may be a secondary card of the terminal100. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

FIG.2is a schematic diagram of an application scenario example of a communication method according to an embodiment of this application. A terminal100of a user shown inFIG.2may be the foregoing terminal supporting DR-DSDS. Two SIM cards, namely, a SIM card1and a SIM card2, may be installed in the terminal100. If, within a period of time, the terminal100needs to send uplink data1to a network side device1corresponding to the SIM card1, and needs to send uplink data2to a network side device2corresponding to the SIM card2, because only one radio frequency Tx channel is disposed in the terminal100, a resource conflict occurs when uplink data is sent to the network side device1and the network side device2simultaneously. Therefore, in the communication method provided in this embodiment of this application, the terminal100may determine, according to a priority policy, whether to preferentially send the uplink data1of the SIM card1to the network side device1, or preferentially send the uplink data2of the SIM card2to the network side device2. For example, the terminal100may preferentially send the uplink data of the SIM card1to the network side device1through the radio frequency Tx channel, and cancel or delay sending the uplink data of the SIM card2to the network side device2, to avoid a conflict in the radio frequency Tx channel.

FIG.3is a schematic diagram of structural composition of a terminal that supports DR-DSDS and that is in an LTE network according to an embodiment of this application. As shown inFIG.3, the terminal300may include a first SIM card interface310, a second SIM card interface320, a managing device340coupled to the first SIM card interface310and the second SIM card interface320, a BBP330(namely, a processor) coupled to the managing device340, and a transceiver350connected to the BBP330. As shown inFIG.3, the transceiver350includes a radio frequency Rx1channel, a radio frequency Rx2channel, and a radio frequency Tx channel. The first SIM card interface310is configured to: install a SIM card1, and communicate with the SIM card1. The second SIM card interface320is configured to: install a SIM card2, and communicate with the SIM card2. The BBP330includes a common time unit (common time unit, CTU). The CTU includes an arbiter configured to determine a transmit priority of uplink data packets. For example, in an LTE network, the terminal300may send an uplink data packet to the network side device according to a hybrid automatic repeat request (hybrid automatic repeat request, HARQ) protocol. In this way, even if an uplink data packet of a SLM card (for example, the SIM card2) sent by the managing device340to the BBP330is not transmitted in real time, the uplink data packet can be retransmitted according to the HARQ protocol. As shown inFIG.3, the managing device340may send an uplink data packet (prio) in a radio link layer control protocol (radio link control, RLC) queue of the SIM card1and the SIM card2to the BBP330according to the HARQ protocol. The BBP330may receive various data packets sent by the managing device340, for example, an uplink voice packet sent by the SIM card1and an uplink signaling packet sent by the SIM card2. The BBP330occupies the radio frequency Tx channel to send uplink data packets to the network device based on a transmit priority of each uplink data packet on the radio frequency Tx channel.

For example, the terminal supporting DR-DSDS in this embodiment of this application may install at least two SIM cards, and may communicate with another communication terminal by using any one of the at least two SIM cards. For example, the terminal may be a dual SIM dual standby mobile phone, a smart band in which two SIM cards can be installed, a smartwatch, or a tablet computer. A specific form of the terminal is not particularly limited in this embodiment of this application. A mobile phone is used as an example in the following embodiments to describe how the terminal supporting DR-DSDS implements specific technical solutions in the embodiments.

As shown inFIG.4, the terminal in this embodiment may be a mobile phone400. The following specifically describes the embodiments by using the mobile phone400as an example. It should be understood that the mobile phone400shown in the figure is merely an example of the terminal supporting DR-DSDS. In addition, the mobile phone400may include more or fewer components than those shown in the figure, include a combination of two or more components, or have different component configurations. Various components shown inFIG.4may be implemented in hardware, software, or in a combination of hardware and software that includes one or more signal processing and/or application-specific integrated circuits. As shown inFIG.4, the mobile phone400includes a processor410, a system-on-a-chip device420, a display controller430, a codec (CODEC)440, a managing device450, a memory460, an input device470, a modem480, a transceiver490, a power supply491, and the like. A person skilled in the art may understand that the structure of the mobile phone shown inFIG.4does not constitute a limitation on the mobile phone. The mobile phone may include more or fewer components than those shown in the figure, include a combination of some components, or have different component arrangements.

