WO2024037323A1 - 一种授时的方法和装置 - Google Patents

一种授时的方法和装置 Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024037323A1
WO2024037323A1 PCT/CN2023/110238 CN2023110238W WO2024037323A1 WO 2024037323 A1 WO2024037323 A1 WO 2024037323A1 CN 2023110238 W CN2023110238 W CN 2023110238W WO 2024037323 A1 WO2024037323 A1 WO 2024037323A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
path
time
reference signal
delay
moment
Prior art date
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Ceased
Application number
PCT/CN2023/110238
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
范强
娄崇
李汉涛
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Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
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Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Huawei Technologies Co Ltd filed Critical Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority to EP23854227.8A priority Critical patent/EP4564941A4/en
Publication of WO2024037323A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024037323A1/zh
Priority to US19/055,402 priority patent/US20250193817A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04J—MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION
    • H04J3/00—Time-division multiplex systems
    • H04J3/02—Details
    • H04J3/06—Synchronising arrangements
    • H04J3/0635—Clock or time synchronisation in a network
    • H04J3/0638—Clock or time synchronisation among nodes; Internode synchronisation
    • H04J3/0658—Clock or time synchronisation among packet nodes
    • H04J3/0661—Clock or time synchronisation among packet nodes using timestamps
    • H04J3/0667—Bidirectional timestamps, e.g. NTP or PTP for compensation of clock drift and for compensation of propagation delays
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W56/00—Synchronisation arrangements
    • H04W56/004—Synchronisation arrangements compensating for timing error of reception due to propagation delay
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
    • H04B17/30—Monitoring; Testing of propagation channels
    • H04B17/309—Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
    • H04B17/318—Received signal strength
    • H04B17/328—Reference signal received power [RSRP]; Reference signal received quality [RSRQ]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04J—MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION
    • H04J3/00—Time-division multiplex systems
    • H04J3/02—Details
    • H04J3/06—Synchronising arrangements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L5/00—Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path
    • H04L5/003—Arrangements for allocating sub-channels of the transmission path
    • H04L5/0048—Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
    • H04L5/0051—Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver of dedicated pilots, i.e. pilots destined for a single user or terminal
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W56/00—Synchronisation arrangements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W56/00—Synchronisation arrangements
    • H04W56/0055—Synchronisation arrangements determining timing error of reception due to propagation delay
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W56/00—Synchronisation arrangements
    • H04W56/0055—Synchronisation arrangements determining timing error of reception due to propagation delay
    • H04W56/0065—Synchronisation arrangements determining timing error of reception due to propagation delay using measurement of signal travel time

Definitions

  • the embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communications, and more specifically, to a timing method and device.
  • the key to improving timing accuracy is to obtain accurate propagation delay and then compensate for the propagation delay during the timing process.
  • the PDC solution based on timing advance (TA) can achieve an air interface timing accuracy of approximately 540ns, based on round trip time (RTT) measurement
  • the PDC solution can achieve an air interface timing accuracy of approximately 200ns.
  • TA timing advance
  • RTT round trip time
  • the existing PDC solution cannot meet the timing accuracy requirements in distribution automation scenarios.
  • This application provides a timing method and device, which method can improve the accuracy of calculating propagation delay, thereby improving the timing accuracy.
  • a timing method is provided.
  • the method can be executed by a device (such as a first device), or can also be executed by a chip or chip system or circuit configured in the device. This application does not limit this. .
  • the following description takes execution by the first device as an example.
  • the method may include: the first device sends a first reference signal to the second device, the time when the baseband of the first device sends the first reference signal is the first time, and the time when the baseband of the second device receives the first reference signal is the second time. Time; the first device receives the second reference signal from the second device, the time when the baseband of the first device receives the second reference signal is the third time, and the time when the baseband of the second device sends the second reference signal is the fourth time; The first device receives the first duration from the second device, and the first duration is related to the second moment and the fourth moment; the first device calculates the relationship between the first device and the second device based on the first moment, the third moment and the first duration. propagation delay between them.
  • the first device can calculate the propagation delay based on the time at which the basebands of the first device and the second device transmit/receive the reference signal. Since this method does not require estimating the channel delay between the baseband and the antenna of the device (such as the first device or the second device), errors caused by inaccurate channel delay estimation can be avoided.
  • the first duration is the difference between the second moment and the fourth moment; or, the first duration is the difference between the fourth moment and the second moment.
  • the first device calculates the propagation delay between the first device and the second device based on the first moment, the third moment and the first duration, including: A device calculates the propagation delay between the first device and the second device based on the first duration and the second duration, and the second duration is the difference between the third moment and the first moment.
  • the first device calculates the propagation delay between the first device and the second device based on the first duration and the second duration, including: the first device calculates the propagation delay between the first device and the second device based on the first duration.
  • the sum of the first duration and the second duration is used to calculate the propagation delay between the first device and the second device, where the first duration is the difference between the second moment and the fourth moment; or the first device is based on the second duration
  • the difference between the first duration and the first duration is used to calculate the propagation delay between the first device and the second device, where the first duration is the difference between the fourth moment and the second moment.
  • the first device when the first duration is the difference between the second moment and the fourth moment, can calculate the propagation between the first device and the second device based on the sum of the first duration and the second duration. Delay, where the sum of the first duration and the second duration can be used to represent the round trip time RTT; when the first duration is the difference between the fourth moment and the second moment, the first device can be based on the second duration and the first duration. Calculate the propagation delay between the first device and the second device, where the difference between the second duration and the first duration can be used to represent the round-trip time time RTT.
  • the method further includes: the first device sending a propagation delay to the second device; or, the first device sending a time calculated based on the propagation delay to the second device.
  • the first device in the scenario where the first device provides timing to the second device, the first device can send the propagation delay to the second device after calculating the propagation delay between the first device and the second device, Therefore, the second device can perform propagation delay compensation based on the propagation delay, and then obtain the synchronization time; or, after calculating the propagation delay between the first device and the second device, the first device can perform propagation delay compensation based on the propagation time. Delay the broadcast delay compensation to obtain the required synchronization time, and then send the time to the second device.
  • a timing method is provided.
  • the method can be executed by a device (such as a second device), or can also be executed by a chip or chip system or circuit configured in the device. This application does not limit this. .
  • the following description takes execution by the second device as an example.
  • the method may include: the second device receives the first reference signal from the first device, the time when the baseband of the second device receives the first reference signal is the second time, and the time when the baseband of the first device sends the first reference signal is the second time.
  • One time the second device sends a second reference signal to the first device, the time when the baseband of the second device sends the second reference signal is the fourth time, and the time when the baseband of the first device receives the second reference signal is the third time;
  • the second device sends a first duration to the first device.
  • the first duration is related to the second moment and the fourth moment.
  • the first moment, the third moment and the first duration are used to calculate the distance between the first device and the second device. propagation delay.
  • the first device can calculate the propagation delay based on the time at which the basebands of the first device and the second device transmit/receive the reference signal. Since this method does not require estimating the channel delay between the baseband and the antenna of the device (such as the first device or the second device), errors caused by inaccurate channel delay estimation can be avoided.
  • the first duration is the difference between the second moment and the fourth moment; or, the first duration is the difference between the fourth moment and the second moment.
  • the method further includes: the second device receives the propagation delay from the first device; or, the second device receives the propagation delay calculation from the first device based on the propagation delay. time.
  • a timing method is provided.
  • the method can be executed by a device (such as a third device), or can also be executed by a chip or chip system or circuit configured in the device. This application does not limit this. .
  • the following description takes execution by a third device as an example.
  • the method may include: the third device sends the first reference signal to the fourth device through the first channel at the first time, and the time when the fourth device receives the first reference signal is the second time; the third device transmits the first reference signal through the first channel at the third time.
  • the second channel receives the second reference signal from the fourth device.
  • the time when the fourth device sends the second reference signal is the fourth time, and the second time is the same as the fourth time; the third device is based on the first time, the third time and the fourth time.
  • the first delay determines the second delay, where the first delay is the delay of the first channel and the second delay is the delay of the second channel; or the first delay is the delay of the second channel and the second delay is the first channel delay, where the first channel delay is the delay of the third device sending the first reference signal to the fourth device through the first channel, and the second channel delay is the time delay of the third device receiving the first reference signal through the second channel.
  • the delay of the second reference signal of the fourth device determines the second delay, where the first delay is the delay of the first channel and the second delay is the delay of the second channel; or the first delay is the delay of the second channel and the second delay is the first channel delay, where the first channel delay is the delay of the third device sending the first reference signal to the fourth device through the first channel, and the second channel delay is the time delay of the third device receiving the first reference signal through the second channel.
  • the delay of the second reference signal of the fourth device is the delay of the first channel and the second delay is the delay of the second channel.
  • the third device can determine the second channel delay based on the first channel delay, or can determine the first channel delay based on the second channel delay.
  • the second channel delay can be estimated based on the first channel delay.
  • the second channel delay can be estimated based on the first channel delay. Estimating the first channel delay based on the second channel delay can improve the estimation accuracy of the time when the antenna transmits/receives the reference signal, thereby improving the accuracy of the RTT-based propagation delay compensation mechanism.
  • the method further includes: a third device obtains the first delay.
  • the third device may estimate the first delay according to the circuit structure of the first channel or the second channel, thereby obtaining the first delay. For example, when the first delay is the first channel delay, the third device can estimate the first channel delay according to the circuit structure of the first channel to obtain the first channel delay. For another example, when the first delay is the second channel delay, the third device can estimate the second channel delay according to the circuit structure of the second channel to obtain the second channel delay.
  • the third device determines the second delay based on the first moment, the third moment and the first delay, including: the third device determines the second delay based on the third duration and the first delay.
  • the delay determines the second delay, and the third duration is the difference between the third moment and the first moment.
  • the third device can determine the delay of another channel based on the third duration and the delay of one of the channels.
  • the third duration is the difference between the third moment and the first moment. That is to say, the third duration can be used to represent the moment when the third device sends the first reference signal to the fourth device, and the moment when the third device receives the first reference signal from the fourth device.
  • the third device determines the second delay based on the third duration and the first delay, including: the third device determines the second delay based on the difference between the third duration and the first delay. The value determines the second delay.
  • the third time duration can be expressed as the sum of the first delay and the second time delay. Therefore, the third device can calculate the time difference between the third time period and the first time delay based on the third time period and the first time delay. The difference in delay determines the second delay.
  • the third device is the indoor baseband processing unit BBU, and the fourth device is the active antenna unit AAU.
  • the fourth aspect provides a timing method, which can be executed by a device (such as a fourth device), or can also be executed by a chip or chip system or circuit configured in the device. This application does not limit this. .
  • the following description takes execution by the fourth device as an example.
  • the method may include: the fourth device receives the first reference signal from the third device through the first channel, the fourth device receives the first reference signal at time 2, and the third device sends the first reference signal at time 1 time; the fourth device sends the second reference signal to the third device through the second channel, the time when the fourth device sends the second reference signal is the fourth time, the time when the third device receives the second reference signal is the third time, and the time when the third device receives the second reference signal is the third time.
  • the second moment is the same as the fourth moment; the first moment, the third moment and the first delay are used to determine the second delay, where the first delay is the first channel delay and the second delay is the second channel delay.
  • the first delay is the second channel delay
  • the second delay is the first channel delay, where the first channel delay is when the third device sends the first reference signal to the fourth device through the first channel
  • the delay of the second channel is the delay of the third device receiving the second reference signal from the fourth device through the second channel.
  • the third device can determine the second channel delay based on the first channel delay, or can determine the first channel delay based on the second channel delay.
  • the second channel delay can be estimated based on the first channel delay.
  • the second channel delay can be estimated based on the first channel delay. Estimating the first channel delay based on the second channel delay can improve the estimation accuracy of the time when the antenna transmits/receives the reference signal, thereby improving the accuracy of the RTT-based propagation delay compensation mechanism.
  • the third device is the baseband unit BBU, and the fourth device is the active antenna processing unit AAU.
  • a timing method is provided.
  • the method can be executed by a device (such as a first device), or can also be executed by a chip or chip system or circuit configured in the device. This application does not limit this. .
  • the following description takes execution by the first device as an example.
  • the method may include: the first device receives information on a first path from the second device, and the first path is a path through which the second device receives a first reference signal from the first device; the first device receives information on the first path based on the information on the first path, Determine that the mth path in the first path and the nth path in the second path are the same path, where the second path is a path through which the first device receives the second reference signal from the second device, and the second device passes The time when the m-th path in the first path receives the first reference signal, and the time when the first device receives the second reference signal through the n-th path in the second path, are used to calculate the relationship between the first device and the second device.
  • the propagation delay between where m and n are positive integers.
  • the first device can determine the mth path among the paths through which the second device receives the first reference signal based on the information on the first path from the second device, and the first device receives the second reference signal.
  • the nth path among the paths is the same. Therefore, the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through the mth path and the time when the first device receives the second reference signal through the nth path can be expressed by To calculate the propagation delay between the first device and the second device, thereby avoiding the error in calculating the propagation delay caused by the different paths used by the first device and the second device when recording the time of receiving the reference signal. , or in other words, errors in calculating the propagation delay caused by different paths used by the first device and the second device when recording the time for calculating the propagation delay are avoided.
  • the method further includes: the first device receives a second reference signal from the second device through the second path; the first device determines based on the information of the first path
  • the mth path in the first path and the nth path in the second path are the same path, including: the first device determines the mth path in the first path based on the information of the first path and the information of the second path.
  • the path is the same path as the nth path in the second path.
  • the first device can receive the second reference signal from the second device through the second path, so that the first device can learn the information of the second path. Furthermore, the first device may determine, based on the information of the first path and the information of the second path, that the m-th path in the first path and the n-th path in the second path are the same path.
  • the information of the first path includes: first indication information, the first indication information is used to instruct the second device to receive the first signal through multiple paths in the first path. Reference signal moment, multiple paths including the first path The mth path in .
  • the first indication information may indicate a specific time at which the second device receives the first reference signal through multiple paths in the first path.
  • the first indication information may also indicate the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through one of the multiple paths (assumed to be recorded as the first time), and instruct the second device to receive the first reference signal through the multiple paths.
  • the information of the first path also includes one or more of the following information: information of signal strengths of multiple paths; or, second indication information, the second indication The information is used to indicate the mth path among the first paths.
  • the second indication information can be used to indicate the mth path in the first path. Therefore, the first device can learn the specific time used by the second device when recording the time used to calculate the propagation delay. Which path is used so that the first device uses the same path as the m-th path when recording the moment used to calculate the propagation delay, thereby avoiding the problem that the first device and the second device use the same path when recording the time used to calculate the propagation delay. The error in calculating the propagation time delay caused by the different paths used at the moment.
  • the information of the second path includes: the time at which the first device receives the second reference signal through the second path.
  • the information of the second path may include the time when the first device receives the second reference signal through the second path. Therefore, the first device can pass the second reference signal according to the first indication information and the first device through the second path. At the moment when the second reference signal is received, it is determined that the m-th path in the first path and the n-th path in the second path are the same path.
  • the sixth aspect provides a timing method, which can be executed by a device (such as a second device), or can also be executed by a chip or chip system or circuit configured in the device. This application does not limit this. .
  • the following description takes execution by the second device as an example.
  • the method may include: the second device receives the first reference signal from the first device through the first path; the second device sends information of the first path to the first device, and the information of the first path is used to determine the path in the first path.
  • the mth path is the same path as the nth path in the second path, where the second path is the path through which the first device receives the second reference signal from the second device, and the second device passes through
  • the time when the mth path receives the first reference signal, and the time when the first device receives the second reference signal through the nth path in the second path are used to calculate the propagation delay between the first device and the second device. , where m and n are positive integers.
  • the first device can determine the mth path among the paths through which the second device receives the first reference signal based on the information on the first path from the second device, and the first device receives the second reference signal.
  • the nth path among the paths is the same. Therefore, the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through the mth path and the time when the first device receives the second reference signal through the nth path can be expressed by To calculate the propagation delay between the first device and the second device, thereby avoiding the error in calculating the propagation delay caused by the different paths used by the first device and the second device when recording the time of receiving the reference signal. , or in other words, errors in calculating the propagation delay caused by different paths used by the first device and the second device when recording the time for calculating the propagation delay are avoided.
  • the method further includes: the second device sends a second reference signal to the first device through the second path, and the information of the second path is used to determine the path in the first path.
  • the mth path of is the same path as the nth path in the second path.
  • the first device can receive the second reference signal from the second device through the second path, so that the first device can learn the information of the second path. Furthermore, the first device may determine, based on the information of the first path and the information of the second path, that the m-th path in the first path and the n-th path in the second path are the same path.
  • the information of the first path includes: first indication information, the first indication information is used to instruct the second device to receive the first signal through multiple paths in the first path.
  • the multiple paths include the m-th path among the first paths.
  • the first indication information may indicate a specific time at which the second device receives the first reference signal through multiple paths in the first path.
  • the first indication information may also indicate the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through one of the multiple paths (assumed to be recorded as the first time), and instruct the second device to receive the first reference signal through the multiple paths.
  • the information of the first path also includes one or more of the following information: information of signal strengths of multiple paths; or, second indication information, the second indication The information is used to indicate the mth path among the first paths.
  • the second indication information can be used to indicate the mth path in the first path. Therefore, the first device can learn the specific time used by the second device when recording the time used to calculate the propagation delay. Which path is used by the first device to log in The same path corresponding to the m-th path is used when calculating the time for calculating the propagation delay, thereby avoiding calculations caused by the different paths used by the first device and the second device when recording the time for calculating the propagation delay. Propagation delay error.
  • the information of the second path includes: the time at which the first device receives the second reference signal through the second path.
  • the information of the second path may include the time when the first device receives the second reference signal through the second path. Therefore, the first device can pass the second reference signal according to the first indication information and the first device through the second path. At the moment when the second reference signal is received, it is determined that the m-th path in the first path and the n-th path in the second path are the same path.
  • a seventh aspect provides a communication device, which is used to perform the method in any of the possible implementations of the first to sixth aspects.
  • the device may include units and/or modules for performing the method in any possible implementation of the first to sixth aspects, such as a processing unit and/or a communication unit.
  • the device is a device (such as a first device, a second device, a third device or a fourth device).
  • the communication unit may be a transceiver, or an input/output interface;
  • the processing unit may be at least one processor.
  • the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit.
  • the input/output interface may be an input/output circuit.
  • the apparatus is a chip, a chip system or a circuit for a device such as a first device, a second device, a third device or a fourth device.
  • the communication unit may be an input/output on the chip, chip system or circuit Interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin or related circuit, etc.; the processing unit can be at least one processor, processing circuit or logic circuit, etc.
  • a communication device in an eighth aspect, includes: at least one processor for executing computer programs or instructions stored in a memory to execute the method in any of the possible implementations of the first to sixth aspects. .
  • the device further includes a memory for storing computer programs or instructions.
  • the device further includes a communication interface, through which the processor reads the computer program or instructions stored in the memory.
  • the device is a device (such as a first device, a second device, a third device or a fourth device).
  • the device is a chip, a chip system or a circuit used in a device (eg, a first device, a second device, a third device, or a fourth device).
  • this application provides a processor for executing the methods provided in the above aspects.
  • a computer-readable storage medium stores a program code for device execution.
  • the program code includes a method for executing any of the possible implementations of the above-mentioned first to sixth aspects. method.
  • a computer program product containing instructions is provided.
  • the computer program product When the computer program product is run on a computer, it causes the computer to execute the method in any one of the possible implementation modes of the first to sixth aspects.
  • a chip in a twelfth aspect, includes a processor and a communication interface.
  • the processor reads instructions stored in the memory through the communication interface and executes any implementation method of any one of the above-mentioned first to sixth aspects. provided method.
  • the chip also includes a memory, in which computer programs or instructions are stored.
  • the processor is used to execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory.
  • the processor is used to execute The method provided by any one of the implementations of any one of the above first to sixth aspects.
  • a chip in a thirteenth aspect, includes a logic circuit and a communication interface.
  • the communication interface is used to receive data and/or information to be processed and transmit the data and/or information to be processed to the logic circuit.
  • the logic circuit is used to The method is provided for executing any one of the implementations of any one of the above first to sixth aspects.
  • a fourteenth aspect provides a communication system, including the first device and the second device in the methods provided in the first and second aspects, or the first device in the methods provided in the fifth and sixth aspects.
  • a device and a second device or including the above-mentioned third device and fourth device.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a communication system applicable to the present application.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another example of a communication system applicable to the present application.
  • Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of 5GS as a bridging device of TSN.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an example of a base station indicating 5G time through unicast mode.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an example of propagation delay compensation based on the timing advance mechanism.
  • Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an example of propagation delay compensation based on the round-trip time measurement mechanism.
  • Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of another example of propagation delay compensation based on the round-trip time measurement mechanism.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an example of a timing method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario applicable to the embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of another example of the timing method provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a specific application scenario applicable to the embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of another example of the timing method provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 13 is a schematic block diagram of a timing device provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 14 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the technical solutions provided by this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) or new radio (NR) systems, long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division Duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, etc.
  • the technical solution provided by this application can also be applied to future communication systems, such as the sixth generation mobile communication system.
  • the technical solution provided by this application can also be applied to device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, machine type Communication (machine type communication, MTC), and Internet of Things (Internet of things, IoT) communication systems or other communication systems.
  • D2D device-to-device
  • V2X vehicle-to-everything
  • M2M machine-to-machine
  • MTC machine type Communication
  • Internet of Things Internet of things, IoT
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a communication system suitable for this application.
  • the communication system 100 may include at least one network device, such as the network device 110 shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the communication system 100 may also include at least one terminal device, such as the terminal device 120 shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the network device 110 and the terminal device 120 may determine the propagation delay between the network device 110 and the terminal device 120 by sending reference signals to each other.
