WO-2025167094-A9 - COMMUNICATION METHOD AND DEVICE

Abstract

A communication method and device, applied to a wireless communication system, for use in improving the hardware utilization rate and reducing the power consumption. The device comprises an application processor, a radio frequency front end, and N communication processors respectively connected to the application processor and the radio frequency front end. The N communication processors are in one-to-one correspondence with N wireless communication standards. The application processor is configured to: when determining to start or end a wireless communication service, instruct a first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front end on the basis of a wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service, and control the operating state of a corresponding communication processor among the N communication processors on the basis of the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service.

Inventors

• YU, Xian
• YANG, WEI
• XU, WEI
• YOU, Xihe

Assignees

• 华为技术有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20240905

Priority Date

20240206

Claims (20)

1. A communication device, characterized in that it comprises: an application processor, a radio frequency front-end, and N communication processors respectively connected to the application processor and the radio frequency front-end, wherein the N communication processors correspond one-to-one with N wireless communication standards, and each of the N communication processors is used to process a signal from the application processor according to the corresponding wireless communication standard and then send it to the radio frequency front-end, or to process a signal from the radio frequency front-end and then send it to the application processor, wherein the N communication processors include a first communication processor, the first communication processor corresponds to a first communication standard, and N is an integer greater than 1; The application processor is configured to, when determining to enable or disable a wireless communication service, instruct the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end according to the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service, and control the operating state of the corresponding communication processor among the N communication processors according to the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service. The first communication processor is configured, according to the instructions of the application processor, to instruct the radio frequency front-end to be configured to a communication state that matches the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service, or to be configured to a sleep state or a shutdown state. The radio frequency front end is configured, according to the instructions of the first communication processor, to a communication state, a sleep state, or a shutdown state that matches the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service.
2. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The application processor is specifically used to: when it is determined that the wireless communication service corresponding to the second wireless communication standard is to be enabled, and all N communication processors are in a sleep state, wake up the first communication processor, instruct the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end according to the second wireless communication standard, and control the second communication processor corresponding to the second wireless communication standard among the N communication processors to enter the working state; The first communication processor is specifically configured to: instruct the radio frequency front-end to be configured in a communication state that matches the second wireless communication standard according to the instructions of the application processor, and enter a sleep state after instructing the radio frequency front-end to be configured in a communication state that corresponds to the second wireless communication standard.
3. The communication device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The application processor is further configured to: when it is determined that the wireless communication service corresponding to the second wireless communication standard will be terminated, control the second communication processor to enter a sleep state, wake up the first communication processor, and instruct the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end to a sleep state or a shutdown state; The first communication processor is further configured to: instruct the radio frequency front-end to be configured into a sleep state or a shutdown state according to the instruction of the application processor, and enter a sleep state after instructing the radio frequency front-end to be configured into a sleep state or a shutdown state.
4. The communication device according to any one of claims 1-3 is characterized in that, The application processor is specifically used to: when it is determined that the communication service corresponding to the second wireless communication standard is to be enabled, and the first communication processor is in the working state, instruct the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end according to the first wireless communication standard and the second wireless communication standard, and control the second communication processor corresponding to the second wireless communication standard among the N communication processors to enter the working state; The first communication processor is specifically used to: instruct the radio frequency front end to be configured in a communication state that matches the first wireless communication standard and the second wireless communication standard, according to the instructions of the application processing.
5. The communication device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The application processor is further configured to: when it is determined that the communication service corresponding to the second wireless communication standard will be terminated, control the second communication processor to enter a sleep state, and instruct the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end to a communication state that matches the first wireless communication standard; The first communication processor is further configured to: instruct the radio frequency front end to be configured in a communication state that matches the first wireless communication standard, according to the instructions of the application processor.
6. The communication device according to any one of claims 2-5, wherein the first wireless communication standard is a terrestrial network communication standard, and the first communication processor is a terrestrial network communication processor; The second wireless communication standard is a short-range communication standard, and the second communication processor is a short-range communication processor.
7. The communication device according to any one of claims 1-6 is characterized in that, The application processor is specifically used to: when it is determined that the communication service corresponding to the third wireless communication standard is to be enabled, and the first communication processor is in working state, first instruct the first communication processor to soft power off after configuring the radio frequency front-end to sleep state or off state, then wake up the first communication processor, instruct the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end according to the third wireless communication standard, and control the third communication processor corresponding to the third wireless communication standard among the N communication processors to enter working state. The first communication processor is specifically configured to: instruct the radio frequency front-end to be configured into a sleep state or a shutdown state according to the instructions of the application processor, and perform a soft shutdown; after being woken up by the application processor, instruct the radio frequency front-end to be configured into a communication state matching the third wireless communication standard according to the instructions of the application processor, and enter a sleep state after instructing the radio frequency front-end to be configured into a communication state matching the third wireless communication standard.