As shown inFIG.4, the mobile phone400may further include a first SIM card interface451and a second SIM card interface452. The first SIM card interface451is configured to communicate with a SIM card1, and the second SIM card interface452is configured to communicate with a SIM card2. For example, the first SIM card interface451and the second SIM card interface452may be SIM card connectors, including a main body having a SIM card housing space, and a plurality of communication slots configured to connect conductive terminals of a received SIM card. Signaling communication with the SIM card can be made through the conductive terminals and the slots. Examples of the interfaces may include serial or parallel (for example, 6-pin or 8-pin) connections. In addition, a plurality of SIM card sizes (for example, a full-sized SIM, a mini SIM, or a micro-SIM) may be provided. In another embodiment, when a plurality of types of subscriptions are associated with a universal identity module (for example, a universal SIM), the mobile phone400may not include a plurality of SIM card interfaces. The managing device450is configured to manage the SIM card1and the SIM card2. As shown inFIG.4, the mobile phone400may further include a speaker441and a microphone442that are coupled to the codec (CODEC)440.FIG.4also indicates that the CODEC440may be coupled to the processor410and to the modem480that communicates with the transceiver490. The transceiver490is connected to one or more antennas.FIG.4shows an example of only one antenna. In a specific embodiment, the transceiver490is connected to a plurality of antennas, and the modem480supports diversity, where one of the plurality of antennas is a primary antenna and the other antennas are secondary antennas. The transceiver490may be an RF circuit. The RF circuit may be configured to send and receive information. For example, after receiving downlink information of a base station, the RF circuit can send the received downlink information to the processor410for processing. The RF circuit can also send uplink data to the base station. Generally, the RF circuit includes but is not limited to devices such as an antenna, at least one amplifier, a transceiver, a coupler, a low noise amplifier, and a duplexer. In addition, the RF circuit may further communicate with a network and another mobile device through wireless communication. The wireless communication may use any communication standard or protocol, including but not limited to a global system for mobile communication, a general packet radio service, code division multiple access, wideband code division multiple access, long term evolution, an e-mail message, a short message service, and the like. In this embodiment of this application, the transceiver490shown inFIG.4may include two radio frequency Rx channels and one radio frequency Tx channel (the radio frequency Tx channel, the radio frequency Rx1channel, and the radio frequency Rx2channel shown inFIG.4). The memory460may be configured to store a software program and data. The processor410runs the software program and the data stored in the memory460to perform various functions and data processing of the mobile phone400. For example, as shown inFIG.4, the memory460stores an instruction461and transmit priority information462. The instruction461may be executed by the processor410. For example, the instruction461may include an instruction that can be executed by the processor410to receive communication data associated with the SIM card1at a primary signal input side of the modem480. The “communication data associated with the SIM card1” may be routed to the primary signal input side (not shown inFIG.4) of the modem480through a primary RF path, namely, Rx1in the transceiver490. The instruction461includes an instruction that can be executed by the processor410to receive communication data associated with the SIM card2at a secondary signal input side of the modem480. The “communication data associated with the SIM card2” may be routed to the secondary signal input side (not shown inFIG.4) of the modem480through a secondary RF path, namely, Rx2in the transceiver490. The memory460may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store an operating system, an application program required by at least one function (such as a sound playing function or an image playing function), and the like. The data storage area may store data (such as audio data and a phone book) created based on use of the mobile phone400. In addition, the memory460may include a high-speed random access memory, and may further include a nonvolatile memory, for example, at least one magnetic disk storage device, a flash memory device, or another volatile solid-state memory device. In the following embodiment, the memory460stores an operating system that supports running of the mobile phone400, for example, an iOS® operating system developed by Apple, an Android® open-source operating system developed by Google LLC, or a Windows® operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation. The input device470(for example, a touchscreen) may be configured to receive entered numerical or character information, and generate signal inputs related to user settings and function control of the mobile phone400. Specifically, the input device470may include a touch panel disposed on the front side of the mobile phone400. The touch panel may collect a touch operation of a user on or near the touch panel (such as an operation performed by the user on or near the touch panel by using any proper object or accessory such as a finger or a stylus), and drive a corresponding connection apparatus based on a preset program. Optionally, the touch panel may include two parts: a touch detection apparatus and a touch controller. The touch detection apparatus detects a touch location of the user, detects a signal brought by a touch operation, and sends the signal to the touch controller. The touch controller receives touch information from the touch detection apparatus, converts the touch information into touch point coordinates, sends the touch point coordinates to the processor410, and can receive and execute an instruction sent by the processor410. In addition, the touch panel may be implemented in a plurality of types, such as a resistive type, a capacitive type, infrared, and a surface acoustic wave. A display431(namely, a display screen) may be configured to display information entered by the user or information provided for the user, and graphical user interfaces (graphical user interface, GUI) of various menus of the mobile phone400. The display431may include a display panel disposed on the front side of the mobile phone400. The display panel may be in a form of a liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode, and the like. After detecting a touch operation performed on or near the touch panel, the touch panel transfers the touch operation to the processor410to determine a touch event, and then the processor410provides corresponding visual output on the display panel based on a type of the touch event. InFIG.4, the touch panel and the display panel are used as two independent components to implement input and output functions of the mobile phone400. However, in some embodiments, the touch panel and the display panel may be integrated to implement the input and output functions of the mobile phone400. The touch panel and display panel that are integrated may be briefly referred to as a touch display screen. In some other embodiments, the touch panel may be further provided with a pressure sensing sensor. In this way, when the user performs a touch operation on the touch panel, the touch panel can further detect pressure of the touch operation, and then the mobile phone400can more accurately detect the touch operation. The mobile phone400may further include at least one type of sensor443, such as a light sensor, a motion sensor, and another sensor. Specifically, the optical sensor may include an ambient light sensor and an optical proximity sensor. The ambient light sensor may adjust luminance of the display panel based on intensity of ambient light. The optical proximity sensor is disposed on the front side of the mobile phone400. When the mobile phone400is moved to an ear, the mobile phone400switches off the display panel based on detection of the optical proximity sensor. This can further reduce power consumption of the mobile phone400. As one type of motion sensor, an accelerometer sensor may detect values of accelerations in all directions (generally on three axes), may detect a value and a direction of gravity when the mobile phone400is stationary, and may be applied to recognizing a mobile phone posture (for example, screen orientation switching, a related game, or magnetometer posture calibration), a function related to vibration recognition (such as a pedometer or a knock), and the like. Other sensors such as a gyroscope, a barometer, a hygrometer, a thermometer, and an infrared sensor that may be further included in the mobile phone400are not described herein. The CODEC440, the speaker441, and the microphone442may provide an audio interface between the user and the mobile phone400. The CODEC440may convert received audio data into an electrical signal and then transmit the electrical signal to the speaker441, and the speaker441converts the electrical signal into an audio signal for outputting. In addition, the microphone442converts a collected audio signal into an electrical signal. The CODEC440receives the electrical signal and converts the electrical signal into audio data, and then outputs the audio data to the RF circuit, to send the audio data to another mobile phone, or outputs the audio data to the memory460for further processing. The processor410is a control center of the mobile phone400, and connected to various parts of the entire mobile terminal through various interfaces and lines, and performs various functions and data processing of the mobile phone400by running or executing the software program stored in the memory460and invoking the data stored in the memory460, to perform overall monitoring on the mobile phone. In some embodiments, the processor410may include one or more processing units. The processor410may be further integrated with an application processor and a modem processor. The application processor mainly processes an operating system, a user interface, an application, and the like. The modem processor mainly processes wireless communication. It can be understood that the modem processor may not be integrated into the processor410. The mobile phone400may further include a Bluetooth module and a Wi-Fi module. The Bluetooth module is configured to exchange information with another device by using a short-distance communication protocol such as Bluetooth. For example, the mobile phone400may establish, by using the Bluetooth module, a Bluetooth connection with a wearable electronic device (for example, a smartwatch) that also has a Bluetooth module, to exchange data. Wi-Fi belongs to a short-range wireless transmission technology. The mobile phone400may help, by using the Wi-Fi module, the user receive and send an email, browse a web page, access streaming media, and the like. The Wi-Fi module provides wireless broadband internet access for the user. The mobile phone400further includes the power supply491(such as a battery) that supplies power to each component. The power supply may be logically connected to the processor410through a power management system, to implement functions such as charging, discharging, and power consumption management through the power management system. It may be understood that, in the following embodiments, the power supply491may be configured to supply power to the display panel and the touch panel. All methods in the following embodiments may be implemented in the mobile phone400having the foregoing hardware structure.

The mobile phone400is used as an example to describe an application scenario to which the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application is applicable.

When the mobile phone400is used, there may be a case in which at a moment or within a determined time period, uplink data1needs to be sent to a network side device1by using the SIM card1, and uplink data2needs to be sent to a network side device2by using the SIM card2simultaneously. A scenario in which the SIM card1in the mobile phone400performs voice communication and the SIM card2is in a standby state is used as an example. When the SIM card1is in a call state, the mobile phone400transmits the uplink data1of the SIM card1on the radio frequency Tx channel, and at the same time, the mobile phone400receives a voice paging (paging) request for the SIM card2, and responds to the voice paging request. In this scenario, the mobile phone400needs to transmit the uplink data2of the SIM card2on the radio frequency Tx channel, which causes a resource conflict.