  • the technical solution provided by this application can also be applied to sidelink (SL) communication scenarios.
  • the network device 110 in Figure 1 can also be replaced with another terminal device, as shown in Figure 2 .
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another example of a communication system applicable to the present application.
  • the communication system 200 may include at least two terminal devices, such as the terminal device 210 and the terminal device 220 shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the terminal device 210 and the terminal device 220 may determine the propagation delay between the terminal device 210 and the terminal device 220 by sending reference signals to each other.
  • the terminal equipment in the embodiment of this application may also be called user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal , wireless communications equipment, user agent or user device.
  • UE user equipment
  • the terminal device may be a device that provides voice/data to users, for example, a handheld device with wireless connection function, a vehicle-mounted device, etc.
  • terminals are: mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MID), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) equipment, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, and smart grids wireless terminals, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol , SIP) telephone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, which can Wearable devices, terminal devices in a 5G network or terminal devices in a future evolved public land mobile communication network (public land mobile network, PLMN), etc., are not limited in the embodiments of this application.
  • MID mobile internet devices
  • VR
  • the terminal device may also be a wearable device.
  • Wearable devices can also be called wearable smart devices. It is a general term for applying wearable technology to intelligently design daily wear and develop wearable devices, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing and shoes, etc.
  • a wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are not just hardware devices, but also achieve powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction.
  • wearable smart devices include full-featured, large-sized devices that can achieve complete or partial functions without relying on smartphones, such as smart watches or smart glasses, and those that only focus on a certain type of application function and need to cooperate with other devices such as smartphones.
  • the device used to implement the functions of the terminal device may be a terminal device, or may be a device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the function, such as a chip system or a chip, and the device may be installed in the terminal device.
  • the chip system may be composed of chips, or may include chips and other discrete devices.
  • the network device in the embodiment of this application may be a device used to communicate with a terminal device.
  • the network device may be a macro base station, a micro base station (also called a small station), a satellite, or a radio network controller (radio network controller, RNC).
  • RNC radio network controller
  • Node B Node B (Node B, NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home base station (for example, home evolved NodeB, or home Node B, HNB), baseband Unit (baseband unit, BBU), access point (AP), wireless relay node, wireless backhaul node, transmission point (TP) or transmitter in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system
  • the reception point (transmission and reception point, TRP), etc. can also be the gNB or transmission point (TRP or TP) in the 5G (such as NR) system, one or a group of base stations (including multiple antenna panels) in the 5G system ) antenna panel, or it can also be a network node that constitutes a gNB or transmission point, such as a distributed unit (DU).
  • DU distributed unit
  • the network device may be a relay station, an access point, a network device in a future 6G network or a network device in a future evolved PLMN network, etc., which are not limited by the embodiments of this application.
  • the embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technologies and specific equipment forms used by network equipment.
  • network equipment may include centralized unit (CU) nodes, distributed unit (DU) nodes, or RAN equipment including CU nodes and DU nodes, or control plane CU nodes (CU -CP node) and user plane CU node (CU-UP node) and RAN equipment of DU node.
  • CU centralized unit
  • DU distributed unit
  • RAN equipment including CU nodes and DU nodes, or control plane CU nodes (CU -CP node) and user plane CU node (CU-UP node) and RAN equipment of DU node.
  • CU -CP node control plane CU nodes
  • CU-UP node user plane CU node
  • the network equipment can provide services for the cell, and the terminal equipment can communicate with the cell through transmission resources (for example, frequency domain resources, or spectrum resources) allocated by the network equipment.
  • the cell can belong to a macro base station (for example, macro eNB or macro gNB). etc.), or it can belong to the base station corresponding to a small cell.
  • the small cell here can include: metro cell, micro cell, pico cell, femto cell ), etc. These small cells have the characteristics of small coverage and low transmission power, and are suitable for providing high-rate data transmission services.
  • Network equipment and terminal equipment can be fixed-location or removable.
  • network equipment and terminal equipment can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; they can also be deployed on aircraft, balloons and satellites in the air.
  • the scenarios in which network devices and terminal devices are located are not limited.
  • FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are only simplified schematic diagrams for ease of understanding.
  • the communication system may also include other network devices and/or terminal devices, which are not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 .
  • TSN is usually used for production line control.
  • TSN networks are all carried on wired networks, and the wired method has some inherent flaws, such as high cable deployment costs, security risks, and low flexibility. If the wired method is replaced by wireless method, especially if the wireless method is used at the last hop of the TSN network, the above problems can be effectively avoided.
  • the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) Rel-16 discussed the solution for the 5th generation mobile communication system (5GS) to support TSN.
  • the TSN network can regard 5GS as A TSN bridge device (TSN bridge).
  • Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of 5GS as a bridging device of TSN. As shown in Figure 3, service data packets of the TSN network can be sent uplink/downlink through 5GS.
  • TSN needs 5GS to adapt to PTP.
  • the solution adopted by 3GPP is to use 5GS as a transparent clock.
  • the PTP message sent by the TSN grand master clock (GM) can be forwarded to the TSN end station (TSN end station) through 5GS.
  • the 5GS and TSN networks are connected Border locations require TSN adapters to process PTP protocol-related messages or data packets, such as device-side TSN translator (DS-TT) and network-side TSN translator (NW-TT). for the corresponding adapter.
  • DS-TT/NW-TT can be a processing device connected to the UE/user plane function (UPF), or it can be a logical function of the UE/UPF.
  • UPF UE/user plane function
  • 5GS needs to ensure 5G clock synchronization between UPF and UE. Clock synchronization between UE and UPF is guaranteed by both obtaining time from the same clock source.
  • the specific methods are: clock synchronization between the base station and the 5G GM; clock synchronization between the UE and the base station through air interface synchronization; clock synchronization between the UPF and the base station through the PTP protocol.
  • the NW-TT stamps the 5G timestamp t in , and the 5G time when the DS-TT on the UE side sends the PTP message is t out , then the DS-TT adds the correctionField field of the PTP message. (t out -t in ).
  • TSN time synchronization In the 5GS solution to support TSN, the requirement for TSN time synchronization is that the synchronization error between TSN GM and TSN slave node (TSN slave) is within 1us.
  • TSN slave TSN slave node
  • the time synchronization of user plane nodes (UE, base station, UPF) in 5GS is the basis for realizing the transparent clock solution.
  • 5G air interface time synchronization is achieved by the base station indicating the 5G time of a reference point to the UE.
  • the base station can provide 5G timing to the UE through broadcast (system information) or unicast (radio resource control (RRC) signaling).
  • RRC radio resource control
  • Figure 4 shows an example of a base station indicating 5G time through unicast mode.
  • SFN wireless frame system frame number
  • T p propagation delay
  • PDC Propagation delay compensation
  • TA/2 can be used as the propagation delay to compensate for the 5G time indicated by the base station.
  • the program is briefly introduced below.
  • Figure 5 shows an example of propagation delay compensation based on the timing advance mechanism.
  • the downlink signal sent by the base station reaches the UE after a propagation delay T p .
  • the UE can determine the downlink frame boundary based on the received base station signal. Due to the existence of propagation delay, there is a time difference of T p between the actual downlink frame boundary of the base station and the downlink frame boundary determined by the UE.
  • the base station In an orthogonal multiple access system, in order to ensure the orthogonality of uplink transmission and avoid intra-cell interference, the base station requires that signals from different UEs in the same subframe but different frequency domain resources arrive at the base station at basically the same time.
  • NR adopts the uplink timing advance (TA) mechanism.
  • TA uplink timing advance
  • the essence of TA is that there is a negative offset (TA value) between the start time of receiving downlink subframes and the time of transmitting uplink subframes.
  • the base station can control the time for uplink signals from different UEs to reach the base station.
  • the UE can send uplink signals 2T p (ideally TA value) in advance with respect to the downlink determined frame boundary. In this way, after the uplink signal passes through the propagation delay of T p , when it reaches the base station and the base station side Downstream frame boundaries are aligned. In this way, the uplink signals sent by UEs in the cell in the same subframe arrive at the base station at the same time.
  • the UE can use TA/2 to approximately determine T p and perform propagation delay compensation on the 5G time of the reference point indicated by the base station based on T p .
  • the propagation delay can be determined by measuring the round trip time (RTT).
  • RTT round trip time
  • the basic idea is: the base station and the UE send reference signals to the opposite end respectively.
  • the base station measures the difference gNB Rx-Tx between the time it receives the reference signal from the UE and the time it sends the reference signal.
  • the UE measures the time it receives the reference signal from the base station.
  • the difference between the time of the reference signal and the time when the reference signal is sent by itself is UE Rx-Tx .
  • the RTT between the base station and the UE can be expressed as gNB Rx-Tx + UE Rx-Tx . Therefore, it can be expressed by RTT/2 Propagation delay, and further, the UE can perform propagation delay compensation on the 5G time of the reference point indicated by the base station based on the propagation delay.
  • the first way is that the base station sends gNB Rx-Tx to the UE.
  • the UE determines the RTT based on gNB Rx-Tx and its own measured UE Rx-Tx , and then calculates propagation delay.
  • the second method is that the UE sends the UE Rx-Tx to the base station.
  • the base station determines the RTT and calculates the propagation delay based on the UE Rx-Tx and its own measured gNB Rx-Tx , and then sends the calculated propagation delay to the UE.
  • Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of an example of this method. This method may include the following steps:
  • Step 1 The base station sends the downlink reference signal to the UE and records the sending time t1;
  • Step 2 The UE receives the downlink reference signal from the base station and records the reception time t2;
  • Step 3 The UE sends the uplink reference signal to the base station and records the sending time t3;
  • Step 4 The base station receives the uplink reference signal from the UE and records the reception time t4;
  • the value of the time difference can be a positive number or a negative number, depending on the time received by the base station.
  • Step 6 The UE calculates the propagation delay.
  • the propagation delay is RTT/2
  • Figure 7 shows an example schematic diagram of the second method, which may include the following steps:
  • Step 1 The base station sends the downlink reference signal to the UE and records the sending time t1;
  • Step 2 The UE receives the downlink reference signal from the base station and records the reception time t2;
  • Step 3 The UE sends the uplink reference signal to the base station and records the sending time t3;
  • Step 4 The base station receives the uplink reference signal from the UE and records the reception time t4;
  • the value of this time difference can be a positive number or a negative number, depending on when the UE receives the Whether to send the uplink reference signal before or after the downlink reference signal;
  • Step 7 The base station sends the calculated propagation delay to the UE.
  • channel delay Since the channel between the baseband and antenna of equipment (such as network equipment or terminal equipment) is composed of electronic circuits, there is a certain delay when the signal is transmitted and processed on the channel. This delay can be called channel delay.
  • channel delay can be divided into uplink channel delay and downlink channel delay.
  • the downlink channel delay refers to the delay (time) experienced by the baseband of the network equipment transmitting signals to the antenna
  • the uplink channel delay refers to the delay experienced by the antenna of the network equipment transmitting signals to the baseband.
  • the uplink channel delay refers to the delay (time) experienced by the terminal equipment's baseband to transmit signals to the antenna
  • the downlink channel delay refers to the time delay experienced by the terminal equipment's antenna to transmit signals to the baseband. (time).
  • baseband may also be referred to as “baseband unit (BBU)” or “baseband chip”, and “antenna” may also be referred to as “active antenna unit (active antenna unit)” ,AAU)”.
  • BBU baseband unit
  • AAU active antenna unit
  • the TA-based PDC solution can achieve an air interface timing accuracy of approximately 540 ns, and the PDC solution based on RTT measurement can achieve an air interface timing accuracy of approximately 200 ns.
  • the UE after the UE obtains the high-precision time from the base station, it needs to continue to provide timing to other power equipment hop by hop, and each hop will cause accuracy loss in timing.
  • the current power system standard supports the UE to provide timing to the power equipment through up to 15 hops, and each hop will cause an accuracy loss of about 50ns. In this case, the existing PDC solution cannot meet the timing accuracy requirements in the power distribution automation scenario.
  • the time of reference signal is the time when the antenna of the device transmits/receives the reference signal, and in fact, the actual time when the antenna transmits/receives the reference signal is unknown.
  • the current existing technology is as follows: the device records the time when the baseband transmits/receives the reference signal, uses the baseband to estimate the channel delay between the device's baseband and the antenna, and then uses the recorded baseband to transmit/receive the reference signal, and The estimated channel delay is used to estimate the time at which the antenna transmits/receives the reference signal. This estimated time can then be used to calculate the propagation delay. Since the baseband of the device usually introduces a large estimation error when estimating the channel delay, the accurate propagation delay cannot be obtained, thereby affecting the timing accuracy.
  • the present application provides a timing method and device, which calculates the propagation delay by using the baseband transmission/reception time of the reference signal of the first device and the second device, thereby avoiding errors caused by inaccurate channel delay estimation. error.
  • timing method provided by the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  • the timing method provided by the embodiment of this application can Applied to the communication system shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 above.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an example of a timing method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the method 800 may include S810 to S840.
  • the first device may be a network device or a terminal device.
  • the second device may be a network device or a terminal device; when the first device is a network device, the second device may be a terminal device.
  • the first device is a device used to calculate propagation delay.
  • the scenario in which the first device is a network device and the second device is a terminal device is recorded as Scenario 1
  • the scenario in which the first device is a terminal device and the second device is a network device is recorded as Scenario 1.
  • the first device sends the first reference signal to the second device.
  • the second device receives the first reference signal.
  • the first device may send the first reference signal to the second device.
  • the first reference signal may be sent to the baseband of the second device via the baseband of the first device, the antenna of the first device, and the antenna of the second device.
  • the moment when the baseband of the first device sends the first reference signal can be recorded as the first moment, and the first moment can be recorded by the baseband of the first device; the baseband of the second device receives the first reference signal from the first device.
  • the time of the signal can be recorded as the second time, and the second time can be recorded by the baseband of the second device.
  • the time when the baseband of the second device receives the first reference signal from the first device can be understood as the time when the baseband of the second device receives the first reference signal.
  • the first reference signal may be a downlink reference signal sent by the network device to the terminal device, and the baseband of the network device sends the downlink reference signal.
  • the time is the first time, and the time when the baseband of the terminal equipment receives the downlink reference signal is the second time.
  • the first reference signal may be an uplink reference signal sent by the terminal device to the network device, and the baseband of the terminal device sends the uplink reference signal.
  • the time is the first time, and the time when the baseband of the network device receives the uplink reference signal is the second time.
  • S820 The second device sends a second reference signal to the first device.
  • the first device receives the second reference signal.
  • the second device may send a second reference signal to the first device.
  • the second reference signal may be sent to the baseband of the first device via the baseband of the second device, the antenna of the second device, and the antenna of the first device.
  • the moment when the baseband of the second device sends the second reference signal can be recorded as the fourth moment, and the fourth moment can be recorded by the baseband of the second device; the baseband of the first device receives the second reference signal from the second device.
  • the time of the signal can be recorded as the third time, and the third time can be recorded by the baseband of the first device.
  • the time when the baseband of the first device receives the second reference signal from the second device can be understood as the time when the baseband of the first device receives the second reference signal.
  • the second reference signal may be an uplink reference signal sent by the terminal device to the network device, and the baseband of the terminal device sends the uplink reference signal.
  • the time is the fourth time, and the time when the baseband of the network device receives the uplink reference signal is the third time.
  • the second reference signal may be a downlink reference signal sent by the network device to the terminal device, and the baseband of the network device sends the downlink reference signal.
  • the time is the fourth time, and the time when the baseband of the terminal equipment receives the downlink reference signal is the third time.
  • the first device may first send a first reference signal to the second device, and then the second device may send a second reference signal to the first device.
  • the second device may first send the second reference signal to the first device, and then the first device sends the first reference signal to the second device.
  • S830 The second device sends the first duration to the first device. Accordingly, the first device receives the first duration.
  • the first duration is related to the second moment and the fourth moment, or in other words, the first duration is relevant to the moment when the baseband of the second device receives the first reference signal and the moment when the baseband of the second device sends the second reference signal.
  • the first duration is marked as T1
  • the second moment is marked as t2
  • the fourth moment is marked as t4
  • the first device calculates the propagation delay.
  • the first device After receiving the first duration from the second device, the first device can calculate the propagation delay between the first device and the second device based on the first duration and the first moment and the third moment recorded by the first device. .
  • method 800 further includes: the first device performs propagation based on the calculated propagation delay T p Delay compensation, and then get the synchronization time.
  • the first device can add the propagation delay T p to the time of the reference point indicated by the second device to obtain the required synchronization time.
  • method 800 further includes S850.
  • the first device sends the propagation delay to the second device, or sends the time calculated based on the propagation delay.
  • the first device can send the propagation delay to the second device, so that the second device can calculate the propagation delay based on the propagation delay.
  • the propagation delay is compensated for the time delay, and the synchronization time is obtained.
  • the second device can add the propagation delay T p to the time of the reference point indicated by the first device to obtain the required synchronization time.
  • the first device after the first device calculates the propagation delay between the first device and the second device, it can perform broadcast delay compensation based on the propagation delay to obtain the required synchronization time. The time is then sent to the second device.
  • the first device may determine a reference point and add the propagation delay T p to the time corresponding to the reference point, thereby obtaining the required synchronization time.
  • the reference point used for propagation delay compensation may be, for example, the reference point corresponding to the first moment. That is, when the first device or the second device compensates for the propagation delay, the propagation delay T p can be added to the first moment to obtain the required synchronization time.
  • the relative positions of the first device and the second device may change, and this change may cause the propagation delay between the first device and the second device to also change. Therefore, when performing propagation delay compensation based on the calculated propagation delay, the reference point corresponding to the time used to calculate the propagation delay (such as the reference point corresponding to the first time) can be determined as the reference point used to perform the propagation delay In this way, even if the propagation delay between the first device and the second device changes, more accurate propagation delay compensation can be achieved, thereby improving timing accuracy.
  • reference point used for propagation delay compensation can also be other reference points, such as the reference point corresponding to the third moment, which is not limited in this application.
  • the first device can calculate the propagation delay based on the time at which the basebands of the first device and the second device transmit/receive the reference signal. Since this method does not require estimating the channel delay between the baseband and the antenna of the device (such as the first device or the second device), errors caused by inaccurate channel delay estimation can be avoided.
  • the propagation delay compensation mechanism if the propagation delay is calculated using the time when the antenna of a device (such as a network device, or a terminal device) transmits/receives a reference signal, then it is necessary to calculate the propagation delay when the device's antenna transmits/receives the reference signal. Time to estimate.
  • a device such as a network device, or a terminal device
  • the terminal device in the uplink direction, it is necessary to estimate the time when the terminal device's antenna sends the uplink reference signal based on the time when the terminal device's baseband sends the uplink reference signal and the estimated uplink channel delay; accordingly , in the downlink direction, it is necessary to estimate the time when the terminal equipment's antenna receives the downlink reference signal based on the time when the terminal equipment's baseband receives the downlink reference signal and the estimated downlink channel delay.
  • the downstream channel latency is different from the upstream channel latency, depending on the circuit design. For example, in some scenarios, the estimation of the downlink channel delay is more accurate, while in other scenarios, the estimation of the uplink channel delay is more accurate.
  • this application also provides a timing method and device, in which the delay of one channel can be determined based on the delay of another channel. For example, if the downlink channel delay is estimated accurately in a certain scenario, the uplink channel delay can be determined based on the downlink channel delay. Similarly, if the uplink channel delay is estimated accurately in a certain scenario, the uplink channel delay can be determined based on the uplink channel delay. Delay determines the downlink channel delay, thereby improving the estimation accuracy of the time when the antenna transmits/receives the reference signal, thereby improving the accuracy of the RTT-based propagation delay compensation mechanism.
  • FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of an application scenario applicable to the embodiment of the present application.
  • the third device may be a baseband unit (BBU), for example, and the fourth device may be an active antenna unit (AAU), for example.
  • BBU baseband unit
  • AAU active antenna unit
  • the BBU and AAU can be deployed in network equipment or in terminal equipment, which is not limited by this application.
  • the third device can send a reference signal (for example, recorded as a first reference signal) to the fourth device through the first channel.
  • the fourth device can receive the third device through the first channel.
  • a reference signal; the fourth device can send a reference signal (for example, recorded as a second reference signal) to the third device through the second channel, and accordingly, the third device can receive the second reference signal through the second channel.
  • the time delay for the third device to send the first reference signal to the fourth device through the first channel is called the first channel delay
  • the time delay for the fourth device to send the second reference signal to the third device through the second channel is called The delay is called the second channel delay.
  • the first channel delay can also be understood as the length of time that elapses between the time when the third device sends the first reference signal to the fourth device through the first channel and the time when the fourth device receives the first reference signal
  • the second channel delay can also be understood as the time elapsed between the time when the fourth device sends the second reference signal to the third device through the second channel and the time when the third device receives the second reference signal.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of another example of the timing method provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • the method 1000 may include S1010 and S1020.
  • S1010 The third device sends the first reference signal to the fourth device through the first channel at the first time, and the time when the fourth device receives the first reference signal is the second time.
  • the time when the fourth device receives the first reference signal is the second time. It can also be understood that the time when the fourth device receives the first reference signal is the second time.
  • S1020 The third device receives the second reference signal from the fourth device through the second channel at the third time.
  • the time when the fourth device sends the second reference signal is the fourth time, and the second time is the same as the fourth time.
  • the third device receives the second reference signal from the fourth device through the second channel at the third time. It can also be understood that the time when the third device receives the second reference signal through the second channel is the third time.
  • the second time is the same as the fourth time, which can also be understood as the time when the fourth device receives the first reference signal from the third device and the time when the fourth device sends the second reference signal to the third device; or it can also be understood that the second time is the same as the fourth time.