8. The communication device as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The application processor is also configured to: when it is determined that the communication service corresponding to the third wireless communication standard will be terminated, control the third communication processor to enter a sleep state, wake up the first communication processor and instruct the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end to a sleep state or a shutdown state. The first communication processor is further configured to: instruct the radio frequency front-end to be configured into a sleep state or a shutdown state according to the instruction of the application processor, and enter a sleep state after instructing the radio frequency front-end to be configured into a sleep state or a shutdown state.
9. The communication device as described in claim 7 or 8 is characterized in that the first wireless communication standard is a terrestrial network communication standard, and the first communication processor is a terrestrial network communication processor. The third wireless communication standard is a satellite communication standard, and the third communication processor is a satellite communication processor.
10. The communication device according to any one of claims 1-9 is characterized in that it further includes a power supply module for supplying power to the radio frequency front end; The first communication processor is further configured to: send a control signal to the power module, the control signal being used to control the power module to stop supplying power to the radio frequency front end; Alternatively, the first communication processor is specifically configured to: send a control signal to the radio frequency front end, the control signal being used to instruct the radio frequency front end to disconnect from the power module.
11. A communication method, characterized in that it is applied to a communication device, the communication device comprising an application processor, a radio frequency front-end, and N communication processors respectively connected to the application processor and the radio frequency front-end, the N communication processors corresponding one-to-one with N wireless communication standards, the N communication processors including a first communication processor, the first communication processor corresponding to a first communication standard, and N being an integer greater than 1; The method includes: The application processor determines whether to enable or disable wireless communication services. The application processor instructs the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end according to the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service. The application processor controls the operating state of the corresponding communication processor among the N communication processors according to the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service.
12. The method as described in claim 11, characterized in that, if the application processor determines to enable the wireless communication service corresponding to the second wireless communication standard, and all N communication processors are in a sleep state, then the application processor instructs the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end according to the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service, including: The application processor wakes up the first communication processor and instructs the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end according to the second wireless communication standard; The application processor controls the operating state of the corresponding communication processor among the N communication processors according to the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service, including: The application processor controls the second communication processor corresponding to the second wireless communication standard among the N communication processors to enter the working state.
13. The method as described in claim 12, wherein when the application processor determines to terminate the wireless communication service corresponding to the second wireless communication standard, the method further includes: The application processor controls the second communication processor to enter a sleep state; The application processor wakes up the first communication processor and instructs the first wireless communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end to a sleep state or a shutdown state.
14. The method as described in any one of claims 11-13, characterized in that, if the application processor determines to enable the wireless communication service corresponding to the second wireless communication standard, and the first communication processor is in an operating state, then the application processor instructs the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end according to the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service, including: The application processor instructs the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end according to the first wireless communication standard and the second wireless communication standard; The application processor controls the operating state of the corresponding communication processor among the N communication processors according to the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service, including: The application processor controls the second communication processor corresponding to the second wireless communication standard among the N communication processors to enter the working state.
15. The method as described in claim 14, wherein when the application processor determines to terminate the communication service corresponding to the second wireless communication standard, the method further includes: The application processor controls the second communication processor to enter a sleep state; The application processor instructs the first wireless communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end to a communication state that matches the first wireless communication standard.
16. The method as described in any one of claims 11-15, characterized in that, if the application processor determines to enable the wireless communication service corresponding to the third wireless communication standard, and the first communication processor is in an operating state, then the application processor instructs the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end according to the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service, including: The application processor instructs the first communication processor to perform a soft shutdown after configuring the radio frequency front-end to a sleep or off state. The application processor wakes up the first communication processor and instructs the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end according to the third wireless communication standard; The application processor controls the operating state of the corresponding communication processor among the N communication processors according to the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service, including: The application processor controls the third communication processor corresponding to the third wireless communication standard among the N communication processors to enter the working state.
17. The method as described in claim 16, wherein when the application processor determines to terminate the communication service corresponding to the third wireless communication standard, the method further includes: The application processor controls the third communication processor to enter a sleep state; The application processor wakes up the first wireless communication processor and instructs the first wireless communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end to a sleep state or a shutdown state.
18. A communication device, characterized in that it includes a unit or module for performing the method as described in any one of claims 11-17.
19. A communication device, characterized in that it comprises: one or more processors, said one or more processors configured to perform the method as described in any one of claims 11-17.
20. A readable storage medium, characterized in that the readable storage medium includes a program that, when the program is run on a device, causes the device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 11-17.