For example, the uplink data1of the SIM card1transmitted on the radio frequency Tx channel in the mobile phone400may include a signaling packet, a voice packet, a scheduling request (scheduling request, SR) packet, an acknowledgment (acknowledgment, ACK) packet, a negative acknowledgment (negative acknowledgment, NACK) packet, an empty packet, a channel quality indicator (channel quality indicator, CQI) packet, channel state information (channel state information, CSI), a sounding reference signal (sounding reference signal, SRS) packet, a service data packet, and the like of the SIM card1. Other examples are not enumerated one by one in this embodiment of this application. For example, the signaling packet of the SIM card1may be a data packet that is to be sent by the SIM card1to the network side device1in voice communication and that is used to support carrying of protocol signaling in the voice communication. The voice packet of the SIM card1is a data packet that carries voice data and that is sent by the terminal to the network side device1when the SIM card1is in the call state. The ACK packet of the SIM card1is a data packet that carries an acknowledgment message and that the terminal returns to the network side device1after receiving signaling sent by the network side device1. For example, the ACK packet of the SIM card1is a HARQ-ACK packet. The NACK packet of the SIM card1is a data packet that carries a negative acknowledgment message and that the terminal returns to the network side device1after receiving signaling sent by the network side device1. For example, the NACK packet of the SIM card1is a HARQ-NACK packet. The service data packet of the SIM card1is an Internet access data service packet of the SIM card1. For example, the service data packet of the SIM card1may be a video streaming media data packet downloaded by using data traffic of the SIM card1when the user uses the terminal to watch a video.

When the SIM card1in the mobile phone400is in the call state, and the mobile phone400receives the voice paging (paging) request for the SIM card2, and responds to the voice paging request, the uplink data2transmitted on the radio frequency Tx channel in the mobile phone400may include: a signaling packet, an ACK packet, a NACK packet, an empty packet, a pure CQI packet, an SCI packet, an SRS packet, and the like of the SIM card2. For example, the signaling packet of the SIM card2may include a data packet that carries protocol signaling and that is sent by the terminal to the network side device2in response to the paging request for the SIM card2. Alternatively, if the SIM card2establishes an RRC connection with the network side device2, RRC signaling or the signaling packet of the SIM card2sent to the network side device2may be SIP signaling sent to the network side device2after the SIM card2establishes the RRC connection with the network side device2. The ACK packet of the SIM card2is, for example, a HARQ-ACK packet, and the NACK packet of the SIM card2is, for example, a HARQ-NACK packet. The paging request for the SIM card2may be a paging request for voice, or may be a paging request for another service. For example, the paging request for the SIM card2may be a paging request for a service.

The foregoing description is provided by using a scenario in which the SIM card1in the mobile phone400performs voice communication and the SIM card2is in the standby state as an example. In another scenario, there may also be the case in which the uplink data1of the SIM card1and the uplink data2of the SIM card2need to be sent on the radio frequency Tx channel simultaneously. Other examples are not described herein again. It should be noted that the communication method provided in this embodiment of this application is applicable to any scenario in which uplink data of the SIM card1and the SIM card2cannot be simultaneously transmitted because there is only one single radio frequency Tx channel in the terminal supporting DR-DSDS.

For example, an application scenario shown inFIG.2is used as an example in the following embodiments to describe in detail the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application. The method may be performed by a terminal that supports DR-DSDS.FIG.5is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of this application.

S501a: A terminal100communicates with a network side device1by using a SIM card1.

S501b: The terminal100communicates with a network side device2by using a SIM card2.

The terminal100may communicate with the network side device1by using the SIM card1. The network side device1is a network side device corresponding to the SIM card1. The terminal100may communicate with the network side device2by using the SIM card2. The network side device2is a network side device corresponding to the SIM card2. It should be noted that the SIM card1and the SIM card2may belong to a same network carrier, or may belong to different network carriers. The network carriers include carriers such as China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom.

Because the terminal100is configured with only one single radio frequency Tx channel, the terminal100may perform data transmission with the network side device1(for example, a gNB1) and the network side device2(for example, a gNB2) through the single Tx channel in a time division multiplexing manner.

S502: The terminal100determines that a first transmission resource conflicts with a second transmission resource, where the first transmission resource is a resource used by the terminal100to send first information to the network side device1, and the second transmission resource is a resource used by the terminal100to send second information to the network side device2.

It may be understood that the first transmission resource of the first information and the second transmission resource of the second information may be preconfigured, or may be configured by the network side devices. In an example, the first transmission resource corresponding to the first information may be preconfigured in the first SIM card, and the second transmission resource corresponding to the second information may be preconfigured in the second SIM card. Therefore, after being installed with the first SIM card and the second SIM card, the terminal100may read configuration information of the first transmission resource in the first SIM card and configuration information of the second transmission resource in the second SIM card. For another example, the network side device1corresponding to the first SIM card may send first configuration information to the terminal100, where the first configuration information indicates the first transmission resource corresponding to the first information. The network side device2corresponding to the second SIM card may send second configuration information to the terminal100, where the second configuration information indicates the second transmission resource corresponding to the second information. The terminal100may determine the first transmission resource by parsing the received first configuration information, and determine the second transmission resource by parsing the received second configuration information.

It should be noted that, in a process of communicating with the network side device1and the network side device2, the terminal100may separately trigger sending of uplink data to the network side device1and the network side device2. For example, at a moment or within a determined time period, the terminal100needs to send uplink data1to the network side device1, and send uplink data2to the network side device2. However, because the only one radio frequency transmission Tx channel is configured in the terminal100, uplink data can be sent to only one network side device on one moment. Therefore, when determining that the first transmission resource conflicts with the second transmission resource, the terminal100may adopt a conflict resolution measure. A specific conflict resolution measure is described in the following.

It may be understood that a conflict between the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource may include: a conflict between the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource in time domain, and/or a conflict between the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource in frequency domain. The conflict in time domain may include overlapping of at least one subframe (Subframe)/slot (Slot)/symbol (symbol) of the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource. The conflict in frequency domain may include overlapping of at least one subcarrier/channel of the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource.

S503: The terminal100compares a priority of the first information with a priority of the second information.

Specifically, the terminal100may determine the priorities of the first information and the second information according to at least one of the following policies.