  • the fourth device sends the second reference signal to the fourth device while receiving the first reference signal from the third device; or it can also be understood that the fourth device receives the first reference signal from the third device.
  • a second reference signal is sent to the fourth device.
  • the second time is the same as the fourth time, and can also be understood as, the second time It is approximately the same as the fourth moment, or in other words, without considering the time difference, the second moment can be considered to be the same as the fourth moment.
  • the first reference signal and the second reference signal may be considered to be the same reference signal.
  • the fourth device may convert the first reference signal to the first reference signal at the same time as it receives the first reference signal. The signal is forwarded to the third device, so that the third device can receive the first reference signal (or second reference signal) at a third time.
  • the first reference signal and the second reference signal may be different reference signals.
  • the fourth device may generate the second reference signal at the same time as receiving the first reference signal. signal, and sends the second reference signal to the third device, so that the third device can receive the second reference signal at a third time.
  • the same moment can also be understood as approximately the same moment.
  • the third device determines the second delay based on the first time, the third time and the first delay.
  • the first delay is the delay of the first channel
  • the second delay is the delay of the second channel
  • the first delay is the delay of the second channel
  • the second delay is is the first channel delay. That is to say, the third device can determine the second channel delay based on the first time, the third time and the first channel delay, or the third device can also determine the second channel delay based on the first time, the third time and the second channel delay. Determine the first channel delay.
  • the method 1000 also includes: the third device obtains the first delay.
  • the third device may estimate the first delay according to the circuit structure of the first channel or the second channel, thereby obtaining the first delay.
  • the third device can estimate the first channel delay according to the circuit structure of the first channel to obtain the first channel delay.
  • the third device can estimate the second channel delay according to the circuit structure of the second channel to obtain the second channel delay. Second channel delay.
  • the third device may determine the second delay based on the third duration and the first delay.
  • the third duration is the difference between the third moment and the first moment. That is to say, the third duration can be used to represent the moment when the third device sends the first reference signal to the fourth device, and the moment when the third device receives the first reference signal from the fourth device. The length of time elapsed between the moments of the second reference signal of the four devices.
  • the first delay is denoted as ⁇ 1 and the second delay is denoted as ⁇ 2
  • the third device in this embodiment may be a BBU, and the fourth device may be an AAU.
  • FIG. 11 shows a schematic diagram of a specific application scenario suitable for the method 1000.
  • the third device is specifically a BBU
  • the fourth device is specifically an AAU
  • the BBU and the AAU are deployed in a network device, for example.
  • the network device can determine the uplink channel delay based on the downlink channel delay.
  • the downlink channel delay is the delay for the BBU to send the reference signal to the AAU through the first channel
  • the uplink channel delay is the delay for the AAU to send the reference signal to the BBU through the second channel.
  • Step 1 The BBU sends the downlink reference signal to the AAU through the first channel.
  • the BBU may generate a downlink reference signal and send the downlink reference signal to the AAU through the first channel.
  • the time when the BBU sends the downlink reference signal is, for example, recorded as t1.
  • the BBU may send the downlink reference signal at a downlink frame boundary position, or may send a downlink reference signal at a fixed position offset from the downlink frame boundary, which is not limited by this application.
  • Step 2 The AAU receives the downlink reference signal from the BBU and sends the downlink reference signal to the BBU at the same time.
  • the AAU can send the downlink reference signal through part of the antenna (for example, recorded as the first part of the antenna), and receive the downlink reference signal sent by the first part of the antenna through another part of the antenna. That is, after receiving the downlink reference signal, the AAU can transmit and receive the downlink reference signal at the same frequency and at the same time. Afterwards, the AAU may forward the received downlink reference signal to the BBU through the second channel.
  • the time when the BBU receives the downlink reference signal is, for example, recorded as t3.
  • the time when the AAU receives the downlink reference signal from the BBU through the first channel is the same as the time when the AAU sends the downlink reference signal to the BBU through the second channel.
  • the time is the same, which can also be understood as the time is approximately the same.
  • t1 is the time when the BBU sends the downlink reference signal at the downlink frame boundary position
  • t3 is the time when the BBU receives the downlink reference signal at the uplink frame boundary position
  • t1 is the fixed position offset of the BBU relative to the downlink frame boundary
  • t3 is the time when the BBU receives the downlink reference signal at a fixed position with the same offset relative to the uplink frame boundary.
  • Step 3 BBU determines the uplink channel delay.
  • the downlink channel delay can also be estimated through the uplink channel delay.
  • BBU and AAU deployed on network devices.
  • BBU and AAU can also be deployed in terminal devices, so that terminal devices can The same method is used to estimate the uplink channel delay or downlink channel delay.
  • the third device can determine the second channel delay based on the first channel delay, or can determine the first channel delay based on the second channel delay.
  • the second channel delay can be estimated based on the first channel delay.
  • the second channel delay can be estimated based on the first channel delay. Estimating the first channel delay based on the second channel delay can improve the estimation accuracy of the time when the antenna transmits/receives the reference signal, thereby improving the accuracy of the RTT-based propagation delay compensation mechanism.
  • the first device and the second device record the time when the reference signal is received.
  • the paths used to transmit the reference signals are different.
  • the first device is a network device and the second device is a terminal device.
  • the terminal device can pass Downlink reference signals from the network device are received through the five paths.
  • the network device can receive uplink reference signals from the terminal device through the five paths.
  • the terminal device detects the downlink reference signal from path #3 to path #5 when receiving the downlink reference signal
  • the network device detects the uplink reference signal from path #1 to path #5 when receiving the uplink reference signal. Therefore, according to the rule of using the first path by default, the time when the terminal equipment receives the downlink reference signal may be the time when the terminal equipment receives the downlink reference signal through path #3, and the time when the network equipment receives the uplink reference signal may be is the moment when the network device receives the uplink reference signal via path #1. Since network equipment and terminal equipment use different paths when recording the time when the reference signal is received, a certain error will be introduced when calculating the propagation delay based on the recorded time when the reference signal is received, thereby affecting the timing accuracy.
  • this application also provides a timing method and device.
  • the first device can determine the mth path in which the second device receives the reference signal based on path-related information from the second device.
  • the path is the same as the nth path among the paths through which the first device receives the reference signal. Therefore, the time when the second device receives the reference signal through the mth path can be compared with the time when the first device receives the reference signal through the nth path.
  • the time of the signal is used to calculate the propagation delay between the first device and the second device, thereby avoiding calculation propagation caused by the different paths used by the first device and the second device when recording the time of receiving the reference signal.
  • the error in the time delay or in other words, the error in calculating the propagation time delay caused by the different paths used by the first device and the second device when recording the time for calculating the propagation delay is avoided.
  • the propagation delay between the first device and the second device is referred to as the propagation delay in the following.
  • FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of another example of the timing method provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • the method 1200 may include S1210 and S1220.
  • the first device receives information on a first path from the second device.
  • the first path is a path through which the second device receives the first reference signal from the first device.
  • the path through which the second device receives the first reference signal from the first device can also be understood as the path through which the second device successfully receives the first reference signal from the first device, or it can also be understood as the path through which the second device can successfully receive the first reference signal from the first device.
  • the path of the first reference signal is detected.
  • the first path may include one or more paths.
  • the first path includes five paths.
  • the five paths are, for example, recorded as path #1, path #2, path #3, path #4, and path #5.
  • the information of the first path may include first indication information.
  • the first indication information may be used to indicate the moment when the second device receives the first reference signal through multiple paths in the first path, where the multiple paths include the mth path in the first path. paths, and the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through the m-th path is the time recorded by the second device and used to calculate the propagation delay, where m is a positive integer.
  • the multiple paths may be all paths in the first path, or may be part of the first path, which is not limited in this application. For example, if the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through path #2 is the time recorded by the second device and used to calculate the propagation delay, then the path #2 is included in the multiple paths.
  • the multiple paths may include path #2, path #4 and path #5. At this time, the first indication information may be used to instruct the second device to receive the first reference through path #2, path #4 and path #5. Signal moment.
  • the first indication information may indicate a specific time at which the second device receives the first reference signal through multiple paths in the first path.
  • the first indication information may respectively indicate that the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through path #2 is t2, the time when it receives the first reference signal through path #4 is t4, and the time when it receives the first reference signal through path #5 is t4. The time is t5.
  • the first indication information may indicate the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through one of the multiple paths (assumed to be recorded as the first time), and instruct the second device to receive the first reference signal through one of the multiple paths.
  • the time difference between the time when other paths receive the first reference signal and the first time indicates the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through the multiple paths.
  • the first indication information may indicate that the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through path #2 is t2, the time difference between the time when the first reference signal is received through path #4 and t2 is ⁇ 1, and the time difference between the time when the first reference signal is received through path #4 and t2 is ⁇ 1, and the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through path #4 is ⁇ 1.
  • the time difference between the time when the first reference signal is received and t2 is ⁇ 2.
  • the first indication information may also indicate that the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through path #2 is t2, and the time difference between the time when the first reference signal is received through path #4 and t2 is ⁇ 1, the time difference between the time when the first reference signal is received through path #5 and the time when the first reference signal is received through path #4 is ⁇ 3, thereby instructing the second device to pass through path #2, path #4, path # 5. The moment when the first reference signal is received.
  • the first indication information may indicate a time difference between times when the second device receives the first reference signal through different paths among the multiple paths.
  • the multiple paths include path #2, path #4 and path #5, then the first indication information may indicate the time when the second device receives the reference signal through path #2 and the time when the first reference signal is received through path #4.
  • the time difference between is ⁇ 1, and indicates that the time difference between the time when the second device receives the reference signal through path #4 and the time when the first reference signal is received through path #5 is ⁇ 3.
  • the information on the first path may also include: information on signal strengths of the multiple paths, and/or second indication information, wherein, The second indication information may be used to indicate the m-th path in the first path, and the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through the m-th path is the time recorded by the second device for calculating the propagation delay, where, m is a positive integer.
  • the information of the first path includes information of signal strengths of the multiple paths.
  • the information on the signal strength of multiple paths can also be understood as the information on the strength of signals received through the multiple paths.
  • the information of the first path includes information on the signal strength of each of the multiple paths. For example, if the multiple paths include path #2, path #4, and path #5, then the information about the first path also includes: information about the signal strength of the first reference signal received by the second device through path #2. , the signal strength information of the first reference signal received by the second device through path #4, and the signal strength information of the first reference signal received by the second device through path #5.
  • the information about the first path includes information about the signal strength of some of the multiple paths. For example, if the multiple paths include path #2, path #4, and path #5, then the information about the first path also includes: the second device passes through part of path #2, path #4, or path #5. Information about the received signal strength of the first reference signal.
  • the information of the first path includes second indication information
  • the second indication information is used to indicate the mth path in the first path. For example, if the time when the second device receives the first reference signal through path #2 (the second path in the first path) is the time recorded by the second device for calculating the propagation delay, then the second indication Information is available to indicate this path #2.
  • the second indication information may indicate the path by, for example, an index indicating the path.
  • the second device receives the first reference signal through path #2, path #4, and path #5 successively, then the indexes of path #2, path #4, and path #5 can be 0, 1, and 2 respectively.
  • the second indication information may indicate the path #2 by indicating index 0.
  • the method 1200 further includes: the first device sends the first reference signal to the second device through the first path.
  • the second device can receive the first reference signal through the first path, so that the second device can The information of the first path is obtained, and the information of the first path is sent to the first device in S1210.
  • the first device determines that the m-th path in the first path and the n-th path in the second path are the same path based on the information of the first path, where the second path is the first device receiving data from the second device.
  • the path of the second reference signal where m and n are positive integers.
  • the path through which the first device receives the second reference signal from the second device can also be understood as the path through which the first device successfully receives the second reference signal from the second device, or it can also be understood as the path through which the first device can successfully receive the second reference signal from the second device.
  • the path of the second reference signal is detected.
  • the second path may include one or more paths.
  • the following takes the second path as an example that includes 6 paths.
  • the 6 paths are, for example, recorded as path #1', path #2', path #3', path #4', and path #5. 'and path #6'.
  • the first device may determine that the m-th path in the first path and the n-th path in the second path are the same path according to the information of the first path and the information of the second path.
  • the information about the second path includes, for example: the time at which the first device receives the second reference signal through the second path.
  • the first device may determine the mth path in the first path and the mth path in the second path based on the first indication information and the time when the first device receives the second reference signal through the second path. n paths are the same path.
  • the information of the second path includes the time when the first device received the second reference signal through path #1' to path #5', and the first device received the second reference signal through path #1' to path #5'.
  • the times of the signals can be recorded as t1', t2', t3', t4', t5', and t6' respectively;
  • the first indication information instructs the second device to pass through multiple paths in the first path (such as path #2, Path #4 and path #5) receive the first reference signal at the time (such as t2, t3, t4), then the first device can Compare the time difference with the time difference between t2, t4, and t5 to determine the same three paths from path #1' to path #5' that correspond to path #2, path #4, and path #5.
  • path #2 and path #3' can be considered are the same path
  • path #4 and path #5' are the same path
  • path #5 and path #6' are the same path, that is, the second path in the first path and the third path in the second path are the same
  • the 4th path in the first path is the same as the 5th path in the second path
  • the difference between the first path and the second path can be more accurately determined by comparing the time differences. corresponding to the same path.
  • the mth path among the first paths can also be determined in the same manner as above.
  • the path is the same as the nth path in the second path, and will not be described again here.
  • the information about the second path may also include information about the signal strength of the second path.
  • the information about the signal strength of the second path can also be understood as the information about the strength of the signal received through the second path.
  • the signal strength information of the second path and the signal strength information of multiple paths in the first path information can be used to assist the first device in determining the mth path in the first path and the nth path in the second path.
  • the method 1200 further includes: the first device receives a second reference signal from the second device through the second path, so that the first device can obtain the information of the second path. For example, the time at which the first device receives the second reference signal through the second path and/or the information about the signal strength of the second path can be obtained.
  • the second device receives the first reference signal through the m-th path in the first path.
  • the time, and the time when the first device receives the second reference signal through the nth path in the second path can be used to calculate the propagation delay.
  • the first device may receive the data through a group of the paths with the same correspondence.
  • the time of the reference signal is used as the time recorded by the first device and the second device for calculating the propagation delay. Therefore, the time when the first device and the second device receive the reference signal through the set of paths can be used for calculating the propagation delay.
  • the first device determines, based on the information of the first path, that the second path in the first path is the same as the third path in the second path, and that the fourth path in the first path is the same as the second path in the second path.
  • the fifth path is the same, and the fifth path in the first path is the same as the sixth path in the second path. Then, there are the following three options for calculating the propagation delay:
  • Solution 1 Use the moment when the second device receives the first reference signal through the second path in the first path as the moment recorded by the second device for calculating the propagation delay, and use the second path when the first device receives the first reference signal through the second path. The time when the third path receives the second reference signal is used as the time recorded by the first device for calculating the propagation delay.
  • Solution 2 Use the moment when the second device receives the first reference signal through the fourth path in the first path as the moment recorded by the second device for calculating the propagation delay, and use the first device through the second path to The time when the fifth path receives the second reference signal is used as the time recorded by the first device for calculating the propagation delay.
  • Solution 3 Use the moment when the second device receives the first reference signal through the fifth path in the first path as the moment recorded by the second device for calculating the propagation delay, and use the first device through the second path to The time when the sixth path receives the second reference signal is used as the time recorded by the first device for calculating the propagation delay.
  • the first device and the second device may default to the time when the reference signal is received through the first group of paths corresponding to the same path (first path) as the time recorded by the first device and the second device for calculating the propagation delay. . That is, the above-mentioned scheme 1 is used by default to calculate the propagation delay.
  • the information of the first path includes second indication information
  • the second indication information may indicate the mth path in the first path.
  • the following takes two specific scenarios as examples to introduce the moment when the second device receives the first reference signal through the m-th path in the first path, and the time when the first device receives the second reference signal through the n-th path in the second path.
  • the time of the signal is used to calculate the propagation delay.
  • the first device is a network device (the base station in Figure 6 or Figure 7), and the second device is a terminal device (the UE in Figure 6 or Figure 7).
  • the moment when the terminal device receives the first reference signal (downlink reference signal) through the m-th path in the first path can be used as the moment recorded by the terminal device for calculating the propagation delay, as shown in Figure 6 or Figure Time t2 in 7;
  • the time when the network device receives the second reference signal (uplink reference signal) through the nth path in the second path can be used as the time recorded by the network device for calculating the propagation delay, such as Time t4 in Figure 6 or Figure 7, therefore, based on the time t2 and time t4, the RTT can be calculated, and then the propagation delay can be obtained.
  • the first device is a terminal device (UE in Figure 6 or 7), and the second device is a network device (base station in Figure 6 or 7).
  • the moment when the network device receives the first reference signal (uplink reference signal) through the m-th path in the first path can be used as the moment recorded by the network device for calculating the propagation delay, as shown in Figure 6 or Figure Time t4 in 7;
  • the time when the terminal equipment receives the second reference signal (downlink reference signal) through the nth path in the second path can be used as the time recorded by the terminal equipment for calculating the propagation delay, such as The t2 time in Figure 6 or Figure 7, therefore, based on the t2 time and t4 time, the RTT can be calculated, and then the propagation delay can be obtained.
  • the first device and the second device may also be terminal devices at the same time, which is not limited in this application.
  • FIGS. 8 to 12 in the embodiments of the present application are only to facilitate those skilled in the art to understand the embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present application to the specific illustrated scenarios. Those skilled in the art can obviously make various equivalent modifications or changes based on the examples of FIGS. 8 to 12 , and such modifications or changes also fall within the scope of the embodiments of the present application.
  • the methods and operations implemented by the device can also be implemented by components of the device (such as chips or circuits). To achieve, without limitation.
  • embodiments of the present application also provide corresponding devices, and the devices include modules for executing corresponding modules in each of the above method embodiments.
  • the module can be software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. It can be understood that the technical features described in the above method embodiments are also applicable to the following device embodiments.
  • FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a timing device provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the device 1300 includes a transceiver unit 1310.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 may be used to implement corresponding communication functions.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 may also be called a communication interface or a communication unit.
  • the device 1300 also includes a processing unit 1320, which can be used to implement corresponding processing functions.
  • a processing unit 1320 which can be used to implement corresponding processing functions.
  • the device 1300 also includes a storage unit, which can be used to store instructions and/or data, and the processing unit 1320 can read the instructions and/or data in the storage unit, so that the device implements each of the foregoing method embodiments.
  • the action of the device (such as the first device, the second device, the third device or the fourth device).
  • the device 1300 may be the device in the previous embodiment (such as the first device), or may be a component of the device (such as a chip).
  • the device 1300 can implement steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the first device in the above method embodiment, wherein the transceiver unit 1310 can be used to perform operations related to transceiver processing by the first device in the above method embodiment.
  • the unit 1320 may be used to perform operations related to processing of the first device in the above method embodiment.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 may be a transceiver, or an input/output interface; the processing unit 1320 may be at least one processor.
  • the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit.
  • the input/output interface may be an input/output circuit.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 may be an input/output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin or related information on the chip, chip system or circuit. circuit, etc.; the processing unit 1320 may be at least one processor, processing circuit or logic circuit, etc.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 is configured to send the first reference signal to the second device.
  • the baseband of the device 1300 sends the first reference signal at the first time, and the baseband of the second device receives the first reference signal.
  • the time is the second time; the transceiver unit 1310 is also used to receive the second reference signal from the second device.
  • the time when the baseband of the device 1300 receives the second reference signal is the third time, and the baseband of the second device sends the second reference signal.
  • the first duration is the difference between the second moment and the fourth moment; or, the first duration is the difference between the fourth moment and the second moment.
  • the processing unit 1320 is also configured to calculate the propagation delay between the apparatus 1300 and the second device based on the first time length and the second time length, where the second time length is the difference between the third time and the first time.
  • the processing unit 1320 is also configured to calculate the propagation delay between the device 1300 and the second device based on the sum of the first duration and the second duration, where the first duration is the time between the second moment and the fourth moment. Difference; or, the processing unit 1320 is also configured to calculate the propagation delay between the device 1300 and the second device based on the difference between the second duration and the first duration, where the first duration is between the fourth moment and the second time difference.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 is also configured to send the propagation delay to the second device; or, the transceiver unit 1310 is also configured to send the time calculated based on the propagation delay to the second device.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 is used to receive information from the first path of the second device.
  • the first path is the path through which the second device receives the first reference signal from the device 1300;
  • the processing unit 1320 is used to Based on the information of the first path, it is determined that the m-th path in the first path and the n-th path in the second path are the same path, wherein the second path is for the device 1300 to receive the second reference signal from the second device.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 is also configured to receive the second reference signal from the second device through the second path; the processing unit 1320 is further configured to determine the first reference signal based on the information of the first path and the information of the second path.
  • the mth path in the path and the nth path in the second path are the same path.
  • the information of the first path includes: first indication information, the first indication information is used to indicate the moment when the second device receives the first reference signal through multiple paths in the first path, and the multiple paths include the first path.
  • the mth path in .
  • the information of the first path also includes one or more of the following information: information of signal strengths of multiple paths; or, second indication information, the second indication information is used to indicate the mth piece of the first path. path.
  • the information of the second path includes: the time when the device 1300 receives the second reference signal through the second path.
  • the device 1300 may be the device in the previous embodiment (such as the second device), or may be a component of the device (such as a chip).
  • the apparatus 1300 can implement steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the second device in the above method embodiment, wherein the transceiver unit 1310 can be used to perform operations related to transceiver of the second device in the above method embodiment.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 may be a transceiver, or an input/output interface.
  • the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit.