Description

A communication method and apparatus Cross-reference of related applications This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410173831.2, filed on February 6, 2024, entitled "A Communication Method and Apparatus", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field This application relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. Background Technology Current communication devices (such as handheld terminals) can support multi-mode communication, such as terrestrial network communication (such as cellular communication systems), short-range communication, and non-terrestrial network communication (such as satellite communication). This requires communication devices to have corresponding signal processors and radio frequency front-ends for different wireless communication standards. For communication devices that support multi-mode communication, improving hardware utilization and reducing power consumption are problems that need to be solved. Summary of the Invention This application provides a communication method and apparatus to improve hardware utilization and reduce power consumption for communication devices that support multi-mode communication. In a first aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: an application processor, a radio frequency front-end, and N communication processors respectively connected to the application processor and the radio frequency front-end, wherein the N communication processors correspond one-to-one with N wireless communication standards, and each of the N communication processors is used to process a signal from the application processor and send it to the radio frequency front-end according to the corresponding wireless communication standard, or to process a signal from the radio frequency front-end and send it to the application processor, wherein the N communication processors include a first communication processor, the first communication processor corresponds to a first communication standard, and N is an integer greater than 1. The application processor, when determining to enable or disable a wireless communication service, instructs the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end according to the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service, and controls the operating state of the corresponding communication processor among the N communication processors according to the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service. The first communication processor, according to the instruction from the application processor, instructs the radio frequency front-end to be configured in a communication state matching the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service, or configured to a sleep state or a disabled state. The radio frequency front-end, according to the instruction from the first communication processor, is configured in a communication state matching the wireless communication standard corresponding to the wireless communication service, or a sleep state or a disabled state. In the above implementation, since N communication processors can reuse a single radio frequency (RF) front-end, compared to setting up a separate RF front-end for each communication processor, hardware redundancy can be reduced, hardware utilization can be improved, and power consumption can be reduced. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the RF front-end can be controlled to enter a sleep state or a shutdown state after the wireless communication service ends, thereby further reducing power consumption. In one possible implementation, the application processor is specifically configured to: wake up the first communication processor when it is determined that the wireless communication service corresponding to the second wireless communication standard is to be enabled, and all N communication processors are in a sleep state; instruct the first communication processor to configure the radio frequency front-end according to the second wireless communication standard; and control the second communication processor corresponding to the second wireless communication standard among the N communication processors to enter the working state; the first communication processor is specifically configured to: instruct the radio frequency front-end to be configured to a communication state matching the second wireless communication standard according to the instruction of the application processor; and enter a sleep state after instructing the radio frequency front-end to be configured to a communication state corresponding to the second wireless communication standard. In one possible implementation, the application processor is further configured to: when it is determined that the wireless communication service corresponding to th