Policy 1

The terminal100may determine the priorities of the first information and the second information based on a first sending periodicity of the first information and a second sending periodicity of the second information. For example, if the terminal100determines that the first sending periodicity of the first information is greater than the second sending periodicity of the second information, it indicates that a frequency of sending the second information to a second network side device is higher, and a frequency of sending the first information to a first network side device is lower. Therefore, the priority of the first information is higher than the priority of the second information. In other words, the terminal100may preferentially send the first information, and cancel or delay sending the second information. For example, the terminal100may send the second information to the second network side device in a next sending periodicity of the second information. For another example, if the terminal100determines that the first sending periodicity of the first information is smaller than the second sending periodicity of the second information, it indicates that a frequency of sending the first information to a first network side device is higher, and a frequency of sending the second information to a second network side device is lower. Therefore, the priority of the second information is higher than the priority of the first information. In other words, the terminal100may preferentially send the second information, and cancel or delay sending the first information. For example, the terminal100may send the first information to the first network side device in a next sending periodicity of the first information.

The first sending periodicity of the first information may be preconfigured, or may be indicated by the first network side device. The second sending period of the second information may be preconfigured, or indicated by the second network side device. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

Policy 2

If the terminal100determines that the first information is aperiodically triggered and the second information is periodically triggered, the priority of the first information is higher than the priority of the second information. If the terminal100determines that the second information is aperiodically triggered and the first information is periodically triggered, the priority of the second information is higher than the priority of the first information.

For example, if the first information is aperiodically triggered, the terminal100does not determine a next sending occasion of the first information. Therefore, if the first information is not sent this time, the next sending occasion of the first information cannot be predicted. If the second information is periodically triggered, the terminal100may determine a next sending occasion of the second information. In this case, the terminal100may preferentially send the first information, and delay or cancel sending the second information. For example, the terminal100may send the second information to the second network side device in a next sending periodicity of the second information.

Policy 3: The terminal100determines the priorities of the second information and the first information based on a next sending occasion/moment of the first information and a next sending occasion/moment of the second information. If the next sending occasion/moment of the first information is later than the next sending occasion/moment of the second information, the priority of the first information is higher than the priority of the second information. If the next sending occasion/moment of the second information is later than the next sending occasion/moment of the first information, the priority of the second information is higher than the priority of the first information.

Optionally, the next sending occasion/moment of the first information may be preconfigured or indicated by the network side device1, and the next sending occasion/moment of the second information may be preconfigured or indicated by the network side device2. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application. Certainly, if the first information is periodically triggered, when a sending periodicity of the first information is determined, the next sending occasion/moment of the first information may be determined based on the sending periodicity. If the second information is also periodically triggered, the next sending occasion/moment of the second information may also be determined based on the sending periodicity of the second information.

Policy 4: The terminal100may determine the priorities of the first information and the second information based on a first type of the first information and a second type of the second information.

In a possible case, a type of the first information and a type of the second information are the same. In this case, the terminal100may determine the priorities of the first information and the second information according to any one or more of the policy 1, the policy 2, or the policy 3. That a type of the first information and a type of the second information are the same may include: Both the first information and the second information are control information, or both the first information and the second information are data information. For another example, when both the first information and the second information are control information, both the two may be SR information, CSI information, HARQ feedback information, CSI feedback information, or the like. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

Optionally, if both the first information and the second information are control information, the first transmission resource for transmitting the first information may be an uplink control channel PUCCH or an uplink shared channel PUSCH, and the second transmission resource for transmitting the second information may be an uplink control channel PUCCH or an uplink shared channel PUSCH.

In another possible case, the type of the first information and the type of the second information are different. In this case, the terminal100may also determine the priorities of the first information and the second information according to any one or more of the policy 1, the policy 2, or the policy 3 mentioned above. That the type of the first information and the type of the second information are different may include: the first information is data information, and the second information is control information, or the first information is control information, and the second information is data information; or the first information and the second information are different types of control information, for example, the first information is first control information, the second information is second control information, and the first control information and the second control information are different. For example, the first control information includes at least one of the following information: an SR, CSI, CSI feedback, or HARQ feedback, and the second control information includes at least one of the following information: an SR, CSI, HARQ feedback, CSI feedback, or HARQ feedback.

For example, the first information and the second information are different types of control information. In addition to the foregoing policy 1 to policy 3, another policy may be used. For example, a priority relationship between different types of control information may be agreed in advance. For example, a HARQ feedback priority>an SR sending priority>a CSI feedback priority. Alternatively, a HARQ-ACK feedback priority>a HARQ-NACK feedback priority>an SR sending priority>a CSI feedback priority. Therefore, when the first control information is SR feedback information, and the second control information is CSI feedback information, the terminal100preferentially sends the first control information to the first network side device, and cancels or delays sending the second control information to the second network side device.

For another example, when the first control information is HARQ-ACK feedback information, and the second control information is HARQ-NACK feedback information, the terminal100may preferentially send the HARQ-ACK feedback information to the first network side device, and cancel or delay sending the HARQ-NACK feedback information to the second network side device. In this case, because the HARQ-ACK feedback information is preferentially fed back to the first network side device, the first network side device does not need to schedule unnecessary retransmission resources for the terminal100.

For example, the first information is control information, and the second information is data information. In addition to the policy 1 to the policy 3, another policy, for example, at least one of the following policies, may be used.

Policy 5: A priority of the control information is higher than a priority of the data information by default. Therefore, when the first information is the control information, and the second information is the data information, the terminal100preferentially sends the first information to the first network side device, and cancels or delays sending the second information to the second network side device. In the policy, a priority relationship between the control information and the data information may be preconfigured.

Policy 6: The terminal100determines, based on configuration of a network side device (the network side device1or the network side device2), whether to preferentially send the first information or the second information when there is a conflict.

For example, the network side device1or the network side device2may send indication information to the terminal100in advance, where the indication information is used to indicate the terminal100to preferentially send control information when a transmission resource of data information conflicts with a transmission resource of the control information, or to preferentially send data information when a transmission resource of the data information conflicts with a transmission resource of control information. For example, “the network side device1or the network side device2sends indication information to the terminal100in advance” may be that the network side device1or the network side device2sends the indication information to the terminal100during or after establishing a connection with the terminal100. For example, the network side device1or the network side device2may send the indication information to the terminal100before S501aand/or S501bin the embodiment shown inFIG.5are or is performed.

Policy 7: The terminal100may determine the priorities of the second information and the first information based on a service feature of the second information. For example, if the service feature of the second information, namely, the data information, is a low-latency service, the terminal100may preferentially send the second information, and cancel or delay sending the first information.