  • the input/output interface may be an input/output circuit.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 may be an input/output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin or related information on the chip, chip system or circuit. circuit etc.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 is used to receive the first reference signal from the first device.
  • the baseband of the device 1300 receives the first reference signal at the second time, and the baseband of the first device sends the first reference signal.
  • the time is the first time; the transceiver unit 1310 is also used to send a second reference signal to the first device, the time when the baseband of the device 1300 sends the second reference signal is the fourth time, and the baseband of the first device receives the second reference signal.
  • the time is the third time; the transceiver unit 1310 is also used to send the first time duration to the first device, the first time duration is related to the second time and the fourth time, the first time, the third time and the first time duration are used for The propagation delay between the first device and the apparatus 1300 is calculated.
  • the first duration is the difference between the second moment and the fourth moment; or, the first duration is the difference between the fourth moment and the second moment.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 is also configured to receive the propagation delay from the first device; or, the transceiver unit 1310 is also configured to receive the time calculated based on the propagation delay from the first device.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 is configured to receive the first reference signal from the first device through the first path; the transceiver unit 1310 is also configured to send the first path information to the first device.
  • the path information is used to determine that the mth path in the first path and the nth path in the second path are the same path, where the second path is the path through which the first device receives the second reference signal from the device 1300,
  • the time when the device 1300 receives the first reference signal through the m-th path among the first paths, and the time when the first device receives the second reference signal through the n-th path among the second paths, are used to calculate the first device and the device Propagation delay between 1300, where m and n are positive integers.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 is also configured to send a second reference signal to the first device through a second path, and the information of the second path is used to determine the mth path in the first path and the mth path in the second path. n paths are the same path.
  • the information of the first path includes: first indication information.
  • the first indication information is used to instruct the device 1300 to receive the first reference signal through multiple paths in the first path.
  • the multiple paths include: The mth path.
  • the information of the first path also includes one or more of the following information: information of signal strengths of multiple paths; or, second indication information, the second indication information is used to indicate the mth piece of the first path. path.
  • the information of the second path includes: the time when the first device receives the second reference signal through the second path.
  • the device 1300 may be the device in the previous embodiment (such as the third device), or may be a component of the device (such as a chip).
  • the device 1300 can implement steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the third device in the above method embodiment, wherein the transceiver unit 1310 can be used to perform operations related to transceiver processing by the third device in the above method embodiment.
  • the unit 1320 may be used to perform operations related to processing of the third device in the above method embodiment.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 may be a transceiver, or an input/output interface; the processing unit 1320 may be at least one processor.
  • the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit.
  • the input/output interface may be an input/output circuit.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 may be an input/output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin or related information on the chip, chip system or circuit. circuit, etc.; the processing unit 1320 may be at least one processor, processing circuit or logic circuit, etc.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 is configured to send the first reference signal to the fourth device through the first channel at the first time, and the time when the fourth device receives the first reference signal is the second time; the transceiver unit 1310, It is also configured to receive the second reference signal from the fourth device through the second channel at the third time, the time when the fourth device sends the second reference signal is the fourth time, and the second time is the same as the fourth time; the processing unit 1320, Used to determine the second delay based on the first moment, the third moment and the first delay, where the first delay is the first channel delay and the second delay is the second channel delay; or, the first time delay is the first channel delay.
  • the delay is the second channel delay, and the second channel delay is the first channel delay, where the first channel delay is the delay for the device 1300 to send the first reference signal to the fourth device through the first channel, and the second channel delay is The delay is a delay for the device 1300 to receive the second reference signal from the fourth device through the second channel.
  • the processing unit 1320 is also used to obtain the first delay.
  • the processing unit 1320 is also configured to determine the second delay based on the third time duration and the first time delay, where the third time duration is the difference between the third time and the first time.
  • the processing unit 1320 is also configured to determine the second delay based on the difference between the third duration and the first delay.
  • the device 1300 is an indoor baseband processing unit BBU, and the fourth device is an active antenna unit AAU.
  • the device 1300 may be the device in the previous embodiment (such as the fourth device), or may be a component of the device (such as a chip).
  • the apparatus 1300 can implement steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the fourth device in the above method embodiment, wherein the transceiver unit 1310 can be used to perform operations related to transceiver and transceiver by the fourth device in the above method embodiment.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 may be a transceiver, or an input/output interface.
  • the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit.
  • the input/output interface may be an input/output circuit.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 may be an input/output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin or related information on the chip, chip system or circuit. circuit etc.
  • the transceiver unit 1310 is configured to receive the first reference signal from the third device through the first channel.
  • the time when the device 1300 receives the first reference signal is time 2, and the time when the third device sends the first reference signal is The time is the first time; the transceiver unit 1310 is also used to send the second reference signal to the third device through the second channel.
  • the time when the device 1300 sends the second reference signal is the fourth time.
  • the third device receives the second reference signal.
  • the time is the third time, and the second time is the same as the fourth time; the first time, the third time and the first delay are used to determine the second delay, where the first delay is the first channel delay, and the second The delay is the delay of the second channel; or the first delay is the delay of the second channel, and the second delay is the delay of the first channel, where the delay of the first channel is the delay of the third device to the device through the first channel.
  • the delay of the device 1300 sending the first reference signal, and the second channel delay is the delay of the third device receiving the second reference signal from the device 1300 through the second channel.
  • the third device is a baseband unit BBU, and the device 1300 is an active antenna processing unit AAU.
  • the device 1300 here is embodied in the form of a functional unit.
  • the term "unit” as used herein may refer to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor for executing one or more software or firmware programs (e.g., a shared processor, a dedicated processor, or a group of processors). processor, etc.) and memory, merged logic circuitry, and/or other suitable components to support the described functionality.
  • ASIC application specific integrated circuit
  • processor for executing one or more software or firmware programs
  • memory e.g., a shared processor, a dedicated processor, or a group of processors.
  • merged logic circuitry e.g., merged logic circuitry, and/or other suitable components to support the described functionality.
  • the first device in the above method embodiments can be used to perform various processes and/or steps corresponding to the first device in the above method embodiments; or the device 1300 can be specifically a second device in the above embodiments, which can be used to perform the above.
  • Each process and/or step; or, the device 1300 can be specifically the fourth device in the above embodiments, and can be used to execute each process and/or step corresponding to the fourth device in the above method embodiments. To avoid duplication, I won’t go into details here.
  • the device 1300 of each of the above solutions has the function of realizing the corresponding steps performed by the device (such as the first device, the second device, the third device or the fourth device) in the above method.
  • the functions described can be implemented by hardware, or can be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software.
  • the hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions; for example, the transceiver unit can be replaced by a transceiver (for example, the sending unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a transmitter, and the receiving unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a receiving unit. (machine replacement), other units, such as processing units, etc., can be replaced by processors to respectively perform the sending and receiving operations and related processing operations in each method embodiment.
  • transceiver unit 1310 may also be a transceiver circuit (for example, it may include a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit), and the processing unit 1320 may be a processing circuit.
  • the device in Figure 13 may be the device in the aforementioned embodiment, or it may be a chip or a chip system, such as a system on chip (SoC).
  • the transceiver unit may be an input-output circuit or a communication interface; the processing unit may be a processor, microprocessor, or integrated circuit integrated on the chip. No limitation is made here.
  • this embodiment of the present application provides another communication device 1400.
  • the device 1400 includes a processor 1410, which is used to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 1420, or read data/signaling stored in the memory 1420, to perform the methods in each method embodiment above.
  • processors 1410 there are one or more processors 1410 .
  • the device 1400 further includes a memory 1420, which is used to store computer programs or instructions and/or data.
  • the memory 1420 may be integrated with the processor 1410, or may be provided separately.
  • the device 1400 also includes a transceiver 1430, which is used for receiving and/or transmitting signals.
  • the processor 1410 is used to control the transceiver 1430 to receive and/or transmit signals.
  • the device 1400 is used to implement the operations performed by the device (such as the first device, the second device, the third device or the fourth device) in each of the above method embodiments.
  • the processor 1410 is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 1420 to implement related operations of the device (such as the first device, the second device, the third device or the fourth device) in each of the above method embodiments.
  • processors mentioned in the embodiments of this application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processor, digital signal processor (DSP), or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
  • ASIC application specific integrated circuit
  • FPGA field programmable gate array
  • a general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor, etc.