Optionally, the terminal100may determine a priority relationship of the first information and the second information based on the service feature of the second information; or the terminal100may send the service feature of the second information to the network side device1, and the network side device1determines the priority relationship between the first information and the second information. For example, the terminal100reports the service feature of the second information to the network side device1. If the network side device1determines that the service feature of the second information is a low-latency service, the network side device1sends indication information to the terminal100, where the indication information indicates that the priority of the second information is higher than the priority of the first information. It may be understood that the service feature of the second information may be carried in conflict indication information, in cancellation indication information, or in other indication information independent of the conflict indication information and the cancellation indication information. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

For example, both the first information and the second information are data information. In addition to the foregoing policy 1 to policy 3, another policy may be used. For example, the terminal100may determine the priorities of the first information and the second information based on service features of the first information and the second information. For example, if the first information is voice over LTE (voice over LTE, VoLTE) data corresponding to the first SIM card, and the second information is non-voice communication service data corresponding to the second SIM card, the terminal100determines that the priority of the first information is higher than the priority of the second information.

The foregoing embodiments describe several possible implementations in which the terminal100determines the priorities of the first information and the second information. During actual application, another manner may be used to determine the priorities of the first information and the second information. Examples are not enumerated one by one in this embodiment of this application.

S504: When the priority of the first information is higher than the priority of the second information, the terminal100sends the first information on the first transmission resource.

For example, if the terminal100determines that the priority of the first information is higher than the priority of the second information, the terminal100sends the first information on the first transmission resource.

S505: The terminal100sends first indication information and/or second indication information to the second network side device. The first indication information may be conflict indication information. The second indication information may be cancellation indication information. The conflict indication information indicates that the first transmission resource conflicts with the second transmission resource. The cancellation indication information indicates that sending the second information on the second transmission resource is canceled.

The following embodiment describes the conflict indication information and the cancellation indication information.

Optionally, the conflict indication information may indicate that the first transmission resource conflicts with the second transmission resource. The cancellation indication information may indicate that the terminal cancels sending the second information on the second transmission resource.

Optionally, the conflict indication information or the cancellation indication information may further indicate a reason for a conflict. For example, a data transmission conflict occurs because the terminal is configured with only one single Tx channel. Certainly, the reason for the conflict may alternatively be carried in other indication information independent of the conflict indication information and the cancellation indication information. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

Optionally, the conflict indication information or the cancellation indication information may further indicate a conflicted resource, for example, an overlapped resource of the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource. The overlapped resource is, for example, overlapped time information and/or frequency domain information. The overlapped time information may include a quantity of slots or numbers of slots that overlap, a quantity of symbols or numbers of symbols that overlap, or the like. Certainly, the conflicted resource may alternatively be carried in other indication information independent of the conflict indication information and the cancellation indication information. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

Optionally, the conflict indication information or the cancellation indication information may further indicate a configuration type of the second information, for example, periodic configuration or aperiodic configuration. After receiving the conflict indication information or the cancellation indication information, the second network side device may determine, based on the configuration type of the second information, whether to reconfigure a new transmission resource for the second information. For example, if the second information is periodically sent, the second network side device does not need to reconfigure the new transmission resource for the second information. This is because the second information may still occur in a next periodicity. If the second information is aperiodically sent, the second network side device may reconfigure the new transmission resource for the second information. Because if the second information is aperiodically triggered, the next sending occasion of the second information cannot be determined. Therefore, the new transmission resource may be reconfigured for the second information. Certainly, the configuration type of the second information may alternatively be carried in other indication information independent of the conflict indication information and the cancellation indication information. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

S506. Determine a third transmission resource. The third transmission resource may be a resource before or after the second transmission resource.

That the third transmission resource is a resource before or after the second transmission resource may mean that the first transmission resource is located before or after the second transmission resource in time domain.

Optionally, the terminal100may determine the third transmission resource in a plurality of manners.

Manner 1: The terminal100determines the third transmission resource based on the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource. In other words, when the first transmission resource conflicts with the second transmission resource, the terminal100itself may configure the third transmission resource. For example, when the priority of the first information is higher than the priority of the second information, the terminal100sends the first information on the first transmission resource, and sends the second information on the third transmission resource. The third transmission resource is the resource before or after the second transmission resource. For another example, when the priority of the first information is lower than the priority of the second information, the terminal100sends the second information on the second transmission resource, and sends the first information on the third transmission resource. The third transmission resource is the resource before or after the first transmission resource.

The terminal100may determine the third transmission resource based on the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource in a plurality of manners. For example, if the terminal100determines that the priority of the first information is higher than the priority of the second information, the terminal100determines the third transmission resource provided that the third transmission resource does not conflict with the first transmission resource. For another example, when the second transmission resource is periodically sent, the third transmission resource may be a resource of a previous periodicity of the second transmission resource, or the third transmission resource may be a resource of a next periodicity of the second transmission resource.

Optionally, after determining the third transmission resource by itself, the terminal100may send configuration information of the third transmission resource to the network side device2. For example, the terminal100may send the configuration information of the third transmission resource to the network side device2before507is performed, to indicate the network side device2to receive the second information on the third transmission resource. For example, after receiving the configuration information of the third transmission resource sent by the terminal100, the network side device2may feed back response information to the terminal100. For example, the network side device2may feed back the response information to the terminal100before507. The response information may indicate that the network side device2agrees or does not agree that the terminal100uses the third transmission resource to transmit the second information. If the network side device2agrees, the terminal100transmits the second information on the third transmission resource. If the network side device2does not agree, the network side device2may re-determine a fourth transmission resource, and then deliver configuration information of the fourth transmission resource to the terminal100, so that the terminal100transmits the second information on the fourth transmission resource.

Optionally, the configuration information of the third transmission resource may be carried in the conflict indication information, in the cancellation indication information, or in other indication information independent of the conflict indication information and the cancellation indication information. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

Manner 2. The network side device2configures the third transmission resource for transmitting the second information for the terminal100. For example, if the priority of the first information is higher than the priority of the second information, the terminal100may send configuration information of the first transmission resource or configuration information of the overlapped resource of the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource to the network side device2. In this case, the network side device2may configure the third transmission resource, and send configuration information of the third transmission resource to the terminal100, so that the terminal100sends the second information on the third transmission resource.

Optionally, the configuration information of the first transmission resource, or the configuration information of the overlapped resource of the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource may be carried in the conflict indication information, in the cancellation indication information, or in other indication information independent of the conflict indication information and the cancellation indication information. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

S507: The terminal100sends the second information on the third transmission resource.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment shown inFIG.5, because the terminal100with one single Tx channel cannot simultaneously send the first information to the network side device1and send the second information to the network side device2, the terminal100with one single Tx channel may determine, based on the priority relationship between the first information and the second information, information to be preferentially sent. If the first information is preferentially sent, the terminal100may re-determine the third transmission resource for transmitting the second information, and send the second information on the third transmission resource. In this manner, the resource conflict that occurs because there is the only one single Tx path is resolved.

FIG.6is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of this application. The method is applicable to the application scenario shown inFIG.2. As shown inFIG.6, a procedure of the communication method may include the following steps.

601: A terminal100communicates with a network side device1by using a SIM card1.