  • non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (erasable PROM, EPROM), electrically removable memory. Erase electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM) or flash memory. Volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM). For example, RAM can be used as an external cache.
  • RAM includes the following forms: static random access memory (static RAM, SRAM), dynamic random access memory (dynamic RAM, DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), Double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (double data rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM) and direct Memory bus random access memory (direct rambus RAM, DR RAM).
  • the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware component
  • the memory storage module
  • memories described herein are intended to include, but are not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memories.
  • Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer-readable storage medium on which is stored a method for implementing the method executed by a device (such as a first device, a second device, a third device or a fourth device) in each of the above method embodiments.
  • a device such as a first device, a second device, a third device or a fourth device
  • the computer program when executed by a computer, the computer can implement the device (such as Section 1) in the above method embodiments.
  • Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product, which includes instructions that, when executed by a computer, are executed by a device (such as a first device, a second device, a third device or a fourth device) in each of the above method embodiments. Methods.
  • the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other ways.
  • the device embodiments described above are only illustrative.
  • the division of the units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.
  • multiple units or components may be combined or can be integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored, or not implemented.
  • the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between each other shown or discussed may be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection of the devices or units may be in electrical, mechanical or other forms.
  • the computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device.
  • the computer may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device.
  • the computer instructions may be stored in or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another, e.g., the computer instructions may be transferred from a website, computer, server, or data center Transmission to another website, computer, server or data center by wired (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means.
  • the computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that contains one or more available media integrated.
  • the available media may be magnetic media (such as floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (such as DVDs), or semiconductor media (such as solid state disks (SSD)), etc.
  • the aforementioned available media include but Not limited to: U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk or optical disk and other media that can store program code.

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Abstract

本申请提供了一种授时的方法和装置，该方法包括：第一设备向第二设备发送第一参考信号，第一设备的基带发送第一参考信号的时刻为第一时刻，第二设备的基带接收第一参考信号的时刻为第二时刻；第一设备接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号，第一设备的基带接收第二参考信号的时刻为第三时刻，第二设备的基带发送第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻；第一设备接收来自第二设备的第一时长，第一时长与第二时刻和第四时刻相关；第一设备基于第一时刻、第三时刻和第一时长，计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延。本申请提供的技术方案利用第一设备和第二设备的基带发送/接收参考信号的时刻计算传播时延，从而能够避免由于通道时延估计不准确引起的误差。

Description

一种授时的方法和装置
本申请要求于2022年08月19日提交中国专利局、申请号为202210996949.6、申请名称为“一种授时的方法和装置”的中国专利申请的优先权，其全部内容通过引用结合在本申请中。
技术领域
本申请实施例涉及通信领域，并且更具体地，涉及一种授时的方法和装置。
背景技术
提高授时精度的关键在于获得准确的传播时延，进而在授时过程中对传播时延进行补偿。
在现有的传播时延补偿(propagation delay compensation，PDC)方案中，基于定时提前(timing advance，TA)的PDC方案可以达到约540ns的空口授时精度，基于往返时间(round trip time，RTT)测量的PDC方案可以达到约200ns的空口授时精度。但是在配电自动化场景下，用户设备(user equipment，UE)从网络设备获取到时间后，需要继续逐跳向其他电力设备继续进行授时，而且每跳授时都会产生精度损失。现有的PDC方案无法满足配电自动化场景下的授时精度要求。
因此，如何获得更为准确的传播时延以提高授时精度，是亟需解决的问题。
发明内容
本申请提供一种授时的方法和装置，该方法能够提高计算传播时延的精度，进而提高授时精度。
第一方面，提供了一种授时的方法，该方法可以由设备(如第一设备)执行，或者，也可以由配置于设备中的芯片或芯片系统或电路执行，本申请对此不做限制。下面以由第一设备执行为例进行说明。
该方法可以包括：第一设备向第二设备发送第一参考信号，第一设备的基带发送第一参考信号的时刻为第一时刻，第二设备的基带接收第一参考信号的时刻为第二时刻；第一设备接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号，第一设备的基带接收第二参考信号的时刻为第三时刻，第二设备的基带发送第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻；第一设备接收来自第二设备的第一时长，第一时长与第二时刻和第四时刻相关；第一设备基于第一时刻、第三时刻和第一时长，计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延。
根据本实施例的方法，第一设备可基于第一设备和第二设备的基带发送/接收参考信号的时刻计算传播时延。由于该方法可以不需要估计设备(如第一设备，又如第二设备)的基带与天线之间的通道时延，因此能够避免由于通道时延估计不准确引起的误差。
结合第一方面，在第一方面的某些实现方式中，第一时长为第二时刻与第四时刻的差值；或者，第一时长为第四时刻与第二时刻的差值。
结合第一方面，在第一方面的某些实现方式中，第一设备基于第一时刻、第三时刻和第一时长，计算第一设备和第二设备之间的传播时延，包括：第一设备基于第一时长和第二时长，计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延，第二时长为第三时刻与第一时刻的差值。
结合第一方面，在第一方面的某些实现方式中，第一设备基于第一时长和第二时长，计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延，包括：第一设备基于第一时长与第二时长的和，计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，第一时长为第二时刻与第四时刻的差值；或者，第一设备基于第二时长与第一时长的差值，计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，第一时长为第四时刻与第二时刻的差值。
根据本实施例的方法，当第一时长为第二时刻与第四时刻的差值时，第一设备可基于第一时长与第二时长的和计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，第一时长与第二时长的和可用于表示往返时间RTT；当第一时长为第四时刻与第二时刻的差值时，第一设备可基于第二时长与第一时长的差值计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，第二时长与第一时长的差值可用于表示往返时 间RTT。
结合第一方面，在第一方面的某些实现方式中，方法还包括：第一设备向第二设备发送传播时延；或者，第一设备向第二设备发送基于传播时延计算的时间。
根据本实施例的方法，在第一设备向第二设备授时的场景中，第一设备在计算得到第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延之后可向第二设备发送传播时延，从而，第二设备可基于该传播时延进行传播时延补偿，进而得到同步时间；或者，第一设备在计算得到第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延之后，可基于该传播时延进行播时延补偿，得到所需的同步时间，进而向第二设备发送该时间。
第二方面，提供了一种授时的方法，该方法可以由设备(如第二设备)执行，或者，也可以由配置于设备中的芯片或芯片系统或电路执行，本申请对此不做限制。下面以由第二设备执行为例进行说明。
该方法可以包括：第二设备接收来自第一设备的第一参考信号，第二设备的基带接收第一参考信号的时刻为第二时刻，第一设备的基带发送第一参考信号的时刻为第一时刻；第二设备向第一设备发送第二参考信号，第二设备的基带发送第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻，第一设备的基带接收第二参考信号的时刻为第三时刻；第二设备向第一设备发送第一时长，第一时长与第二时刻和第四时刻相关，第一时刻、第三时刻和第一时长，用于计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延。
根据本实施例的方法，第一设备可基于第一设备和第二设备的基带发送/接收参考信号的时刻计算传播时延。由于该方法可以不需要估计设备(如第一设备，又如第二设备)的基带与天线之间的通道时延，因此能够避免由于通道时延估计不准确引起的误差。
结合第二方面，在第二方面的某些实现方式中，第一时长为第二时刻与第四时刻的差值；或者，第一时长为第四时刻与第二时刻的差值。
结合第二方面，在第二方面的某些实现方式中，方法还包括：第二设备接收来自第一设备的传播时延；或者，第二设备接收来自第一设备的基于传播时延计算的时间。
第三方面，提供了一种授时的方法，该方法可以由设备(如第三设备)执行，或者，也可以由配置于设备中的芯片或芯片系统或电路执行，本申请对此不做限制。下面以由第三设备执行为例进行说明。
该方法可以包括：第三设备在第一时刻通过第一通道向第四设备发送第一参考信号，第四设备接收第一参考信号的时刻为第二时刻；第三设备在第三时刻通过第二通道接收来自第四设备的第二参考信号，第四设备发送第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻，第二时刻与第四时刻相同；第三设备基于第一时刻、第三时刻和第一时延确定第二时延，其中，第一时延为第一通道时延，第二时延为第二通道时延；或者，第一时延为第二通道时延，第二时延为第一通道时延，其中，第一通道时延为第三设备通过第一通道向第四设备发送第一参考信号的时延，第二通道时延为第三设备通过第二通道接收来自第四设备的第二参考信号的时延。
根据本实施例的方法，第三设备可根据第一通道时延确定第二通道时延，或者，可根据第二通道时延确定第一通道时延。这样，对于某些对第一通道时延估计较为准确的场景，可根据第一通道时延估计第二通道时延，相应地，对于某些对第二通道时延估计较为准确的场景，可根据第二通道时延估计第一通道时延，从而，可提高对天线发送/接收参考信号的时刻的估计精度，进而提高基于RTT的传播时延补偿机制的精度。
结合第三方面，在第三方面的某些实现方式中，方法还包括：第三设备获取第一时延。
示例性地，第三设备可根据第一通道或第二通道的电路结构，对第一时延进行估计，从而获取第一时延。例如，当第一时延为第一通道时延时，第三设备可根据第一通道的电路结构对第一通道时延进行估计，以获得第一通道时延。又例如，当第一时延为第二通道时延时，第三设备可根据第二通道的电路结构对第二通道时延进行估计，以获得第二通道时延。
结合第三方面，在第三方面的某些实现方式中，第三设备基于第一时刻、第三时刻和第一时延确定第二时延，包括：第三设备基于第三时长和第一时延确定第二时延，第三时长为第三时刻与第一时刻的差值。
根据本实施例的方法，第三设备可基于第三时长和其中一个通道时延，确定另一个通道时延。其中，第三时长为第三时刻与第一时刻的差值，也就是说，第三时长可用于表示第三设备向第四设备发送第一参考信号的时刻，与第三设备接收到来自第四设备的第二参考信号的时刻之间所经历的时长。
结合第三方面，在第三方面的某些实现方式中，第三设备基于第三时长和第一时延确定第二时延，包括：第三设备基于第三时长与第一时延的差值确定第二时延。
根据本实施例的方法，由于第二时刻与第四时刻相同，因此第三时长可表示为第一时延和第二时延的和，从而，第三设备可基于第三时长与第一时延的差值确定第二时延。
结合第三方面，在第三方面的某些实现方式中，第三设备为室内基带处理单元BBU，第四设备为有源天线单元AAU。
第四方面，提供了一种授时的方法，该方法可以由设备(如第四设备)执行，或者，也可以由配置于设备中的芯片或芯片系统或电路执行，本申请对此不做限制。下面以由第四设备执行为例进行说明。
该方法可以包括：第四设备通过第一通道接收来自第三设备的第一参考信号，第四设备接收第一参考信号的时刻为二时刻，第三设备发送第一参考信号的时刻为第一时刻；第四设备通过第二通道向第三设备发送第二参考信号，第四设备发送第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻，第三设备接收第二参考信号的时刻为第三时刻，第二时刻与第四时刻相同；第一时刻、第三时刻和第一时延用于确定第二时延，其中，第一时延为第一通道时延，第二时延为第二通道时延；或者，第一时延为第二通道时延，第二时延为第一通道时延，其中，第一通道时延为第三设备通过第一通道向第四设备发送第一参考信号的时延，第二通道时延为第三设备通过第二通道接收来自第四设备的第二参考信号的时延。
根据本实施例的方法，第三设备可根据第一通道时延确定第二通道时延，或者，可根据第二通道时延确定第一通道时延。这样，对于某些对第一通道时延估计较为准确的场景，可根据第一通道时延估计第二通道时延，相应地，对于某些对第二通道时延估计较为准确的场景，可根据第二通道时延估计第一通道时延，从而，可提高对天线发送/接收参考信号的时刻的估计精度，进而提高基于RTT的传播时延补偿机制的精度。
结合第四方面，在第四方面的某些实现方式中，第三设备为基带单元BBU，第四设备为有源天线处理单元AAU。
第五方面，提供了一种授时的方法，该方法可以由设备(如第一设备)执行，或者，也可以由配置于设备中的芯片或芯片系统或电路执行，本申请对此不做限制。下面以由第一设备执行为例进行说明。
该方法可以包括：第一设备接收来自第二设备的第一路径的信息，第一路径为第二设备接收来自第一设备的第一参考信号的路径；第一设备根据第一路径的信息，确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径，其中，第二路径为第一设备接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号的路径，第二设备通过第一路径中的第m条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，和第一设备通过第二路径中的第n条路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，用于计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，m和n为正整数。
根据本实施例的方法，第一设备可根据来自第二设备的第一路径的信息，确定第二设备接收第一参考信号的路径中的第m条路径，与第一设备接收第二参考信号的路径中的第n条路径相同，从而，可将第二设备通过该第m条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，和第一设备通过该第n条路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，用于计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延，进而避免了由于第一设备和第二设备在记录接收参考信号的时刻时所使用的路径不同所引起的计算传播时延时的误差，或者说，避免了由于第一设备和第二设备在记录用于计算传播时延的时刻时所使用的路径不同所引起的计算传播时延时的误差。
结合第五方面，在第五方面的某些实现方式中，方法还包括：第一设备通过第二路径，接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号；第一设备根据第一路径的信息，确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径，包括：第一设备根据第一路径的信息和第二路径的信息，确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径。
根据本实施例的方法，第一设备可通过第二路径接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号，从而，第一设备可获知第二路径的信息。进而，第一设备可根据第一路径的信息和第二路径的信息，确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径。
结合第五方面，在第五方面的某些实现方式中，第一路径的信息包括：第一指示信息，第一指示信息用于指示第二设备通过第一路径中的多条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，多条路径包括第一路径 中的第m条路径。
一示例，第一指示信息可指示第二设备通过第一路径中的多条路径接收第一参考信号的具体时刻。
另一示例，第一指示信息还可指示第二设备通过该多条路径中的其中一条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻(假设记为第一时刻)，并指示第二设备通过该多条路径中的其他路径接收第一参考信号的时刻与第一时刻之间的时间差，从而指示第二设备通过该多条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻。
结合第五方面，在第五方面的某些实现方式中，第一路径的信息还包括以下一项或多项信息：多条路径的信号强度的信息；或者，第二指示信息，第二指示信息用于指示第一路径中的第m条路径。
根据本实施例的方法，第二指示信息可用于指示第一路径中的第m条路径，因此，第一设备可获知第二设备在记录用于计算传播时延的时刻时所使用的具体是哪一条路径，以便于第一设备在记录用于计算传播时延的时刻时使用与该第m条路径对应相同的路径，从而避免由于第一设备和第二设备在记录用于计算传播时延的时刻时所使用的路径不同所引起的计算传播时延时的误差。
结合第五方面，在第五方面的某些实现方式中，第二路径的信息包括：第一设备通过第二路径接收第二参考信号的时刻。
根据本实施例的方法，第二路径的信息可包括第一设备通过第二路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，从而，第一设备可根据第一指示信息，以及根据第一设备通过第二路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径。
第六方面，提供了一种授时的方法，该方法可以由设备(如第二设备)执行，或者，也可以由配置于设备中的芯片或芯片系统或电路执行，本申请对此不做限制。下面以由第二设备执行为例进行说明。
该方法可以包括：第二设备通过第一路径，接收来自第一设备的第一参考信号；第二设备向第一设备发送第一路径的信息，第一路径的信息用于确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径，其中，第二路径为第一设备接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号的路径，第二设备通过第一路径中的第m条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，和第一设备通过第二路径中的第n条路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，用于计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，m和n为正整数。
根据本实施例的方法，第一设备可根据来自第二设备的第一路径的信息，确定第二设备接收第一参考信号的路径中的第m条路径，与第一设备接收第二参考信号的路径中的第n条路径相同，从而，可将第二设备通过该第m条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，和第一设备通过该第n条路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，用于计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延，进而避免了由于第一设备和第二设备在记录接收参考信号的时刻时所使用的路径不同所引起的计算传播时延时的误差，或者说，避免了由于第一设备和第二设备在记录用于计算传播时延的时刻时所使用的路径不同所引起的计算传播时延时的误差。
结合第六方面，在第六方面的某些实现方式中，方法还包括：第二设备通过第二路径，向第一设备发送第二参考信号，第二路径的信息用于确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径。
根据本实施例的方法，第一设备可通过第二路径接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号，从而，第一设备可获知第二路径的信息。进而，第一设备可根据第一路径的信息和第二路径的信息，确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径。
结合第六方面，在第六方面的某些实现方式中，第一路径的信息包括：第一指示信息，第一指示信息用于指示第二设备通过第一路径中的多条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，多条路径包括第一路径中的第m条路径。
一示例，第一指示信息可指示第二设备通过第一路径中的多条路径接收第一参考信号的具体时刻。
另一示例，第一指示信息还可指示第二设备通过该多条路径中的其中一条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻(假设记为第一时刻)，并指示第二设备通过该多条路径中的其他路径接收第一参考信号的时刻与第一时刻之间的时间差，从而指示第二设备通过该多条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻。
结合第六方面，在第六方面的某些实现方式中，第一路径的信息还包括以下一项或多项信息：多条路径的信号强度的信息；或者，第二指示信息，第二指示信息用于指示第一路径中的第m条路径。
根据本实施例的方法，第二指示信息可用于指示第一路径中的第m条路径，因此，第一设备可获知第二设备在记录用于计算传播时延的时刻时所使用的具体是哪一条路径，以便于第一设备在记录用 于计算传播时延的时刻时使用与该第m条路径对应相同的路径，从而避免由于第一设备和第二设备在记录用于计算传播时延的时刻时所使用的路径不同所引起的计算传播时延时的误差。
结合第六方面，在第六方面的某些实现方式中，第二路径的信息包括：第一设备通过第二路径接收第二参考信号的时刻。
根据本实施例的方法，第二路径的信息可包括第一设备通过第二路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，从而，第一设备可根据第一指示信息，以及根据第一设备通过第二路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径。
第七方面，提供一种通信的装置，该装置用于执行上述第一方面至第六方面任一种可能实现方式中的方法。具体地，该装置可以包括用于执行第一方面至第六方面任一种可能实现方式中的方法的单元和/或模块，如处理单元和/或通信单元。
在一种实现方式中，该装置为设备(如第一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)。当该装置为设备(如第一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)时，通信单元可以是收发器，或，输入/输出接口；处理单元可以是至少一个处理器。可选地，收发器可以为收发电路。可选地，输入/输出接口可以为输入/输出电路。
在另一种实现方式中，该装置为用于设备(如第一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)的芯片、芯片系统或电路。当该装置为用于设备(如第一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)的芯片、芯片系统或电路时，通信单元可以是该芯片、芯片系统或电路上的输入/输出接口、接口电路、输出电路、输入电路、管脚或相关电路等；处理单元可以是至少一个处理器、处理电路或逻辑电路等。
第八方面，提供一种通信的装置，该装置包括：至少一个处理器，用于执行存储器存储的计算机程序或指令，以执行上述第一方面至第六方面任一种可能实现方式中的方法。可选地，该装置还包括存储器，用于存储的计算机程序或指令。可选地，该装置还包括通信接口，处理器通过通信接口读取存储器存储的计算机程序或指令。
在一种实现方式中，该装置为设备(如第一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)。
在另一种实现方式中，该装置为用于设备(如第一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)中的芯片、芯片系统或电路。
第九方面，本申请提供一种处理器，用于执行上述各方面提供的方法。
对于处理器所涉及的发送和获取/接收等操作，如果没有特殊说明，或者，如果未与其在相关描述中的实际作用或者内在逻辑相抵触，则可以理解为处理器输出和接收、输入等操作，也可以理解为由射频电路和天线所进行的发送和接收操作，本申请对此不作限定。
第十方面，提供一种计算机可读存储介质，该计算机可读介质存储用于设备执行的程序代码，该程序代码包括用于执行上述第一方面至第六方面任一种可能实现方式中的方法。
第十一方面，提供一种包含指令的计算机程序产品，当该计算机程序产品在计算机上运行时，使得计算机执行上述第一方面至第六方面任一种可能实现方式中的方法。
第十二方面，提供一种芯片，芯片包括处理器与通信接口，处理器通过通信接口读取存储器上存储的指令，执行上述第一方面至第六方面中任一方面的任意一种实现方式提供的方法。
可选地，作为一种实现方式，芯片还包括存储器，存储器中存储有计算机程序或指令，处理器用于执行存储器上存储的计算机程序或指令，当计算机程序或指令被执行时，处理器用于执行上述第一方面至第六方面中任一方面的任意一种实现方式提供的方法。
第十三方面，提供一种芯片，芯片包括逻辑电路和通信接口，通信接口用于接收待处理的数据和/或信息，并将待处理的数据和/或信息传输至逻辑电路，逻辑电路用于执行上述第一方面至第六方面中任一方面的任意一种实现方式提供的方法。
第十四方面，提供一种通信系统，包括上述第一方面和第二方面提供的方法中的第一设备和第二设备，或者，包括上述第五方面和第六方面提供的方法中的第一设备和第二设备，或者，包括上述的第三设备和第四设备。
附图说明
图1是适用于本申请的通信系统的一例示意图。
图2是适用于本申请的通信系统的另一例示意图。
图3是5GS作为TSN的一个桥接设备的示意图。
图4是基站通过单播方式指示5G时间的一例示意图。
图5是基于定时提前机制进行传播时延补偿的一例示意图。
图6是基于往返时间测量机制进行传播时延补偿的一例示意图。
图7是基于往返时间测量机制进行传播时延补偿的另一例示意图。
图8是本申请实施例提供的授时的方法的一例示意图。
图9是适用于本申请实施例的应用场景的一例示意图。
图10是本申请实施例提供的授时的方法的另一例示意图。
图11是适用于本申请实施例的具体应用场景的一例示意图。
图12是本申请实施例提供的授时的方法的另一例示意图。
图13是本申请实施例提供的一种授时的装置的示意性框图。
图14是本申请实施例提供的一种通信装置的示意性框图。
具体实施方式
下面将结合附图，对本申请实施例中的技术方案进行描述。
本申请提供的技术方案可以应用于各种通信系统，例如：第五代(5th generation，5G)或新无线(new radio，NR)系统、长期演进(long term evolution，LTE)系统、LTE频分双工(frequency division duplex，FDD)系统、LTE时分双工(time division duplex，TDD)系统等。本申请提供的技术方案还可以应用于未来的通信系统，如第六代移动通信系统。本申请提供的技术方案还可以应用于设备到设备(device to device，D2D)通信，车到万物(vehicle-to-everything，V2X)通信，机器到机器(machine to machine，M2M)通信，机器类型通信(machine type communication，MTC)，以及物联网(internet of things，IoT)通信系统或者其他通信系统。下面以5G系统为例进行示例性说明。
图1为适用于本申请的通信系统的一例示意图。该通信系统100可以包括至少一个网络设备，例如图1所示的网络设备110。该通信系统100还可以包括至少一个终端设备，例如图1所示的终端设备120。其中，网络设备110和终端设备120可通过互相发送参考信号的方式确定网络设备110和终端设备120之间的传播时延。
本申请提供的技术方案还可以适用于侧行(sidelink，SL)通信场景，此时，图1中的网络设备110还可以替换为另一个终端设备，如图2所示。
图2是适用于本申请的通信系统的另一例示意图。该通信系统200可以包括至少两个终端设备，例如图2所示的终端设备210和终端设备220。其中，终端设备210和终端设备220可通过互相发送参考信号的方式确定终端设备210和终端设备220之间的传播时延。
为便于理解本申请的实施例，下面主要以图1所示的通信系统为例介绍本申请的技术方案。
本申请实施例中的终端设备也可以称为用户设备(user equipment，UE)、接入终端、用户单元、用户站、移动站、移动台、远方站、远程终端、移动设备、用户终端、终端、无线通信设备、用户代理或用户装置。
终端设备可以是一种向用户提供语音/数据的设备，例如，具有无线连接功能的手持式设备、车载设备等。目前，一些终端的举例为：手机(mobile phone)、平板电脑、笔记本电脑、掌上电脑、移动互联网设备(mobile internet device，MID)、可穿戴设备，虚拟现实(virtual reality，VR)设备、增强现实(augmented reality，AR)设备、工业控制(industrial control)中的无线终端、无人驾驶(self driving)中的无线终端、远程手术(remote medical surgery)中的无线终端、智能电网(smart grid)中的无线终端、运输安全(transportation safety)中的无线终端、智慧城市(smart city)中的无线终端、智慧家庭(smart home)中的无线终端、蜂窝电话、无绳电话、会话启动协议(session initiation protocol，SIP)电话、无线本地环路(wireless local loop，WLL)站、个人数字助理(personal digital assistant，PDA)、具有无线通信功能的手持设备、计算设备或连接到无线调制解调器的其它处理设备、可穿戴设备，5G网络中的终端设备或者未来演进的公用陆地移动通信网络(public land mobile network，PLMN)中的终端设备等，本申请实施例对此并不限定。
作为示例而非限定，在本申请实施例中，该终端设备还可以是可穿戴设备。可穿戴设备也可以称为穿戴式智能设备，是应用穿戴式技术对日常穿戴进行智能化设计、开发出可以穿戴的设备的总称，如眼镜、手套、手表、服饰及鞋等。可穿戴设备即直接穿在身上，或是整合到用户的衣服或配件的一种便携式设备。可穿戴设备不仅仅是一种硬件设备，更是通过软件支持以及数据交互、云端交互来实现强大的功能。广义穿戴式智能设备包括功能全、尺寸大、可不依赖智能手机实现完整或者部分的功能，例如：智能手表或智能眼镜等，以及只专注于某一类应用功能，需要和其它设备如智能手机配合使用，如各类进行体征监测的智能手环、智能首饰等。
本申请实施例中，用于实现终端设备的功能的装置可以是终端设备，也可以是能够支持终端设备实现该功能的装置，例如芯片系统或芯片，该装置可以被安装在终端设备中。本申请实施例中，芯片系统可以由芯片构成，也可以包括芯片和其他分立器件。
本申请实施例中的网络设备可以是用于与终端设备通信的设备，该网络设备可以是宏基站、微基站(也称为小站)、卫星、无线网络控制器(radio network controller，RNC)、节点B(Node B，NB)、基站控制器(base station controller，BSC)、基站收发台(base transceiver station，BTS)、家庭基站(例如，home evolved NodeB，或home Node B，HNB)、基带单元(baseband unit，BBU)，无线保真(wireless fidelity，WiFi)系统中的接入点(access point，AP)、无线中继节点、无线回传节点、传输点(transmission point，TP)或者发送接收点(transmission and reception point，TRP)等，还可以为5G(如，NR)系统中的gNB或传输点(TRP或TP)，5G系统中的基站的一个或一组(包括多个天线面板)天线面板，或者，还可以为构成gNB或传输点的网络节点，如分布式单元(distributed unit，DU)。或者该网络设备可以为中继站、接入点以及未来6G网络中的网络设备或者未来演进的PLMN网络中的网络设备等，本申请实施例并不限定。本申请实施例对网络设备所采用的具体技术和具体设备形态不做限制。
在一种网络结构中，网络设备可以包括集中单元(centralized unit，CU)节点、或分布单元(distributed unit，DU)节点、或包括CU节点和DU节点的RAN设备、或者控制面CU节点(CU-CP节点)和用户面CU节点(CU-UP节点)以及DU节点的RAN设备。
网络设备可以为小区提供服务，终端设备可以通过网络设备分配的传输资源(例如，频域资源，或者说，频谱资源)与小区进行通信，该小区可以属于宏基站(例如，宏eNB或宏gNB等)，也可以属于小小区(small cell)对应的基站，这里的小小区可以包括：城市小区(metro cell)、微小区(micro cell)、微微小区(pico cell)、毫微微小区(femto cell)等，这些小小区具有覆盖范围小、发射功率低的特点，适用于提供高速率的数据传输服务。
网络设备和终端设备可以是固定位置的，也可以是可移动的。在本申请实施例中，网络设备和终端设备可以部署在陆地上，包括室内或室外、手持或车载；也可以部署在水面上；还可以部署在空中的飞机、气球和卫星上。本申请实施例中对网络设备和终端设备所处的场景不做限定。
应理解，本申请实施例中对于终端设备和网络设备的具体形式不做特殊限制，在此仅是示例性说明。
应理解，图1和图2仅为便于理解而示例的简化示意图，该通信系统中还可以包括其他网络设备和/或终端设备，图1和图2中未予以画出。
为便于理解本申请的实施例，下面对本申请中涉及到的术语或技术做简单说明。
1、5GS支持时延敏感网络(time sensitive network，TNS)的方案
在工业制造等场景中，通常通过TSN来进行产线控制等。目前TSN网络都承载在有线网络上，而有线方式存在一些固有的缺陷，如线缆部署成本高、存在安全风险、灵活性低等。如果通过无线方式替代有线，尤其是在TSN网络最后一跳采用无线方式，可以有效避免上述问题。第三代合作伙伴项目(3rd generation partnership project，3GPP)Rel-16讨论了第五代移动通信系统(the 5th generation mobile communication system，5GS)支持TSN的方案，其中，TSN网络可以将5GS看成是一个TSN桥接设备(TSN bridge)。图3示出了5GS作为TSN的一个桥接设备的示意图。如图3所示，TSN网络的业务数据包可以通过5GS进行上行/下行发送。
另一方面，TSN为了支持高精度时间同步协议(precision time protocol，PTP)，需要5GS适配PTP。3GPP采取的方案是将5GS当作一个透明时钟。其中，TSN主时钟(grand master clock，GM)发出的PTP消息可以通过5GS转发给TSN终端站(TSN end station)。此外，在5GS和TSN网络相连接的 边界位置需要TSN适配器用于处理PTP协议相关的消息或数据包，例如设备侧TSN适配器(device-side TSN translator，DS-TT)和网络侧TSN适配器(network-side TSN translator，NW-TT)即为相应的适配器。DS-TT/NW-TT可以是连接到UE/用户面功能(user plane function，UPF)的一个处理设备，也可以是UE/UPF的一个逻辑功能。
透明时钟在转发PTP消息时，需要将该PTP消息在本节点的逗留时间修正到该PTP消息的correctionField字段。5GS为了能够获得PTP消息在5GS内的逗留时间，需要保证UPF和UE之间的5G时钟同步。UE和UPF之间的时钟同步是通过两者从相同时钟源获取时间来保证的。具体方式为：基站和5G GM进行时钟同步；UE和基站通过空口同步方式实现时钟同步；UPF和基站之间通过PTP协议实现时钟同步。当PTP消息从UPF侧进入时，NW-TT打上5G时间戳tin，UE侧的DS-TT发送出PTP消息的5G时间为tout，则DS-TT在该PTP消息的correctionField字段上加上(tout-tin)。
在5GS支持TSN的方案中，TSN时间同步的要求是TSN GM和TSN子节点(TSN slave)之间的同步误差在1us内。5GS内用户面节点(UE，基站，UPF)的时间同步是实现透明时钟方案的基础。
2、5G空口时间同步
在R16标准中，5G空口时间同步是通过基站向UE指示一个参考点的5G时间来实现的。基站可以通过广播方式(系统信息)或者单播方式(无线资源控制(radio resource control，RRC)信令)向UE进行5G授时。下面以单播方式为例进行说明。
图4示出了基站通过单播方式指示5G时间的一例示意图。如图4所示，基站在无线帧系统帧号(system frame number，SFN)为x-3的某时隙内通过单播方式向UE发送了DLInformationTransfer消息，其中包含一个具体的5G时间(记为时间T)以及该时间对应的参考点SFN＝x。UE接收到该单播消息后，可基于SFN＝x的无线帧结束位置对应的5G时间T进行5G时间同步。
由于基站发送的信号经过空中传播到达UE时，会经历一定的传播时延(例如记为Tp)，因此UE基于单播消息进行5G时间同步时，在确定SFN＝x的无线帧结束位置对应的5G时间T后，还需要在基站所指示的时间T的基础上额外加上Tp，才能作为实际的5G同步时间，即UE需要进行传播时延补偿。
3、传播时延补偿(propagation delay compensation，PDC)
5G高精度授时的关键在于如何对传播时延进行补偿。下面介绍两种对传播时延进行补偿的方案：
1)基于定时提前(timing advance，TA)机制的传播时延补偿
在该方案中，可利用TA/2作为传播时延对基站指示的5G时间进行补偿。下面对该方案进行简单介绍。
图5示出了基于定时提前机制进行传播时延补偿的一例示意图。
如图5所示，基站发送的下行信号经过传播时延Tp后到达UE，UE可根据接收到的基站信号确定下行帧边界。由于传播时延的存在，基站实际的下行帧边界和UE确定的下行帧边界之间存在Tp的时间差。在正交多址接入系统中，为了保证上行传输的正交性，避免小区内干扰，基站要求来自同一个子帧但不同频域资源的不同UE的信号达到基站的时间基本上是对齐的。为了保证接收侧(基站侧)的时间同步，NR采用上行定时提前(timing advance，TA)机制。在UE侧看来，TA的本质是接收下行子帧的起始时间与传输上行子帧的时间之间存在一个负偏移(TA值)。基站通过适当地控制每个UE的偏移，可以控制来自不同UE的上行信号达到基站的时间。如图5所示，UE可相对于下行确定的帧边界提前2Tp(理想情况下的TA值)发送上行信号，这样，上行信号经过Tp的传播时延后，到达基站时和基站侧的下行帧边界是对齐的。通过该方式，小区内的UE在同一个子帧发送的上行信号到达基站的时间是对齐的。
在该机制中，UE可以使用TA/2来近似确定Tp，并基于Tp对基站所指示参考点的5G时间进行传播时延补偿。
2)基于往返时间(round trip time，RTT)测量的传播时延补偿
在该方案中，可通过测量往返时间(round trip time，RTT)的方式确定传播时延。其基本思路是：基站和UE分别向对端发送参考信号，基站测量接收到来自UE的参考信号的时刻与自己发送参考信号的时刻之间的差值gNBRx-Tx，UE测量接收到来自基站的参考信号的时刻与自己发送参考信号的时刻之间的差值UERx-Tx，基站和UE之间的RTT可表示为gNBRx-Tx+UERx-Tx，从而，可以使用RTT/2表示传播时延，进而，UE可基于该传播时延对基站所指示参考点的5G时间进行传播时延补偿。
在目前的方案中，RTT的确定过程有两种方式，第一种方式是基站将gNBRx-Tx发送至UE，UE基于gNBRx-Tx和自己测量到的UERx-Tx确定RTT，进而计算传播时延。第二种方式是UE将UERx-Tx发送至基站，基站基于UERx-Tx和自己测量到的gNBRx-Tx确定RTT并计算传播时延，再将计算得到的传播时延发送至UE。
图6示出了该方式的一例示意图。该方式可包括如下步骤：
步骤1：基站向UE发送下行参考信号，并记录发送时刻t1；
步骤2：UE接收来自基站的下行参考信号，并记录接收时刻t2；
步骤3：UE向基站发送上行参考信号，并记录发送时刻t3；
步骤4：基站接收来自UE的上行参考信号，并记录接收时刻t4；
步骤5：基站向UE发送t4时刻与t1时刻的时间差gNBRx-Tx，也即gNBRx-Tx＝t4-t1，该时间差的取值可以是正数，也可以是负数，取决于基站在接收到上行参考信号之前还是之后发送下行参考信号；
步骤6：UE计算传播时延。其中，传播时延为RTT/2，RTT＝gNBRx-Tx+UERx-Tx＝(t4-t1)+(t2-t3)。
图7示出了第二种方式的一例示意图，该方式可包括如下步骤：
步骤1：基站向UE发送下行参考信号，并记录发送时刻t1；
步骤2：UE接收来自基站的下行参考信号，并记录接收时刻t2；
步骤3：UE向基站发送上行参考信号，并记录发送时刻t3；
步骤4：基站接收来自UE的上行参考信号，并记录接收时刻t4；
步骤5：UE向基站发送t2时刻与t3时刻的时间差UERx-Tx，也即UERx-Tx＝t2-t3，该时间差的取值可以是正数，也可以是负数，取决于UE在收到下行参考信号之前还是之后发送上行参考信号；
步骤6：基站基于UERx-Tx和自己测量到的gNBRx-Tx计算传播时延。其中，传播时延为RTT/2，RTT＝gNBRx-Tx+UERx-Tx＝(t4-t1)+(t2-t3)；
步骤7：基站将计算得到的传播时延发送至UE。
4、通道时延
由于设备(如网络设备，又如终端设备)的基带和天线之间的通道是由电子电路构成，因此信号在该通道传输处理时存在一定的时延，该时延可以称为通道时延。
在本申请的实施例中，通道时延可以分为上行通道时延和下行通道时延。以网络设备为例，下行通道时延指的是网络设备的基带向天线传输信号所经历的时延(时间)，上行通道时延指的是网络设备的天线向基带传输信号所经历的时延(时间)。以终端设备为例，上行通道时延指的是终端设备的基带向天线传输信号所经历的时延(时间)，下行通道时延指的是终端设备的天线向基带传输信号所经历的时延(时间)。
应理解，在本申请的实施例中，“基带”还可以称为“基带单元(baseband unit，BBU)”或“基带芯片”，“天线”还可以称为“有源天线单元(active antenna unit，AAU)”。
上面对本申请中涉及到的术语/技术做了简单说明，下文实施例中不再赘述。
在现有的PDC方案中，基于TA的PDC方案可以达到约540ns的空口授时精度，基于RTT测量的PDC方案可以达到约200ns的空口授时精度。但是在配电自动化场景下，UE从基站获取到高精时间后，需要继续逐跳向其他电力设备继续进行授时，而且每跳授时都会产生精度损失。目前电力系统标准支持UE最多通过15跳向电力设备授时，且每一跳会产生50ns左右的精度损失。在该情况下，现有的PDC方案无法满足配电自动化场景下的授时精度要求。
现有的基于RTT的传播时延补偿机制无法满足配电自动化场景下的授时精度要求的一个主要原因在于：在计算传播时延时，所采用的设备(如网络设备或终端设备)发送/接收参考信号的时刻是该设备的天线发送/接收参考信号的时刻，而实际上，天线发送/接收参考信号的实际时刻是未知的。目前现有技术的做法是：设备记录基带发送/接收参考信号的时刻，并利用基带估计该设备的基带与天线之间的通道时延，进而根据记录的基带发送/接收参考信号的时刻，以及估计的通道时延，来估计天线发送/接收参考信号的时刻，该估计的时刻随后可用于计算传播时延。由于设备的基带在估计通道时延时通常会引入较大的估计误差，因此导致无法获得准确的传播时延，进而影响了授时精度。
为此，本申请提供一种授时的方法和装置，该方法利用第一设备和第二设备的基带发送/接收参考信号的时刻计算传播时延，从而能够避免由于通道时延估计不准确引起的误差。
下文将结合附图详细说明本申请实施例提供的授时的方法。本申请实施例提供的授时的方法可以 应用于上述图1和图2所示的通信系统中。
图8是本申请实施例提供的授时的方法的一例示意图。该方法800可以包括S810至S840。
其中，第一设备可以是网络设备，也可以是终端设备。当第一设备为终端设备时，第二设备可以是网络设备，也可以是终端设备；当第一设备为网络设备时，第二设备可以是终端设备。在本实施例中，第一设备为用于计算传播时延的设备。
为便于理解本申请的实施例，下面将第一设备为网络设备，第二设备为终端设备的场景记为场景1，将第一设备为终端设备，第二设备为网络设备的场景记为场景2。
S810，第一设备向第二设备发送第一参考信号。相应地，第二设备接收该第一参考信号。
在S810中，第一设备可向第二设备发送第一参考信号。其中，该第一参考信号可经由第一设备的基带、第一设备的天线、第二设备的天线，发送至第二设备的基带。
示例性地，第一设备的基带发送第一参考信号的时刻可记为第一时刻，第一时刻可以由第一设备的基带进行记录；第二设备的基带接收来自第一设备的第一参考信号的时刻可记为第二时刻，第二时刻可以由第二设备的基带进行记录。其中，第二设备的基带接收来自第一设备的第一参考信号的时刻，可以理解为，第二设备的基带接收到该第一参考信号的时刻。
对于场景1，即对于第一设备为网络设备，第二设备为终端设备的场景，第一参考信号可以是网络设备向终端设备发送的下行参考信号，且网络设备的基带发送该下行参考信号的时刻为第一时刻，终端设备的基带接收该下行参考信号的时刻为第二时刻。
对于场景2，即对于第一设备为终端设备，第二设备为网络设备的场景，第一参考信号可以是终端设备向网络设备发送的上行参考信号，且终端设备的基带发送该上行参考信号的时刻为第一时刻，网络设备的基带接收该上行参考信号的时刻为第二时刻。
S820，第二设备向第一设备发送第二参考信号。相应地，第一设备接收该第二参考信号。
在S820中，第二设备可向第一设备发送第二参考信号。其中，该第二参考信号可经由第二设备的基带、第二设备的天线、第一设备的天线，发送至第一设备的基带。
示例性地，第二设备的基带发送第二参考信号的时刻可记为第四时刻，第四时刻可以由第二设备的基带进行记录；第一设备的基带接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号的时刻可记为第三时刻，第三时刻可以由第一设备的基带进行记录。其中，第一设备的基带接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号的时刻，可以理解为，第一设备的基带接收到该第二参考信号的时刻。
对于场景1，即对于第一设备为网络设备，第二设备为终端设备的场景，第二参考信号可以是终端设备向网络设备发送的上行参考信号，且终端设备的基带发送该上行参考信号的时刻为第四时刻，网络设备的基带接收该上行参考信号的时刻为第三时刻。
对于场景2，即对于第一设备为终端设备，第二设备为网络设备的场景，第二参考信号可以是网络设备向终端设备发送的下行参考信号，且网络设备的基带发送该下行参考信号的时刻为第四时刻，终端设备的基带接收该下行参考信号的时刻为第三时刻。
需要说明的是，本申请对于S810和S820的执行顺序不予限定。例如，第一设备可以先向第二设备发送第一参考信号，之后，第二设备再向第一设备发送第二参考信号。又例如，第二设备可以先向第一设备发送第二参考信号，之后，第一设备再向第二设备发送第一参考信号。
S830，第二设备向第一设备发送第一时长。相应地，第一设备接收该第一时长。
其中，第一时长与第二时刻和第四时刻相关，或者说，第一时长与第二设备的基带接收第一参考信号的时刻和第二设备的基带发送第二参考信号的时刻相关。假设第一时长记为T1，第二时刻记为t2，第四时刻记为t4，则第一时长T1可表示为T1＝f(t2,t4)，其中f()表示函数。
在一种可能的实现方式中，第一时长可以为第二时刻与第四时刻的差值，即T1＝t2-t4。
在另一种可能的实现方式中，第一时长还可以为第四时刻与第二时刻的差值，即T1＝t4-t2。
S840，第一设备计算传播时延。
第一设备接收来自第二设备的第一时长之后，可基于该第一时长，以及该第一设备记录的第一时刻和第三时刻，计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延。
作为示例，第一设备可基于第一时长和第二时长，计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，第二时长为第三时刻与第一时刻的差值。假设第二时长记为T2，第三时刻记为t3，第一时刻记为t1，则第二时长T2可表示为T2＝t3-t1。假设第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延记为Tp，则该传播时 延Tp可表示为Tp＝f(T1,T2)＝f(T1,t3-t1)。
在一种可能的实现方式中，第一时长为第二时刻与第四时刻的差值，即T1＝t2-t4。在该实现方式中，第一设备可基于第二时长与第一时长的和计算传播时延Tp，即Tp＝f(T2+T1)＝f((t3-t1)+(t2-t4))。
在另一种可能的实现方式中，第一时长为第四时刻与第二时刻的差值，即T1＝t4-t2。在该实现方式中，第一设备可基于第二时长与第一时长的差值计算传播时延Tp，即Tp＝f(T2-T1)＝f((t3-t1)-(t4-t2))。
其中，上式中的(t3-t1)+(t2-t4)或(t3-t1)-(t4-t2)可表示往返时间RTT。由于传播时延Tp可表示为RTT/2，因此，传播时延Tp可表示为Tp＝((t3-t1)+(t2-t4))/2或((t3-t1)-(t4-t2))/2。
可选地，在第二设备向第一设备授时的场景中(例如在场景2中网络设备需向终端设备授时)，方法800还包括：第一设备基于计算得到的传播时延Tp进行传播时延补偿，进而得到同步时间。作为示例，第一设备可在第二设备指示的参考点的时间的基础上，加上该传播时延Tp，从而得到所需的同步时间。
可选地，在第一设备向第二设备授时的场景中(例如在场景1中网络设备需向终端设备授时)，方法800还包括S850。
S850，第一设备向第二设备发送传播时延，或发送基于传播时延计算的时间。
在一种可能的实现方式中，第一设备在计算得到第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延之后，可向第二设备发送该传播时延，从而，第二设备可基于该传播时延进行传播时延补偿，进而得到同步时间。作为示例，第二设备可在第一设备指示的参考点的时间的基础上，加上该传播时延Tp，从而得到所需的同步时间。
在另一种可能的实现方式中，第一设备在计算得到第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延之后，可基于该传播时延进行播时延补偿，得到所需的同步时间，进而向第二设备发送该时间。作为示例，第一设备可确定一个参考点，并在该参考点对应的时间的基础上加上该传播时延Tp，从而得到所需的同步时间。
可选地，在本实施例中，用于进行传播时延补偿的参考点例如可以为第一时刻对应的参考点。也即，在第一设备或第二设备对传播时延进行补偿时，可在第一时刻的基础上加上传播时延Tp，从而得到所需的同步时间。
在实际应用场景中，第一设备和第二设备的相对位置可能发生变化，该变化可能会引起第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延也发生变化。因此，在基于计算得到的传播时延进行传播时延补偿时，可将用于计算该传播时延的时刻对应的参考点(如第一时刻对应的参考点)确定为用于进行传播时延补偿的参考点，这样，即使第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延发生了变化，也可以实现较为精确的传播时延补偿，进而提高授时精度。
应理解，用于进行传播时延补偿的参考点还可以是其他参考点，例如第三时刻对应的参考点，本申请不予限定。
根据本实施例的方法，第一设备可基于第一设备和第二设备的基带发送/接收参考信号的时刻计算传播时延。由于该方法可以不需要估计设备(如第一设备，又如第二设备)的基带与天线之间的通道时延，因此能够避免由于通道时延估计不准确引起的误差。
在基于RTT的传播时延补偿机制中，若采用设备(如网络设备，又如终端设备)的天线发送/接收参考信号的时刻计算传播时延，则需要对该设备天线发送/接收参考信号的时刻进行估计。以网络设备为例，在下行方向上，需根据网络设备的基带发送下行参考信号的时刻，以及估计的下行通道时延，来估计网络设备的天线发送下行参考信号的时刻；相应地，在上行方向上，需根据网络设备的基带接收上行参考信号的时刻，以及估计的上行通道时延，来估计网络设备的天线接收上行参考信号的时刻。类似地，以终端设备为例，在上行方向上，需根据终端设备的基带发送上行参考信号的时刻，以及估计的上行通道时延，来估计终端设备的天线发送上行参考信号的时刻；相应地，在下行方向上，需根据终端设备的基带接收下行参考信号的时刻，以及估计的下行通道时延，来估计终端设备的天线接收下行参考信号的时刻。
通常，下行通道时延与上行通道时延不相同，具体取决于电路设计。例如，在某些场景中，对下行通道时延的估计较为准确，而在另一些场景中，对上行通道时延的估计较为准确。
鉴于此，本申请还提供一种授时的方法和装置，在该方法中，可根据其中一个通道时延确定另一个通道时延。例如，若某场景中对下行通道时延估计较为准确，则可根据下行通道时延确定上行通道时延，类似地，若某场景中对上行通道时延估计较为准确，则可根据上行通道时延确定下行通道时延，从而，可提高对天线发送/接收参考信号的时刻的估计精度，进而提高基于RTT的传播时延补偿机制的精度。
图9示出了适用于本申请实施例的应用场景的一例示意图。其中，第三设备例如可以是基带单元(BBU)，第四设备例如可以是有源天线单元(AAU)。该BBU和AAU可部署于网络设备中，也可以部署于终端设备中，本申请不予限定。
在图9所示的应用场景中，第三设备可通过第一通道向第四设备发送参考信号(例如记为第一参考信号)，相应地，第四设备可通过该第一通道接收该第一参考信号；第四设备可通过第二通道向第三设备发送参考信号(例如记为第二参考信号)，相应地，第三设备可通过该第二通道接收该第二参考信号。