602: The terminal100sends first configuration information to a network side device2. The first configuration information indicates a first transmission resource, or indicates an overlapped resource of the first transmission resource and a second transmission resource. The first transmission resource is a resource used by the terminal100to send first information to the network side device1. The second transmission resource is a resource used by the terminal100to send second information to the network side device2.

Optionally, the terminal100may send the first configuration information to the network side device2during or after establishing a connection with the network side device2. For example, the first configuration information may be carried in an RRC connection request (RRC Connection Request) message or in an RRC connection setup complete (RRC Connection Setup Complete) message.

Optionally, the terminal100may further send the first configuration information to the network side device2when determining that the first transmission resource conflicts with the second transmission resource. For example, the first transmission resource may be preconfigured in a first SIM card, and the second transmission resource may be preconfigured in a second SIM card. Therefore, the terminal100reads the first configuration information of the first transmission resource from the first SIM card, and reads second configuration information of the second transmission resource from the second SIM card. When determining that the first transmission resource conflicts with the second transmission resource, the terminal100sends the first configuration information to the network side device2.

For example, the first information is first control information, and the second information is second control information. Alternatively, the first information is control information, and the second information is data information. Alternatively, the first information is data information, and the second information is control information. Alternatively, both the first information and the second information are data information. The first control information includes at least one of the following information: an uplink scheduling request SR, channel state information CSI, hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ feedback information, or CSI feedback information. The second control information includes at least one of the following information: an SR, CSI, HARQ feedback information, or CSI feedback information. Optionally, the first information is HARQ-ACK, and the second information is HARQ-NACK.

603: The network side device2determines a third transmission resource based on the first configuration information. The third transmission resource is a resource used by the terminal100to send the second information to the network side device2.

Optionally, after receiving the first configuration information reported by the terminal100, the network side device2may determine second configuration information of the third transmission resource, so that the third transmission resource does not conflict with the first transmission resource.

604: The terminal100receives the second configuration information sent by the network side device2. The second configuration information indicates the third transmission resource.

605: The terminal100sends the first information on the first transmission resource.

606: The terminal100sends the second information on the third transmission resource.

Optionally,603may not be performed. For example, before603is performed, the terminal100may send a configuration type of the second information to the network side device2, where the configuration type includes whether the second information is periodically or aperiodically sent. The network side device2determines, based on the configuration type, whether the third transmission resource needs to be configured for the second information. If the second information is periodically sent, the network side device2does not need to configure the third transmission resource, because the second information can be sent in a next periodicity. If the second information is aperiodically sent, the network side device2may configure the third transmission resource.

The foregoing describes the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application, and the following describes the communication apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application.

FIG.7is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus700according to an embodiment of this application. The communication apparatus700may be the terminal100described above. As shown inFIG.7, the communication apparatus700includes:a processing module710, configured to determine that a first transmission resource conflicts with a second transmission resource, where the first transmission resource is a resource used by the communication apparatus to send first information to a first network side, the first network side device corresponds to a first user identity supported by the communication apparatus, the second transmission resource is a resource used by the communication apparatus to send second information to a second network side device, and the second network side device corresponds to a second user identity supported by the communication apparatus; anda transceiver module720, configured to send the first information on the first transmission resource, wherethe processing module710is further configured to cancel sending the second information on the second transmission resource, or the transceiver module720is further configured to send the second information on a third transmission resource, where the third transmission resource is a resource before or after the second transmission resource.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the transceiver module720is further configured to send first indication information to the second network side device. The first indication information indicates that the first transmission resource of the terminal conflicts with the second transmission resource.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the transceiver module720is further configured to send second indication information to the second network side device. The second indication information indicates that the terminal cancels sending the second information on the second transmission resource.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the first indication information includes information about an overlapped resource of the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource, and/or a configuration type of the second information. Alternatively, the second indication information includes information about an overlapped resource of the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource, and/or a configuration type of the second information.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the second indication information carries cancellation reason indication information. The cancellation reason indication information indicates the transmission conflict between the second information and the first information on the single transmission Tx link of the terminal.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the processing module710is further configured to:determine that a sending periodicity of the first information is greater than a sending periodicity of the second information; and/or determine that a next sending occasion/moment of the first information is later than a next sending occasion/moment of the second information; and/or determine, based on a type of the first information and a type of the second information, that a priority of the first information is higher than a priority of the second information; and/or determine that the first information is aperiodically triggered, and the second information is periodically triggered.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the first information is first control information, and the second information is second control information.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the first control information includes at least one of the following information: an uplink scheduling request SR, channel state information CSI, hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ feedback information, or CSI feedback information.

The second control information includes at least one of the following information:an SR, CSI, HARQ feedback information, or CSI feedback information.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the first information is HARQ-ACK, and the second information is HARQ-NACK.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the first information is control information, and the second information is data information. Alternatively, the first information is data information, and the second information is control information.

It should be understood that the processing module710in this embodiment of this application may be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component. Optionally, the transceiver module720may include a receiving module and a sending module. For example, the transceiver module720may be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

As shown inFIG.8, an embodiment of this application further provides a communication apparatus800. The communication apparatus800may be the terminal100described above. The communication apparatus800includes a processor810, a memory820, and a transceiver830. The memory820stores instructions or a program. The processor810is configured to execute the instructions or the program stored in the memory820. When the instructions or the program stored in the memory820are or is executed, the processor810is configured to perform an operation performed by the processing module710in the foregoing embodiment, and the transceiver830is configured to perform an operation performed by the transceiver module720in the foregoing embodiment.

It should be understood that the communication apparatus700or the communication apparatus800according to the embodiments of this application may be corresponding to the terminal100in the communication methods shown inFIG.5andFIG.6in the embodiments of this application. In addition, operations and/or functions of modules in the communication apparatus700or the communication apparatus800are used to implement corresponding procedures of the methods of the terminal100inFIG.5andFIG.6. For brevity, details are not described herein again.

FIG.9is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus900according to an embodiment of this application. The communication apparatus900may be the terminal100described above. The communication apparatus900includes:a sending module910, configured to send first configuration information to a second network side device, where the first configuration information indicates a first transmission resource, indicates an overlapped resource of a first transmission resource and a second transmission resource, or indicates a third transmission resource, the first transmission resource is a resource used by a terminal to send first information to a first network side, the second transmission resource is a resource used by the terminal to send second information to the second network side device, and the third transmission resource is a resource determined by the terminal based on the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource; anda receiving module920, configured to receive first response information that is sent by the second network side device and that is based on the first configuration information, where the first response information indicates a fourth transmission resource that is reconfigured by the second network side device for the terminal and that is used to transmit the second information, or the first response information indicates that the second network side device allows the terminal to transmit the second information on the third transmission resource, where the first network side device corresponds to a first user identity supported by the terminal, and the second network side device corresponds to a second user identity supported by the terminal.