为便于描述，下面将第三设备通过第一通道向第四设备发送第一参考信号的时延称为第一通道时延，将第四设备通过第二通道向第三设备发送第二参考信号的时延称为第二通道时延。其中，第一通道时延还可以理解为，第三设备通过第一通道向第四设备发送第一参考信号的时刻与第四设备接收到该第一参考信号的时刻之间所经历的时长；第二通道时延还可以理解为，第四设备通过第二通道向第三设备发送第二参考信号的时刻与第三设备接收到该第二参考信号的时刻之间所经历的时长。
图10是本申请实施例提供的授时的方法的另一例示意图。该方法1000可以包括S1010和S1020。
S1010，第三设备在第一时刻通过第一通道向第四设备发送第一参考信号，第四设备接收第一参考信号的时刻为第二时刻。
其中，第四设备接收第一参考信号的时刻为第二时刻，还可以理解为，第四设备接收到该第一参考信号的时刻为第二时刻。
S1020，第三设备在第三时刻通过第二通道接收来自第四设备的第二参考信号，第四设备发送第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻，第二时刻与第四时刻相同。
其中，第三设备在第三时刻通过第二通道接收来自第四设备的第二参考信号，还可以理解为，第三设备通过第二通道接收到该第二参考信号的时刻为第三时刻。第二时刻与第四时刻相同，还可以理解为，第四设备接收来自第三设备的第一参考信号的时刻，与第四设备向第三设备发送第二参考信号的时刻相同；或者还可以理解为，第四设备在收到来自第三设备的第一参考信号的同时，向第四设备发送第二参考信号；或者还可以理解为，第四设备在收到来自第三设备的第一参考信号之后，立刻向第四设备发送第二参考信号。
由于第四设备收到第一参考信号的时刻与第四设备发送第二参考信号的时刻之间可能存在微小的时间差，因此，第二时刻与第四时刻相同，还可以理解为，第二时刻与第四时刻近似相同，或者说，在不考虑该时间差的情况下，可认为第二时刻与第四时刻相同。
一示例，第一参考信号和第二参考信号可以认为是同一参考信号，例如，第四设备在收到该第一参考信号之后，可在接收该第一参考信号的同一时刻将该第一参考信号转发至第三设备，从而，第三设备可在第三时刻接收该第一参考信号(或者说第二参考信号)。另一示例，第一参考信号和第二参考信号可以是不同的参考信号，例如，第四设备在收到该第一参考信号之后，可在接收该第一参考信号的同一时刻生成第二参考信号，并向第三设备发送该第二参考信号，从而第三设备可在第三时刻接收该第二参考信号。其中，同一时刻，还可以理解为，近似相同的时刻。
S1030，第三设备基于第一时刻、第三时刻和第一时延确定第二时延。
一种可能的情况，第一时延为第一通道时延，第二时延为第二通道时延；另一种可能的情况，第一时延为第二通道时延，第二时延为第一通道时延。也就是说，第三设备可基于第一时刻、第三时刻和第一通道时延确定第二通道时延，或者，第三设备还可以基于第一时刻、第三时刻和第二通道时延确定第一通道时延。
可选地，方法1000还包括：第三设备获取第一时延。示例性地，第三设备可根据第一通道或第二通道的电路结构，对第一时延进行估计，从而获取第一时延。例如，当第一时延为第一通道时延时，第三设备可根据第一通道的电路结构对第一通道时延进行估计，以获得第一通道时延。又例如，当第一时延为第二通道时延时，第三设备可根据第二通道的电路结构对第二通道时延进行估计，以获得第 二通道时延。
在一种可能的实现方式中，第三设备可基于第三时长和第一时延确定第二时延。其中，第三时长为第三时刻与第一时刻的差值，也就是说，第三时长可用于表示第三设备向第四设备发送第一参考信号的时刻，与第三设备接收到来自第四设备的第二参考信号的时刻之间所经历的时长。
举例来说，假设第三时刻记为t3，第一时刻记为t1，第三时长记为δt，则第三时长δt可表示为δt＝t3-t1。假设第一时延记为△1，第二时延记为△2，则第二时延△2可表示为△2＝f(δt，△1)＝f(t3-t1，△1)。
在一种可能的实现方式中，第三设备基于第三时长和第一时延确定第二时延，包括：第三设备基于第三时长与第一时延的差值确定第二时延，也即，△2＝f(δt-△1)＝f(t3-t1-△1)。在一个可选的实施例中，第二时长为第三时长与第一时延的差值，也即，△2＝δt-△1＝t3-t1-△1。
可选地，本实施例中的第三设备可以为BBU，第四设备可以为AAU。
为便于理解本实施例，下面以一个具体的应用场景为例介绍上述方法1000。
图11示出了适用于方法1000的具体应用场景的一例示意图。其中，第三设备具体为BBU，第四设备具体为AAU，BBU和AAU例如部署于网络设备中。
在图11所示的应用场景中，网络设备可根据下行通道时延确定上行通道时延。其中，下行通道时延为BBU通过第一通道向AAU发送参考信号的时延，上行通道时延为AAU通过第二通道向BBU发送参考信号的时延。网络设备根据下行通道时延确定上行通道时延的具体步骤如下：
步骤1：BBU通过第一通道向AAU发送下行参考信号。
BBU可生成下行参考信号，并通过第一通道向AAU发送该下行参考信号，BBU发送该下行参考信号的时刻例如记为t1。其中，BBU可在下行帧边界位置发送下行参考信号，也可以相对于下行帧边界偏移固定位置发送下行参考信号，本申请不予限定。
步骤2：AAU接收来自BBU的下行参考信号，并在同一时刻向BBU发送该下行参考信号。
示例性地，AAU在收到来自BBU的下行参考信号之后，可通过部分天线(例如记为第一部分天线)发送该下行参考信号，并通过另一部分天线接收该第一部分天线发送的下行参考信号，也即，AAU在收到下行参考信号之后，可同频同时地发送并接收该下行参考信号。之后，AAU可将接收的下行参考信号通过第二通道转发至BBU，BBU接收该下行参考信号的时刻例如记为t3。在本实施例中，AAU通过第一通道接收来自BBU的下行参考信号的时刻与AAU通过第二通道向BBU发送下行参考信号的时刻相同。其中，时刻相同，还可以理解为，时刻近似相同。
可以理解，若t1为BBU在下行帧边界位置发送下行参考信号的时刻，则t3即为BBU在上行帧边界位置接收该下行参考信号的时刻；若t1为BBU相对于下行帧边界偏移固定位置发送下行参考信号的时刻，则t3为BBU相对于上行帧边界偏移相同的固定位置接收该下行参考信号的时刻。
步骤3：BBU确定上行通道时延。
作为示例，BBU可基于t1、t3和下行通道时延确定上行通道时延。其中，BBU可根据下行通道的电路结构对下行通道时延进行估计，从而获得下行通道时延。假设下行通道时延记为△1，上行通道时延记为△2，则上行通道时延△2可表示为△2＝t3-t1-△1。
应理解，在图11所示的应用场景中，还可以通过上行通道时延估计下行通道时延，在该情况下，下行通道时延△1可表示为△1＝t3-t1-△2。
还应理解，图11所示的应用场景仅以BBU和AAU部署于网络设备为例进行示例性说明，在某些场景中，BBU和AAU还可以部署于终端设备中，从而，终端设备可通过同样的方法对上行通道时延或下行通道时延进行估计。
根据本实施例的方法，第三设备可根据第一通道时延确定第二通道时延，或者，可根据第二通道时延确定第一通道时延。这样，对于某些对第一通道时延估计较为准确的场景，可根据第一通道时延估计第二通道时延，相应地，对于某些对第二通道时延估计较为准确的场景，可根据第二通道时延估计第一通道时延，从而，可提高对天线发送/接收参考信号的时刻的估计精度，进而提高基于RTT的传播时延补偿机制的精度。
现有的基于RTT的传播时延补偿机制无法满足配电自动化场景下的授时精度要求的另一个主要原因在于：在多径场景中，第一设备与第二设备在记录接收参考信号的时刻时，所使用的传输参考信号的路径不同。举例来说，第一设备为网络设备，第二设备为终端设备，假设网络设备与终端设备之间存在5条传输参考信号的路径，分别记为路径#1、路径#2、路径#3、路径#4和路径#5，终端设备可通 过该5条路径接收来自网络设备的下行参考信号，相应地，网络设备可通过该5条路径接收来自终端设备的上行参考信号。一种可能的情况，终端设备在接收下行参考信号时检测到了路径#3至路径#5的下行参考信号，而网络设备接收上行参考信号时检测到了路径#1至路径#5的上行参考信号，因此，根据默认使用首径的规则，终端设备记录的接收下行参考信号的时刻，可能是终端设备通过路径#3接收到下行参考信号的时刻，而网络设备记录的接收上行参考信号的时刻，可能是网络设备通过路径#1接收到上行参考信号的时刻。由于网络设备和终端设备在记录接收参考信号的时刻时所使用的路径不同，因此，在根据记录的接收参考信号的时刻计算传播时延时会引入一定的误差，进而影响了授时精度。
为此，本申请还提供一种授时的方法和装置，在该方法中，第一设备可根据来自第二设备的与路径相关的信息，确定第二设备接收参考信号的路径中的第m条路径，与第一设备接收参考信号的路径中的第n条路径相同，从而，可将第二设备通过该第m条路径接收参考信号的时刻，和第一设备通过该第n条路径接收参考信号的时刻，用于计算第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延，进而避免了由于第一设备和第二设备在记录接收参考信号的时刻时所使用的路径不同所引起的计算传播时延时的误差，或者说，避免了由于第一设备和第二设备在记录用于计算传播时延的时刻时所使用的路径不同所引起的计算传播时延时的误差。
为简洁，下文中将第一设备与第二设备之间的传播时延，简称为传播时延。
图12是本申请实施例提供的授时的方法的另一例示意图。该方法1200可以包括S1210和S1220。
S1210，第一设备接收来自第二设备的第一路径的信息，第一路径为第二设备接收来自第一设备的第一参考信号的路径。
其中，第二设备接收来自第一设备的第一参考信号的路径，还可以理解为，第二设备成功接收来自第一设备的第一参考信号的路径，或者还可以理解为，第二设备可检测到第一参考信号的路径。
在本实施例中，第一路径可以包括一条或多条路径。为便于描述，下面以第一路径包括5条路径为例进行示例性说明，该5条路径例如记为路径#1、路径#2、路径#3、路径#4和路径#5。
示例性地，第一路径的信息可包括第一指示信息。
在一种可能的实现方式中，第一指示信息可用于指示第二设备通过第一路径中的多条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，其中，该多条路径包括第一路径中的第m条路径，第二设备通过该第m条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻为第二设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻，其中，m为正整数。该多条路径可以是第一路径中的全部路径，也可以是第一路径中的部分路径，本申请不予限定。举例来说，若第二设备通过路径#2接收第一参考信号的时刻为第二设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻，则该多条路径中包括该路径#2。例如，该多条路径可包括路径#2、路径#4和路径#5，此时，第一指示信息例如可用于指示第二设备通过路径#2、路径#4和路径#5接收第一参考信号的时刻。
一示例，第一指示信息可指示第二设备通过第一路径中的多条路径接收第一参考信号的具体时刻。例如，第一指示信息可分别指示第二设备通过路径#2接收第一参考信号的时刻为t2，通过路径#4接收第一参考信号的时刻为t4，通过路径#5接收第一参考信号的时刻为t5。
另一示例，第一指示信息可指示第二设备通过该多条路径中的其中一条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻(假设记为第一时刻)，并指示第二设备通过该多条路径中的其他路径接收第一参考信号的时刻与第一时刻之间的时间差，从而指示第二设备通过该多条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻。例如，第一指示信息可指示第二设备通过路径#2接收第一参考信号的时刻为t2，通过路径#4接收第一参考信号的时刻与t2之间的时间差为△1，通过路径#5接收第一参考信号的时刻与t2之间的时间差为△2。在一个可选的例子中，第一指示信息还可以指示第二设备通过路径#2接收第一参考信号的时刻为t2，通过路径#4接收第一参考信号的时刻与t2之间的时间差为△1，通过路径#5接收第一参考信号的时刻与通过路径#4接收第一参考信号的时刻之间的时间差为△3，从而指示第二设备通过路径#2、路径#4、路径#5接收第一参考信号的时刻。
在另一种可能的实现方式中，第一指示信息可指示第二设备通过该多条路径中的不同路径接收第一参考信号的时刻之间的时间差。举例来说，该多条路径包括路径#2、路径#4和路径#5，则第一指示信息可指示第二设备通过路径#2接收参考信号的时刻与通过路径#4接收第一参考信号的时刻之间的时间差为△1，并指示第二设备通过路径#4接收参考信号的时刻与通过路径#5接收第一参考信号的时刻之间的时间差为△3。
可选地，第一路径的信息还可以包括：该多条路径的信号强度的信息，和/或第二指示信息，其中， 第二指示信息可用于指示第一路径中的第m条路径，第二设备通过该第m条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻为第二设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻，其中，m为正整数。
作为一个示例，第一路径的信息包括该多条路径的信号强度的信息。其中，多条路径的信号强度的信息，还可以理解为，通过该多条路径接收到的信号的强度的信息。
一种可能的情况，第一路径的信息包括该多条路径中每一条路径的信号强度的信息。举例来说，该多条路径例如包括路径#2、路径#4和路径#5，则第一路径的信息还包括：第二设备通过路径#2接收到的第一参考信号的信号强度的信息、第二设备通过路径#4接收到的第一参考信号的信号强度的信息，以及第二设备通过路径#5接收到的第一参考信号的信号强度的信息。
另一种可能的情况，第一路径的信息包括该多条路径中部分路径的信号强度的信息。举例来说，该多条路径例如包括路径#2、路径#4和路径#5，则第一路径的信息还包括：第二设备通过路径#2、路径#4或路径#5中的部分路径接收到的第一参考信号的信号强度的信息。
作为另一个示例，第一路径的信息包括第二指示信息，第二指示信息用于指示第一路径中的第m条路径。举例来说，若第二设备通过路径#2(第一路径中的第2条路径)接收第一参考信号的时刻为第二设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻，那么，第二指示信息可用于指示该路径#2。
具体地，第二指示信息例如可通过指示路径的索引来指示路径。例如，第二设备先后通过路径#2、路径#4、路径#5接收到第一参考信号，则路径#2、路径#4、路径#5的索引可分别为0、1、2，在该情况下，第二指示信息可通过指示索引0来指示该路径#2。
可选地，方法1200还包括：第一设备通过第一路径向第二设备发送第一参考信号，相应地，第二设备可通过第一路径接收该第一参考信号，从而，第二设备可获知第一路径的信息，并在S1210中向第一设备发送该第一路径的信息。
S1220，第一设备根据第一路径的信息，确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径，其中，第二路径为第一设备接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号的路径，其中，m和n为正整数。
其中，第一设备接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号的路径，还可以理解为，第一设备成功接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号的路径，或者还可以理解为，第一设备可检测到第二参考信号的路径。
在本实施例中，第二路径可以包括一条或多条路径。为便于描述，下面以第二路径包括6条路径为例进行示例性说明，该6条路径例如记为路径#1’、路径#2’、路径#3’、路径#4’、路径#5’和路径#6’。
示例性地，第一设备可根据第一路径的信息和第二路径的信息确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径。
在一种实现方式中，第二路径的信息例如包括：第一设备通过第二路径接收第二参考信号的时刻。在该实现方式中，第一设备可根据第一指示信息，以及根据第一设备通过第二路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径。
举例来说，第二路径的信息例如包括第一设备通过路径#1’至路径#5’接收第二参考信号的时刻，第一设备通过路径#1’至路径#5’接收到第二参考信号的时刻可分别记为t1’、t2’、t3’、t4’、t5’、t6’；第一指示信息例如指示了第二设备通过第一路径中的多条路径(如路径#2、路径#4和路径#5)接收第一参考信号的时刻(如t2、t3、t4)，那么，第一设备可将t1’、t2’、t3’、t4’、t5’、t6’之间的时间差与t2，t4，t5之间的时间差进行对比，以确定路径#1’至路径#5’中，与路径#2、路径#4和路径#5对应相同的3条路径。例如，若t3’与t5’之间的时间差等于t2与t4之间的时间差，t5’与t6’之间的时间差等于t4与t5之间的时间差，则可认为路径#2与路径#3’为相同路径，路径#4与路径#5’为相同路径，路径#5与路径#6’为相同路径，也即，第一路径中的第2条路径与第二路径中的第3条路径相同，第一路径中的第4条路径与第二路径中的第5条路径相同，第一路径中的第5条路径与第二路径中的第6条路径相同，也即，当m＝2时，n＝3；当m＝4时，n＝5；当m＝5时，n＝6。
由于通过不同路径接收参考信号的时刻之间的时间差一般是不同的，或者说，该时间差一般是不均匀的，因此通过上述对比时间差的方式能够较准确地判断出第一路径与第二路径中对应相同的路径。
可以理解，若第一指示信息指示了第二设备通过多条路径中的不同路径接收第一参考信号的时刻之间的时间差，那么也可以通过上述同样的方式确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径，这里不再赘述。
在一些可能的场景中，通过上述对比时间差的方式无法准确确定第一路径中的第m条路径是否与 第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径，例如，在上面的例子中，若t2’＝t3’，则第一设备无法准确确定路径#2与路径#2’、路径#3’中的哪一条路径为相同路径。鉴于此，第二路径的信息还可以包括第二路径的信号强度的信息。其中，第二路径的信号强度的信息，还可以理解为，通过第二路径接收到的信号的强度的信息。第二路径的信号强度的信息，与第一路径的信息中的多条路径的信号强度的信息，可用于辅助第一设备确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径。例如，在上面的例子中，t2’＝t3’，且路径#3’与路径#2的信号强度均较强，路径#2’的信号强度较弱，则第一设备可将路径#2与路径#3’确定为相同路径。
可选地，方法1200还包括：第一设备通过第二路径，接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号，从而，第一设备可获知第二路径的信息。例如，可获知第一设备通过第二路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，和/或第二路径的信号强度的信息。
在本实施例中，若第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径，则第二设备通过第一路径中的第m条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，和第一设备通过第二路径中的第n条路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，可用于计算传播时延。
示例性地，若第一设备根据第一路径的信息，确定了第一路径中的多条路径与第二路径中的多条路径对应相同，那么，可将通过其中一组对应相同的路径接收参考信号的时刻，作为第一设备和第二设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻，从而，第一设备和第二设备通过该组路径接收参考信号的时刻可用于计算传播时延。例如，第一设备根据第一路径的信息，确定了第一路径中的第2条路径与第二路径中的第3条路径相同，第一路径中的第4条路径与第二路径中的第5条路径相同，第一路径中的第5条路径与第二路径中的第6条路径相同，那么，在计算传播时延时有以下三种方案：
方案1：将第二设备通过第一路径中的第2条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，作为第二设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻，并将第一设备通过第二路径中的第3条路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，作为第一设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻。
方案2：将第二设备通过第一路径中的第4条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，作为第二设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻，并将第一设备通过第二路径中的第5条路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，作为第一设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻。
方案3：将第二设备通过第一路径中的第5条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，作为第二设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻，并将第一设备通过第二路径中的第6条路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，作为第一设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻。
可选地，第一设备和第二设备可默认将通过第一组对应相同的路径(首径)接收参考信号的时刻，作为第一设备和第二设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻。也即，默认采用上述方案1计算传播时延。
可选地，第一路径的信息包括第二指示信息，第二指示信息可指示第一路径中的第m条路径。举例来说，第二指示信息可指示第一路径中的第4条路径，即m＝4，且第一路径中的第4条路径与第二路径中的第5条路径相同，那么，第二设备通过第一路径中的第4条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，和第一设备通过第二路径中的第5条路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，可用于计算传播时延。
下面以两个具体场景为例，介绍将第二设备通过第一路径中的第m条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，和第一设备通过第二路径中的第n条路径接收第二参考信号的时刻用于计算传播时延的方式。
场景1：第一设备为网络设备(如图6或图7中的基站)，第二设备为终端设备(如图6或图7中的UE)。在该场景中，终端设备通过第一路径中的第m条路径接收第一参考信号(下行参考信号)的时刻，可作为终端设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻，如图6或图7中的t2时刻；相应地，网络设备通过第二路径中的第n条路径接收第二参考信号(上行参考信号)的时刻，可作为网络设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻，如图6或图7中的t4时刻，从而，基于该t2时刻和t4时刻，可计算得到RTT，进而得到传播时延。
场景2：第一设备为终端设备(如图6或图7中的UE)，第二设备为网络设备(如图6或图7中的基站)。在该场景中，网络设备通过第一路径中的第m条路径接收第一参考信号(上行参考信号)的时刻，可作为网络设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻，如图6或图7中的t4时刻；相应地，终端设备通过第二路径中的第n条路径接收第二参考信号(下行参考信号)的时刻，可作为终端设备记录的用于计算传播时延的时刻，如图6或图7中的t2时刻，从而，基于该t2时刻和t4时刻，可计算得到RTT，进而得到传播时延。
应理解，在上述两个场景中，基于t2时刻和t4时刻计算RTT与传播时延的具体方式，可以参考前述关于图6或图7的描述，为避免重复，这里不再赘述。
还应理解，在某些场景中，第一设备和第二设备还可以同时为终端设备，本申请不予限定。
可以理解，本申请实施例中的图8至图12中的例子仅仅是为了便于本领域技术人员理解本申请实施例，并非要将本申请实施例限于例示的具体场景。本领域技术人员根据图8至图12的例子，显然可以进行各种等价的修改或变化，这样的修改或变化也落入本申请实施例的范围内。
还可以理解，本申请的各实施例中的一些可选的特征，在某些场景下，可以不依赖于其他特征，也可以在某些场景下，与其他特征进行结合，不作限定。
还可以理解，本申请的各实施例中的方案可以进行合理的组合使用，并且实施例中出现的各个术语的解释或说明可以在各个实施例中互相参考或解释，对此不作限定。
还可以理解，在本申请的各实施例中的各种数字序号的大小并不意味着执行顺序的先后，仅为描述方便进行的区分，不应对本申请实施例的实施过程构成任何限定。
还可以理解，在本申请的各实施例中，第一、第二、#1、#2等数字编号仅为描述方便进行的区分，并不用来限制本申请实施例的范围。
还可以理解，在本申请各个实施例中涉及到的公式是示例性说明，其不对本申请实施例的保护范围造成限定。在计算上述各个涉及的参数的过程中，可以根据上述公式进行计算，或者基于上述公式的变形进行计算，或者，按照本申请实施例提供的方法确定的公式进行计算，或者也可以根据其它方式进行计算以满足公式计算的结果。
还可以理解，在本申请的各实施例中涉及到一些消息名称，其命名不对本申请实施例的保护范围造成限定。
还可以理解，本文中术语“和/或”，仅仅是一种描述关联对象的关联关系，表示可以存在三种关系，例如，A和/或B，可以表示：单独存在A，同时存在A和B，单独存在B这三种情况。另外，本文中字符“/”，一般表示前后关联对象是一种“或”的关系。
还可以理解，上述各个方法实施例中，由设备(如第一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)实现的方法和操作，也可以由设备的组成部件(例如芯片或者电路)来实现，不作限定。
相应于上述各方法实施例给出的方法，本申请实施例还提供了相应的装置，所述装置包括用于执行上述各个方法实施例相应的模块。该模块可以是软件，也可以是硬件，或者是软件和硬件结合。可以理解的是，上述各方法实施例所描述的技术特征同样适用于以下装置实施例。
图13是本申请实施例提供的一种授时的装置的示意性框图。该装置1300包括收发单元1310。收发单元1310可以用于实现相应的通信功能。收发单元1310还可以称为通信接口或通信单元。
可选地，该装置1300还包括处理单元1320，处理单元1320可以用于实现相应的处理功能。
可选地，该装置1300还包括存储单元，该存储单元可以用于存储指令和/或数据，处理单元1320可以读取存储单元中的指令和/或数据，以使得装置实现前述各个方法实施例中设备(如第一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)的动作。
在第一种设计中，该装置1300可以是前述实施例中的设备(如第一设备)，也可以是设备的组成部件(如芯片)。作为示例，该装置1300可实现对应于上文方法实施例中的第一设备执行的步骤或者流程，其中，收发单元1310可用于执行上文方法实施例中第一设备的收发相关的操作，处理单元1320可用于执行上文方法实施例中第一设备的处理相关的操作。当该装置1300为第一设备时，收发单元1310可以是收发器，或，输入/输出接口；处理单元1320可以是至少一个处理器。可选地，收发器可以为收发电路。可选地，输入/输出接口可以为输入/输出电路。当该装置1300为第一设备中的芯片、芯片系统或电路时，收发单元1310可以是该芯片、芯片系统或电路上的输入/输出接口、接口电路、输出电路、输入电路、管脚或相关电路等；处理单元1320可以是至少一个处理器、处理电路或逻辑电路等。
一种可能的实现方式，收发单元1310，用于向第二设备发送第一参考信号，装置1300的基带发送第一参考信号的时刻为第一时刻，第二设备的基带接收第一参考信号的时刻为第二时刻；收发单元1310，还用于接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号，装置1300的基带接收第二参考信号的时刻为第三时刻，第二设备的基带发送第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻；收发单元1310，还用于接收来自第二设备的第一时长，第一时长与第二时刻和第四时刻相关；处理单元1320，用于基于第一时刻、第三时刻和第一时 长，计算装置1300与第二设备之间的传播时延。
可选地，第一时长为第二时刻与第四时刻的差值；或者，第一时长为第四时刻与第二时刻的差值
可选地，处理单元1320，还用于基于第一时长和第二时长，计算装置1300与第二设备之间的传播时延，第二时长为第三时刻与第一时刻的差值。
可选地，处理单元1320，还用于基于第一时长与第二时长的和，计算装置1300与第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，第一时长为第二时刻与第四时刻的差值；或者，处理单元1320，还用于基于第二时长与第一时长的差值，计算装置1300与第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，第一时长为第四时刻与第二时刻的差值。
可选地，收发单元1310，还用于向第二设备发送传播时延；或者，收发单元1310，还用于向第二设备发送基于传播时延计算的时间。