Optionally, the communication apparatus900may further include a processing module, which is not shown in the figure.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the sending module910is specifically configured to:send the first configuration information to the second network side device during or after establishing a connection with the second network side device; or send the first configuration information to the second network side device when the processing module determines that a conflict exists between data transmission on the first transmission resource and the second transmission resource.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the first information is first control information, and the second information is second control information. Alternatively, the first information is control information, and the second information is data information. Alternatively, the first information is data information, and the second information is control information. Alternatively, both the first information and the second information are data information.

It should be understood that the sending module910and the receiving module920in this embodiment of this application may be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

As shown inFIG.10, an embodiment of this application further provides a communication apparatus1000. The communication apparatus1000may be the terminal100described above. The communication apparatus1000includes a processor1010, a memory1020, and a transceiver1030. The memory1020stores instructions or a program. The processor1010is configured to execute the instructions or the program stored in the memory1020. When the instructions or the program stored in the memory1020are or is executed, the processor1010controls the transceiver1030to perform operations performed by the sending module910and the receiving module920in the foregoing embodiment.

It should be understood that the communication apparatus900or the communication apparatus1000according to the embodiments of this application may be corresponding to the terminal100in the communication methods shown inFIG.5andFIG.6in the embodiments of this application. In addition, operations and/or functions of modules in the communication apparatus900or the communication apparatus1000are used to implement corresponding procedures of the methods of the terminal100inFIG.5andFIG.6. For brevity, details are not described herein again.

An embodiment of this application further provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program. When the program is executed by a processor, a procedure related to the terminal100in the communication method provided in the foregoing method embodiments may be implemented.

An embodiment of this application further provides a communication apparatus, and the communication apparatus may be a terminal or a circuit. The communication apparatus may be configured to perform an action performed by the terminal100in the foregoing method embodiment.

When the communication apparatus is a terminal,FIG.11is a simplified schematic diagram of a structure of the terminal device. For ease of understanding and illustration, an example in which the terminal is a mobile phone is used inFIG.11. As shown inFIG.11, the terminal includes a processor, a memory, a radio frequency circuit, an antenna, and an input/output apparatus. The processor is mainly configured to: process a communication protocol and communication data, control the terminal, execute a software program, process data of the software program, and so on. The memory is mainly configured to store the software program and data. A radio frequency circuit is mainly configured to: perform conversion between a baseband signal and a radio frequency signal, and process the radio frequency signal. The antenna is mainly configured to send and receive a radio frequency signal in an electromagnetic wave form. The input/output apparatus such as a touchscreen, a display, or a keyboard is mainly configured to: receive data entered by a user, and output data to the user. It should be noted that some types of terminals may not have the input/output apparatus.

When needing to send data, after performing baseband processing on the to-be-sent data, the processor outputs a baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit; and the radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and then sends the radio frequency signal to the outside in a form of an electromagnetic wave through the antenna. When data is sent to the terminal, the radio frequency circuit receives a radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor. The processor converts the baseband signal into data, and processes the data. For ease of description,FIG.11shows only one memory and one processor. In an actual terminal product, there may be one or more processors and one or more memories. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium, a storage device, or the like. The memory may be disposed independent of the processor, or may be integrated with the processor. This is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

In this embodiment of this application, the antenna and the radio frequency circuit that have sending and receiving functions may be considered as a transceiver unit of the terminal, and the processor that has a processing function may be considered as a processing unit of the terminal. As shown inFIG.11, the terminal includes a transceiver unit1110and a processing unit1120. The transceiver unit may also be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver machine, a transceiver apparatus, or the like. The processing unit may also be referred to as a processor, a processing board, a processing module, a processing apparatus, or the like. Optionally, a component that is in the transceiver unit1110and that is configured to implement a receiving function may be considered as a receiving unit, and a component that is in the transceiver unit1110and that is configured to implement a sending function may be considered as a sending unit. In other words, the transceiver unit1110includes the receiving unit and the sending unit. The transceiver unit may also be sometimes referred to as a transceiver machine, a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or the like. The receiving unit may also be sometimes referred to as a receiver machine, a receiver, a receiver circuit, or the like. The sending unit may also be sometimes referred to as a transmitter machine, a transmitter, a transmitter circuit, or the like.

It should be understood that the transceiver unit1110is configured to perform a sending operation and a receiving operation on a terminal side in the foregoing method embodiment, and the processing unit1120is configured to perform an operation other than the receiving/sending operation of the terminal in the foregoing method embodiments.

For example, in an implementation, the transceiver unit1110is configured to perform the receiving operation on the terminal side in step501aand step501bor the sending operation on the terminal side in step501aand step501binFIG.5, and is further configured to perform step504, step505, step507, and so on. Certainly, the transceiver unit1110is further configured to perform another transceiver step on the terminal side in the embodiments of this application. The processing unit1120is configured to perform step502, step503, and step506inFIG.5, and/or the processing unit1120is further configured to perform another processing step on the terminal side in the embodiments of this application.

For another example, in still another implementation, the transceiver unit1110is configured to perform the receiving operation on the terminal side in step601ainFIG.6or the sending operation on the terminal side in step601ainFIG.6, and/or the transceiver unit1110may be further configured to perform step602, step604, step605, and step606. The transceiver unit1110is further configured to perform another transceiver step on the terminal side in the embodiments of this application. The processing unit1120is configured to perform another processing step on the terminal side in the embodiments of this application.

When the communication apparatus is a chip apparatus or circuit, the apparatus may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit may be an input/output circuit and/or a communication interface. The processing unit is an integrated processor, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit.

When the communication apparatus in this embodiment is a terminal, refer to a device shown inFIG.12. For example, the device can implement functions similar to those of the processor810inFIG.8. InFIG.12, the device includes a processor1210, a data sending processor1220, and a data receiving processor1230. The processing module710in the foregoing embodiment may be the processor1210inFIG.12, and implements a corresponding function. The transceiver module720in the foregoing embodiment may be the data sending processor1220and/or the data receiving processor1230inFIG.12. Alternatively, in the foregoing embodiment, the sending module910may be the data sending processor1220inFIG.12, and the receiving module920may be the data receiving processor1230inFIG.12. AlthoughFIG.12shows a channel encoder and a channel decoder, it may be understood that the modules are merely examples, and do not constitute a limitation on this embodiment.