另一种可能的实现方式，收发单元1310，用于接收来自第二设备的第一路径的信息，第一路径为第二设备接收来自装置1300的第一参考信号的路径；处理单元1320，用于根据第一路径的信息，确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径，其中，第二路径为装置1300接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号的路径，第二设备通过第一路径中的第m条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，和装置1300通过第二路径中的第n条路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，用于计算装置1300与第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，m和n为正整数
可选地，收发单元1310，还用于通过第二路径，接收来自第二设备的第二参考信号；处理单元1320，还用于根据第一路径的信息和第二路径的信息，确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径。
可选地，第一路径的信息包括：第一指示信息，第一指示信息用于指示第二设备通过第一路径中的多条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，多条路径包括第一路径中的第m条路径。
可选地，第一路径的信息还包括以下一项或多项信息：多条路径的信号强度的信息；或者，第二指示信息，第二指示信息用于指示第一路径中的第m条路径。
可选地，第二路径的信息包括：装置1300通过第二路径接收第二参考信号的时刻。
在第二种设计中，该装置1300可以是前述实施例中的设备(如第二设备)，也可以是设备的组成部件(如芯片)。作为示例，该装置1300可实现对应于上文方法实施例中的第二设备执行的步骤或者流程，其中，收发单元1310可用于执行上文方法实施例中第二设备的收发相关的操作。当该装置1300为第二设备时，收发单元1310可以是收发器，或，输入/输出接口。可选地，收发器可以为收发电路。可选地，输入/输出接口可以为输入/输出电路。当该装置1300为第二设备中的芯片、芯片系统或电路时，收发单元1310可以是该芯片、芯片系统或电路上的输入/输出接口、接口电路、输出电路、输入电路、管脚或相关电路等。
一种可能的实现方式，收发单元1310，用于接收来自第一设备的第一参考信号，装置1300的基带接收第一参考信号的时刻为第二时刻，第一设备的基带发送第一参考信号的时刻为第一时刻；收发单元1310，还用于向第一设备发送第二参考信号，装置1300的基带发送第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻，第一设备的基带接收第二参考信号的时刻为第三时刻；收发单元1310，还用于向第一设备发送第一时长，第一时长与第二时刻和第四时刻相关，第一时刻、第三时刻和第一时长，用于计算第一设备与装置1300之间的传播时延。
可选地，第一时长为第二时刻与第四时刻的差值；或者，第一时长为第四时刻与第二时刻的差值。
可选地，收发单元1310，还用于接收来自第一设备的传播时延；或者，收发单元1310，还用于接收来自第一设备的基于传播时延计算的时间。
另一种可能的实现方式，收发单元1310，用于通过第一路径，接收来自第一设备的第一参考信号；收发单元1310，还用于向第一设备发送第一路径的信息，第一路径的信息用于确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径，其中，第二路径为第一设备接收来自装置1300的第二参考信号的路径，装置1300通过第一路径中的第m条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，和第一设备通过第二路径中的第n条路径接收第二参考信号的时刻，用于计算第一设备与装置1300之间的传播时延，其中，m和n为正整数。
可选地，收发单元1310，还用于通过第二路径，向第一设备发送第二参考信号，第二路径的信息用于确定第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径。
可选地，第一路径的信息包括：第一指示信息，第一指示信息用于指示装置1300通过第一路径中的多条路径接收第一参考信号的时刻，多条路径包括第一路径中的第m条路径。
可选地，第一路径的信息还包括以下一项或多项信息：多条路径的信号强度的信息；或者，第二指示信息，第二指示信息用于指示第一路径中的第m条路径。
可选地，第二路径的信息包括：第一设备通过第二路径接收第二参考信号的时刻。
在第三种设计中，该装置1300可以是前述实施例中的设备(如第三设备)，也可以是设备的组成部件(如芯片)。作为示例，该装置1300可实现对应于上文方法实施例中的第三设备执行的步骤或者流程，其中，收发单元1310可用于执行上文方法实施例中第三设备的收发相关的操作，处理单元1320可用于执行上文方法实施例中第三设备的处理相关的操作。当该装置1300为第三设备时，收发单元1310可以是收发器，或，输入/输出接口；处理单元1320可以是至少一个处理器。可选地，收发器可以为收发电路。可选地，输入/输出接口可以为输入/输出电路。当该装置1300为第三设备中的芯片、芯片系统或电路时，收发单元1310可以是该芯片、芯片系统或电路上的输入/输出接口、接口电路、输出电路、输入电路、管脚或相关电路等；处理单元1320可以是至少一个处理器、处理电路或逻辑电路等。
一种可能的实现方式，收发单元1310，用于在第一时刻通过第一通道向第四设备发送第一参考信号，第四设备接收第一参考信号的时刻为第二时刻；收发单元1310，还用于在第三时刻通过第二通道接收来自第四设备的第二参考信号，第四设备发送第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻，第二时刻与第四时刻相同；处理单元1320，用于基于第一时刻、第三时刻和第一时延确定第二时延，其中，第一时延为第一通道时延，第二时延为第二通道时延；或者，第一时延为第二通道时延，第二时延为第一通道时延，其中，第一通道时延为装置1300通过第一通道向第四设备发送第一参考信号的时延，第二通道时延为装置1300通过第二通道接收来自第四设备的第二参考信号的时延。
可选地，处理单元1320，还用于获取第一时延。
可选地，处理单元1320，还用于基于第三时长和第一时延确定第二时延，第三时长为第三时刻与第一时刻的差值。
可选地，处理单元1320，还用于基于第三时长与第一时延的差值确定第二时延。
可选地，装置1300为室内基带处理单元BBU，第四设备为有源天线单元AAU。
在第四种设计中，该装置1300可以是前述实施例中的设备(如第四设备)，也可以是设备的组成部件(如芯片)。作为示例，该装置1300可实现对应于上文方法实施例中的第四设备执行的步骤或者流程，其中，收发单元1310可用于执行上文方法实施例中第四设备的收发相关的操作。当该装置1300为第四设备时，收发单元1310可以是收发器，或，输入/输出接口。可选地，收发器可以为收发电路。可选地，输入/输出接口可以为输入/输出电路。当该装置1300为第四设备中的芯片、芯片系统或电路时，收发单元1310可以是该芯片、芯片系统或电路上的输入/输出接口、接口电路、输出电路、输入电路、管脚或相关电路等。
一种可能的实现方式，收发单元1310，用于通过第一通道接收来自第三设备的第一参考信号，装置1300接收第一参考信号的时刻为二时刻，第三设备发送第一参考信号的时刻为第一时刻；收发单元1310，还用于通过第二通道向第三设备发送第二参考信号，装置1300发送第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻，第三设备接收第二参考信号的时刻为第三时刻，第二时刻与第四时刻相同；第一时刻、第三时刻和第一时延用于确定第二时延，其中，第一时延为第一通道时延，第二时延为第二通道时延；或者，第一时延为第二通道时延，第二时延为第一通道时延，其中，第一通道时延为第三设备通过第一通道向装置1300发送第一参考信号的时延，第二通道时延为第三设备通过第二通道接收来自装置1300的第二参考信号的时延。
可选地，第三设备为基带单元BBU，装置1300为有源天线处理单元AAU。
应理解，各单元执行上述相应步骤的具体过程在上述各方法实施例中已经详细说明，为了简洁，在此不再赘述。
还应理解，这里的装置1300以功能单元的形式体现。这里的术语“单元”可以指应用特有集成电路(application specific integrated circuit，ASIC)、电子电路、用于执行一个或多个软件或固件程序的处理器(例如共享处理器、专有处理器或组处理器等)和存储器、合并逻辑电路和/或其它支持所描述的功能的合适组件。在一个可选例子中，本领域技术人员可以理解，装置1300可以具体为上述实施例 中的第一设备，可以用于执行上述各方法实施例中与第一设备对应的各个流程和/或步骤；或者，装置1300可以具体为上述实施例中的第二设备，可以用于执行上述各方法实施例中与第二设备对应的各个流程和/或步骤；或者，装置1300可以具体为上述实施例中的第三设备，可以用于执行上述各方法实施例中与第三设备对应的各个流程和/或步骤；或者，装置1300可以具体为上述实施例中的第四设备，可以用于执行上述各方法实施例中与第四设备对应的各个流程和/或步骤，为避免重复，在此不再赘述。
上述各个方案的装置1300具有实现上述方法中设备(如第一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)所执行的相应步骤的功能。所述功能可以通过硬件实现，也可以通过硬件执行相应的软件实现。所述硬件或软件包括一个或多个与上述功能相对应的模块；例如收发单元可以由收发机替代(例如，收发单元中的发送单元可以由发送机替代，收发单元中的接收单元可以由接收机替代)，其它单元，如处理单元等可以由处理器替代，分别执行各个方法实施例中的收发操作以及相关的处理操作。
此外，上述收发单元1310还可以是收发电路(例如可以包括接收电路和发送电路)，处理单元1320可以是处理电路。
需要指出的是，图13中的装置可以是前述实施例中的设备，也可以是芯片或者芯片系统，例如：片上系统(system on chip，SoC)。其中，收发单元可以是输入输出电路、通信接口；处理单元为该芯片上集成的处理器或者微处理器或者集成电路。在此不作限定。
如图14所示，本申请实施例提供另一种通信的装置1400。该装置1400包括处理器1410，处理器1410用于执行存储器1420存储的计算机程序或指令，或读取存储器1420存储的数据/信令，以执行上文各方法实施例中的方法。可选地，处理器1410为一个或多个。
可选地，如图14所示，该装置1400还包括存储器1420，存储器1420用于存储计算机程序或指令和/或数据。该存储器1420可以与处理器1410集成在一起，或者也可以分离设置。可选地，存储器1420为一个或多个。
可选地，如图14所示，该装置1400还包括收发器1430，收发器1430用于信号的接收和/或发送。例如，处理器1410用于控制收发器1430进行信号的接收和/或发送。
作为一种方案，该装置1400用于实现上文各个方法实施例中由设备(如第一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)执行的操作。
例如，处理器1410用于执行存储器1420存储的计算机程序或指令，以实现上文各个方法实施例中设备(如第一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)的相关操作。
应理解，本申请实施例中提及的处理器可以是中央处理单元(central processing unit，CPU)，还可以是其他通用处理器、数字信号处理器(digital signal processor，DSP)、专用集成电路(application specific integrated circuit，ASIC)、现成可编程门阵列(field programmable gate array，FPGA)或者其他可编程逻辑器件、分立门或者晶体管逻辑器件、分立硬件组件等。通用处理器可以是微处理器或者该处理器也可以是任何常规的处理器等。
还应理解，本申请实施例中提及的存储器可以是易失性存储器和/或非易失性存储器。其中，非易失性存储器可以是只读存储器(read-only memory，ROM)、可编程只读存储器(programmable ROM，PROM)、可擦除可编程只读存储器(erasable PROM，EPROM)、电可擦除可编程只读存储器(electrically EPROM，EEPROM)或闪存。易失性存储器可以是随机存取存储器(random access memory，RAM)。例如，RAM可以用作外部高速缓存。作为示例而非限定，RAM包括如下多种形式：静态随机存取存储器(static RAM，SRAM)、动态随机存取存储器(dynamic RAM，DRAM)、同步动态随机存取存储器(synchronous DRAM，SDRAM)、双倍数据速率同步动态随机存取存储器(double data rate SDRAM，DDR SDRAM)、增强型同步动态随机存取存储器(enhanced SDRAM，ESDRAM)、同步连接动态随机存取存储器(synchlink DRAM，SLDRAM)和直接内存总线随机存取存储器(direct rambus RAM，DR RAM)。
需要说明的是，当处理器为通用处理器、DSP、ASIC、FPGA或者其他可编程逻辑器件、分立门或者晶体管逻辑器件、分立硬件组件时，存储器(存储模块)可以集成在处理器中。
还需要说明的是，本文描述的存储器旨在包括但不限于这些和任意其它适合类型的存储器。
本申请实施例还提供一种计算机可读存储介质，其上存储有用于实现上述各方法实施例中由设备(如第一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)执行的方法的计算机指令。
例如，该计算机程序被计算机执行时，使得该计算机可以实现上述各方法实施例中由设备(如第 一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)执行的方法。
本申请实施例还提供一种计算机程序产品，包含指令，该指令被计算机执行时以实现上述各方法实施例中由设备(如第一设备、第二设备、第三设备或第四设备)执行的方法。
上述提供的任一种装置中相关内容的解释及有益效果均可参考上文提供的对应的方法实施例，此处不再赘述。
在本申请所提供的几个实施例中，应该理解到，所揭露的装置和方法，可以通过其它的方式实现。例如，以上所描述的装置实施例仅是示意性的，例如，所述单元的划分，仅仅为一种逻辑功能划分，实际实现时可以有另外的划分方式，例如多个单元或组件可以结合或者可以集成到另一个系统，或一些特征可以忽略，或不执行。此外，所显示或讨论的相互之间的耦合或直接耦合或通信连接可以是通过一些接口，装置或单元的间接耦合或通信连接，可以是电性，机械或其它的形式。
在上述实施例中，可以全部或部分地通过软件、硬件、固件或者其任意组合来实现。当使用软件实现时，可以全部或部分地以计算机程序产品的形式实现。所述计算机程序产品包括一个或多个计算机指令。在计算机上加载和执行所述计算机程序指令时，全部或部分地产生按照本申请实施例所述的流程或功能。所述计算机可以是通用计算机、专用计算机、计算机网络、或者其他可编程装置。例如，所述计算机可以是个人计算机，服务器，或者网络设备等。所述计算机指令可以存储在计算机可读存储介质中，或者从一个计算机可读存储介质向另一个计算机可读存储介质传输，例如，所述计算机指令可以从一个网站站点、计算机、服务器或数据中心通过有线(例如同轴电缆、光纤、数字用户线(DSL))或无线(例如红外、无线、微波等)方式向另一个网站站点、计算机、服务器或数据中心进行传输。所述计算机可读存储介质可以是计算机能够存取的任何可用介质或者是包含一个或多个可用介质集成的服务器、数据中心等数据存储设备。所述可用介质可以是磁性介质(例如，软盘、硬盘、磁带)、光介质(例如，DVD)、或者半导体介质(例如固态硬盘(solid state disk，SSD)等。例如，前述的可用介质包括但不限于：U盘、移动硬盘、只读存储器(read-only memory，ROM)、随机存取存储器(random access memory，RAM)、磁碟或者光盘等各种可以存储程序代码的介质。
以上所述，仅为本申请的具体实施方式，但本申请的保护范围并不局限于此，任何熟悉本技术领域的技术人员在本申请揭露的技术范围内，可轻易想到变化或替换，都应涵盖在本申请的保护范围之内。因此，本申请的保护范围应以所述权利要求的保护范围为准。

Claims (29)

  1. 一种授时的方法，其特征在于，包括：
    第一设备向第二设备发送第一参考信号，所述第一设备的基带发送所述第一参考信号的时刻为第一时刻，所述第二设备的基带接收所述第一参考信号的时刻为第二时刻；
    所述第一设备接收来自所述第二设备的第二参考信号，所述第一设备的基带接收所述第二参考信号的时刻为第三时刻，所述第二设备的基带发送所述第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻；
    所述第一设备接收来自所述第二设备的第一时长，所述第一时长与所述第二时刻和所述第四时刻相关；
    所述第一设备基于所述第一时刻、所述第三时刻和所述第一时长，计算所述第一设备与所述第二设备之间的传播时延。
  2. 根据权利要求1所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述第一时长为所述第二时刻与所述第四时刻的差值；或者，
    所述第一时长为所述第四时刻与所述第二时刻的差值。
  3. 根据权利要求1或2所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述第一设备基于所述第一时刻、所述第三时刻和所述第一时长，计算所述第一设备和所述第二设备之间的传播时延，包括：
    所述第一设备基于所述第一时长和第二时长，计算所述第一设备与所述第二设备之间的传播时延，所述第二时长为所述第三时刻与所述第一时刻的差值。
  4. 根据权利要求3所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述第一设备基于所述第一时长和所述第二时长，计算所述第一设备与所述第二设备之间的传播时延，包括：
    所述第一设备基于所述第一时长与所述第二时长的和，计算所述第一设备与所述第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，所述第一时长为所述第二时刻与所述第四时刻的差值；或者，
    所述第一设备基于所述第二时长与所述第一时长的差值，计算所述第一设备与所述第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，所述第一时长为所述第四时刻与所述第二时刻的差值。
  5. 根据权利要求1至4中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述第一设备向所述第二设备发送所述传播时延；或者，
    所述第一设备向所述第二设备发送基于所述传播时延计算的时间。
  6. 一种授时的方法，其特征在于，包括：
    第二设备接收来自第一设备的第一参考信号，所述第二设备的基带接收所述第一参考信号的时刻为第二时刻，所述第一设备的基带发送所述第一参考信号的时刻为第一时刻；
    所述第二设备向所述第一设备发送第二参考信号，所述第二设备的基带发送所述第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻，所述第一设备的基带接收所述第二参考信号的时刻为第三时刻；
    所述第二设备向所述第一设备发送第一时长，所述第一时长与所述第二时刻和所述第四时刻相关，
    所述第一时刻、所述第三时刻和所述第一时长，用于计算所述第一设备与所述第二设备之间的传播时延。
  7. 根据权利要求6所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述第一时长为所述第二时刻与所述第四时刻的差值；或者，
    所述第一时长为所述第四时刻与所述第二时刻的差值。
  8. 根据权利要求6或7所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述第二设备接收来自所述第一设备的所述传播时延；或者，
    所述第二设备接收来自所述第一设备的基于所述传播时延计算的时间。
  9. 一种授时的方法，其特征在于，包括：
    第三设备在第一时刻通过第一通道向第四设备发送第一参考信号，所述第四设备接收所述第一参考信号的时刻为第二时刻；
    所述第三设备在第三时刻通过第二通道接收来自所述第四设备的第二参考信号，所述第四设备发 送所述第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻，所述第二时刻与所述第四时刻相同；
    所述第三设备基于所述第一时刻、所述第三时刻和第一时延确定第二时延，
    其中，所述第一时延为第一通道时延，第二时延为第二通道时延；或者，所述第一时延为第二通道时延，所述第二时延为第一通道时延，
    其中，所述第一通道时延为所述第三设备通过所述第一通道向所述第四设备发送所述第一参考信号的时延，所述第二通道时延为所述第三设备通过所述第二通道接收来自所述第四设备的所述第二参考信号的时延。
  10. 根据权利要求9所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述第三设备获取所述第一时延。
  11. 根据权利要求9或10所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第三设备基于所述第一时刻、所述第三时刻和所述第一时延确定所述第二时延，包括：
    所述第三设备基于第三时长和所述第一时延确定所述第二时延，所述第三时长为所述第三时刻与所述第一时刻的差值。
  12. 根据权利要求11所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第三设备基于所述第三时长和所述第一时延确定所述第二时延，包括：
    所述第三设备基于所述第三时长与所述第一时延的差值确定所述第二时延。
  13. 根据权利要求9至12中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述第三设备为室内基带处理单元BBU，所述第四设备为有源天线单元AAU。
  14. 一种授时的方法，其特征在于，包括：
    第四设备通过第一通道接收来自第三设备的第一参考信号，所述第四设备接收所述第一参考信号的时刻为二时刻，所述第三设备发送所述第一参考信号的时刻为第一时刻；
    所述第四设备通过第二通道向所述第三设备发送第二参考信号，所述第四设备发送所述第二参考信号的时刻为第四时刻，所述第三设备接收所述第二参考信号的时刻为第三时刻，所述第二时刻与所述第四时刻相同；
    所述第一时刻、所述第三时刻和第一时延用于确定第二时延，
    其中，所述第一时延为第一通道时延，第二时延为第二通道时延；或者，所述第一时延为第二通道时延，所述第二时延为第一通道时延，
    其中，所述第一通道时延为所述第三设备通过所述第一通道向所述第四设备发送所述第一参考信号的时延，所述第二通道时延为所述第三设备通过所述第二通道接收来自所述第四设备的所述第二参考信号的时延。
  15. 根据权利要求14所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述第三设备为基带单元BBU，所述第四设备为有源天线处理单元AAU。
  16. 一种授时的方法，其特征在于，包括：
    第一设备接收来自第二设备的第一路径的信息，所述第一路径为所述第二设备接收来自所述第一设备的第一参考信号的路径；
    所述第一设备根据所述第一路径的信息，确定所述第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径，其中，所述第二路径为所述第一设备接收来自所述第二设备的第二参考信号的路径，
    所述第二设备通过所述第一路径中的第m条路径接收所述第一参考信号的时刻，和所述第一设备通过所述第二路径中的第n条路径接收所述第二参考信号的时刻，用于计算所述第一设备与所述第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，m和n为正整数。
  17. 根据权利要求16所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述第一设备通过所述第二路径，接收来自所述第二设备的所述第二参考信号；
    所述第一设备根据所述第一路径的信息，确定所述第一路径中的第m条路径与所述第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径，包括：
    所述第一设备根据所述第一路径的信息和所述第二路径的信息，确定所述第一路径中的第m条路径与所述第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径。
  18. 根据权利要求16或17所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一路径的信息包括：
    第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于指示所述第二设备通过所述第一路径中的多条路径接收所述第一参考信号的时刻，所述多条路径包括所述第一路径中的第m条路径。
  19. 根据权利要求18所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一路径的信息还包括以下一项或多项信息：
    所述多条路径的信号强度的信息；或者，
    第二指示信息，所述第二指示信息用于指示所述第一路径中的第m条路径。
  20. 根据权利要求17至19中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第二路径的信息包括：
    所述第一设备通过所述第二路径接收所述第二参考信号的时刻。
  21. 一种授时的方法，其特征在于，包括：
    第二设备通过第一路径，接收来自第一设备的第一参考信号；
    所述第二设备向所述第一设备发送所述第一路径的信息，所述第一路径的信息用于确定所述第一路径中的第m条路径与第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径，其中，所述第二路径为所述第一设备接收来自所述第二设备的第二参考信号的路径，
    所述第二设备通过所述第一路径中的第m条路径接收所述第一参考信号的时刻，和所述第一设备通过所述第二路径中的第n条路径接收所述第二参考信号的时刻，用于计算所述第一设备与所述第二设备之间的传播时延，其中，m和n为正整数。
  22. 根据权利要求21所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述第二设备通过所述第二路径，向所述第一设备发送所述第二参考信号，
    所述第二路径的信息用于确定所述第一路径中的第m条路径与所述第二路径中的第n条路径为相同路径。
  23. 根据权利要求21或22所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一路径的信息包括：
    第一指示信息，所述第一指示信息用于指示所述第二设备通过所述第一路径中的多条路径接收所述第一参考信号的时刻，所述多条路径包括所述第一路径中的第m条路径。
  24. 根据权利要求23所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一路径的信息还包括以下一项或多项信息：
    所述多条路径的信号强度的信息；或者，
    第二指示信息，所述第二指示信息用于指示所述第一路径中的第m条路径。
  25. 根据权利要求22至24中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第二路径的信息包括：
    所述第一设备通过所述第二路径接收所述第二参考信号的时刻。
  26. 一种通信的装置，其特征在于，包括：
    用于实现权利要求1至5中任一项所述的方法的单元；或者，用于实现权利要求6至8中任一项所述的方法的单元；或者，用于实现权利要求9至13中任一项所述的方法的单元；或者，用于实现权利要求14或15所述的方法的单元；或者，用于实现权利要求16至20中任一项所述的方法的单元；或者，用于实现权利要求21至25中任一项所述的方法的单元。
  27. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括处理器和存储器，
    所述存储器用于存储计算机程序或指令，所述处理器用于执行所述存储器中的所述计算机程序或指令，使得权利要求1至5中任一项所述的方法被执行；或者，使得权利要求6至8中任一项所述的方法被执行；或者，使得权利要求9至13中任一项所述的方法被执行；或者，使得权利要求14或15所述的方法被执行；或者，使得权利要求16至20中任一项所述的方法被执行；或者，使得权利要求21至25中任一项所述的方法被执行。
  28. 一种计算机可读存储介质，其特征在于，所述计算机可读存储介质上存储有计算机程序，当所述计算机程序在计算机上运行时，使得所述计算机执行如权利要求1至5中任意一项所述的方法，或者以使得所述计算机执行如权利要求6至8中任一项所述的方法，或者以使得所述计算机执行如权利要求9至13中任一项所述的方法，或者以使得所述计算机执行如权利要求14或15所述的方法，或者以使得所述计算机执行如权利要求16至20中任一项所述的方法，或者以使得所述计算机执行如权利要求21至25中任一项所述的方法。
  29. 一种计算机程序产品，其特征在于，所述计算机程序产品包括用于执行如权利要求1至5中任一项所述的方法的指令，或者，所述计算机程序产品包括用于执行如权利要求6至8中任一项所述的方法的指令，或者，所述计算机程序产品包括用于执行如权利要求9至13中任一项所述的方法的指令，或者，所述计算机程序产品包括用于执行如权利要求14或15所述的方法的指令，或者，所述计 算机程序产品包括用于执行如权利要求16至20中任一项所述的方法的指令，或者，所述计算机程序产品包括用于执行如权利要求21至25中任一项所述的方法的指令。
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