FIG.13shows another form of the communication apparatus in this embodiment. The communication apparatus1300includes modules such as a modulation subsystem, a central processing subsystem, and a peripheral subsystem. The communication apparatus in this embodiment may be used as the modulation subsystem. Specifically, the modulation subsystem may include a processor1303and an interface1304. The processor1303implements a function of the processing module710, and the interface1304implements a function of the transceiver module720. Alternatively, the interface1304may further complete functions of the sending module910and/or the receiving module920. In another variation, the modulation subsystem includes a memory1306, a processor1303, and a program that is stored in the memory1306and that can be run on the processor. When executing the program, the processor1303implements the method on the terminal side in the foregoing method embodiment. It should be noted that the memory1306may be a nonvolatile memory or a volatile memory. The memory1306may be located in the modulation subsystem, or may be located in the communication apparatus1300, provided that the memory1306can be connected to the processor1303.

FIG.14is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus1400according to an embodiment of this application. The communication apparatus1400may be the first network side device or the second network side device described above. The network side device2is used as an example. InFIG.14, the communication apparatus1400includes a transceiver module1401and a processing module1402. The transceiver module1401is configured to perform the receiving operation of the network side device2in step501bor the sending operation of the network side device2in step501binFIG.5, and is further configured to perform step505, step507, and so on. The processing module1402is configured to perform another processing step of the network side device2in the embodiments of this application.

Alternatively, the transceiver module1401is configured to perform step602, step604, and step606inFIG.6. The transceiver module1401is further configured to perform another transceiver step of the network side device2in the embodiments of this application. The processing module1402is configured to perform step603shown inFIG.6, and may be further configured to perform another processing step on the terminal side in the embodiments of this application.

It should be understood that the transceiver module1401in this embodiment of this application may include a receiving module and a sending module. For example, the transceiver module1401may be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

As shown inFIG.15, an embodiment of this application further provides a communication apparatus1500. The communication apparatus1500may be the foregoing first network side device or the second network side device. The communication apparatus1500includes a processor1510, a memory1520, and a transceiver1530. The memory1520stores instructions or a program. The processor1510is configured to execute the instructions or the program stored in the memory1520. When the instructions or the program stored in the memory1520are or is executed, the processor1510is configured to perform an operation performed by the processing module1402in the foregoing embodiment, and the transceiver1530is configured to perform an operation performed by the transceiver module1401in the foregoing embodiment.

When the communication apparatus in this embodiment is a network side device, the network side device may be shown inFIG.16. An apparatus1600includes one or more radio frequency units, such as a remote radio unit (remote radio unit, RRU)1610and one or more baseband units (baseband unit, BBU) (which may also be referred to as digital units (digital unit, DU))1620. The RRU1610may be referred to as a transceiver module, and corresponds to the transceiver module1401inFIG.14. Optionally, the transceiver module may also be referred to as a transceiver machine, a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, or the like, and may include at least one antenna1611and a radio frequency unit1612. The RRU1610is mainly configured to: receive and send a radio frequency signal, and perform conversion between the radio frequency signal and a baseband signal. For example, the RRU1610is configured to send indication information to a terminal. The BBU1620is mainly configured to: perform baseband processing, control a base station, and so on. The RRU1610and the BBU1620may be physically disposed together, or may be physically disposed separately, that is, in a distributed base station.

The BBU1620is a control center of the base station, and may also be referred to as a processing module. The BBU1620may correspond to the processing module1420inFIG.14, and is mainly configured to implement a baseband processing function such as channel coding, multiplexing, modulation, or spreading. For example, the BBU (the processing module) may be configured to control the base station to perform an operation procedure related to the network device in the foregoing method embodiments, for example, generate the foregoing indication information.

In an example, the BBU1620may include one or more boards, and a plurality of boards may jointly support a radio access network (for example, an LTE network) having a single access standard, or may separately support radio access networks (for example, an LTE network, a 5G network, or another network) having different access standards. The BBU1620further includes a memory1621and a processor1622. The memory1621is configured to store necessary instructions and data. The processor1622is configured to control the base station to perform a necessary action, for example, configured to control the base station to perform an operation procedure related to the network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The memory1621and the processor1622may serve the one or more boards. In other words, the memory and the processor may be disposed on each board. Alternatively, a plurality of boards may share a same memory and a same processor. In addition, a necessary circuit may be further disposed on each board.

It should be understood that, the processor mentioned in the embodiments of this application may be a central processing unit (Central Processing Unit, CPU), the processor may further be another general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (Digital Signal Processor, DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC), a field programmable gate array (Field Programmable Gate Array, FPGA), or another programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, or the like. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

It may be further understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of this application may be a volatile memory or a nonvolatile memory, or may include a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), a programmable read-only memory (Programmable ROM, PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (Erasable PROM, EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (Electrically EPROM, EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), used as an external cache. Through example but not limitative descriptions, many forms of RAMs may be used, for example, a static random access memory (Static RAM, SRAM), a dynamic random access memory (Dynamic RAM, DRAM), a synchronous dynamic random access memory (Synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), a double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (Double Data Rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), an enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (Enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), a synchlink dynamic random access memory (Synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM), and a direct rambus random access memory (Direct Rambus RAM, DR RAM).

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

It should be noted that the memory described in this specification aims to include but is not limited to these memories and any memory of another proper type.

It should be further understood that “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, and various numbers in this specification are merely used for differentiation for ease of description, and are not construed as a limitation to the scope of this application.

It should be understood that, the term “and/or” in this specification describes only an association relationship between associated objects, and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and/or B may indicate the following three cases: Only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. In addition, the character “/” in this specification usually indicates an “or” relationship between the associated objects.

It should be understood that sequence numbers of the foregoing processes do not mean execution sequences in various embodiments of this application. The execution sequences of the processes should be determined according to functions and internal logic of the processes, and should not be construed as any limitation on the implementation processes of the embodiments of this application.

A person of ordinary skill in the art may be aware that, in combination with the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in this specification, units and algorithm steps may be implemented by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether the functions are performed by hardware or software depends on a particular application and a design constraint condition of the technical solutions. A person skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each particular application, but it should not be considered that the implementation goes beyond the scope of this application.

It may be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art that, for the purpose of convenient and brief description, for a detailed working process of the foregoing system, apparatus, and unit, refer to a corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may be implemented in other manners. For example, the described apparatus embodiment is merely an example. For example, division into the units is merely logical function division and may be other division in an actual implementation. For example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not performed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be implemented by using some interfaces. The indirect couplings or communication connections between the apparatuses or units may be implemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one position, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units may be selected depending on actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions in the embodiments.

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

When the functions are implemented in a form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, the functions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, the technical solutions of this application essentially, or a part contributing to an existing technology, or some of the technical solutions may be implemented in a form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium, and includes several instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to perform all or some of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of this application. The foregoing storage medium includes: any medium that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), a random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disc.

The foregoing descriptions are merely specific implementations of this application, but are not intended to limit the protection scope of this application. Any variation or replacement readily figured out by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application shall fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.