Method and device for establishing association between terminal devices

Abstract

Provided are terminal devices and a method for establishing association between terminal devices, A first terminal device transmits information of terminal capabilities to a network device, the information of terminal capabilities being used to indicate that the terminal device has capabilities of receiving and forwarding data. The first terminal device receives confirmation information for confirming that the terminal device has the capabilities of receiving and forwarding data, from the network device. The first terminal device establishes an association with a second terminal device according to the confirmation information.

1 .- 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . A method for establishing an association between terminal devices, comprising:
 receiving, by a core network device, information of terminal capabilities transmitted by a first terminal device, the information of terminal capabilities being used to indicate that the first terminal device has capabilities of receiving and forwarding data; and   when the core network device determines, according to the information of terminal capabilities, that the first terminal device has the capabilities of receiving and forwarding data, transmitting, by the core network device, confirmation information for confirming that the first terminal device has the capabilities of receiving and forwarding data to the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device establishes, according to the confirmation information, the association with a second terminal device.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising:
 when the core network device determines, according to the information of terminal capabilities, that the first terminal device has the capabilities of receiving and forwarding data, determining, by the core network device, a cluster identifier (ID) to be allocated to the first terminal device, the cluster ID being used to temporarily identify a cluster, to which the first terminal device pertains; and   transmitting, by the core network device, the cluster ID to the first terminal device.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein determining, by the core network device, a cluster ID allocated to the first terminal device comprises:
 determining, by the core network device, a cluster ID generated according to an international mobile subscriber identification (IMSI) or an international mobile device identity (IMEI) of the first terminal device to be the cluster ID.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein receiving, by the core network device, information of terminal capabilities of the first terminal device comprises:
 receiving, by the core network device, Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling transmitted by the first terminal device, the NAS signaling carrying the information of terminal capabilities; or,   receiving, by the core network device, the information of terminal capabilities transmitted by a base station.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein determining, by the core network device, a cluster identifier (ID) to be allocated to the first terminal device, comprises:
 determining, by the core network device, the cluster ID to be allocated to the first terminal device, according to identification of the first terminal device.   
     
     
         60 . A base station, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform one or more actions comprising:   receiving information of terminal capabilities transmitted by a first terminal device, the information of terminal capabilities being used to indicate that the first terminal device has capabilities of receiving and forwarding data; and   transmitting the information of terminal capabilities to a core network device,   wherein the processor is further configured to:   receive confirmation information or confirming that the first terminal device has the capabilities of receiving and forwarding data, transmitted by the core network device; and   transmit the confirmation information to the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device establishes, according to the confirmation information, an association with a second terminal device.   
     
     
         61 . The base station of  claim 60 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a cluster identifier (ID) transmitted by the core network device, the cluster ID being used to temporarily identify a cluster to which the first terminal device pertains, the cluster ID being determined by the core network device when determining that the first terminal device has the capabilities of receiving and forwarding data,   wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the cluster ID to the first terminal device.   
     
     
         62 . The base station of  claim 60 , wherein the processor is specifically configured to:
 receive Access Stratum (AS) signaling transmitted by the first terminal device, the AS signaling carrying the information of terminal capabilities.   
     
     
         63 . The base station of  claim 60 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transmit first resource allocation indication information to the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device allocates some resources of resources indicated by the first resource allocation indication information to the second terminal device.   
     
     
         64 . The base station of  claim 60 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transmit the cluster ID and second resource allocation indication information corresponding to the cluster ID to the second terminal device, so that the second terminal device determines, according to the cluster ID, resources occupied when transmitting data to the first terminal device or receiving data from the first terminal device.   
     
     
         65 . The base station of  claim 61 , wherein the cluster ID is determined according to identification of the first terminal device. 
     
     
         66 . A core network device, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform one or more actions comprising:
 receiving information of terminal capabilities of a first terminal device, the information of terminal capabilities being used to indicate that the first terminal device has capabilities of receiving and forwarding data; and 
   determining, according to the terminal device capability information, whether the first terminal device has the capabilities of receiving and forwarding data,   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 when the processing unit determines, according to the information of terminal capabilities, that the first terminal device has the capabilities of receiving and forwarding data, transmit confirmation. information for confirming that the first terminal device has the capabilities of receiving and forwarding data to the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device establishes, according to the confirmation information, an association with a second terminal device. 
   
     
     
         67 . The core network device of  claim 66 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 when determining, according to the information of terminal capabilities, that the first terminal device has capabilities of receiving and forwarding data, determine a cluster identifier (ID) to be allocated to the first terminal device, the cluster ID being used to temporarily identify a cluster, to which the first terminal device pertains,   wherein the transceiver unit is further configured to:
 transmit the cluster ID to the first terminal device. 
   
     
     
         68 . The core network device of  claim 67 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 determine a cluster ID generated according to an international mobile subscriber identification (IMSI) or an international mobile device identity (IMEI) of the first terminal device to be the cluster ID.   
     
     
         69 . The core network device of  claim 66 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling transmitted by the first terminal device, the NAS signaling carrying the information of terminal capabilities; or,   receive the information of terminal capabilities transmitted by a base station.   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 determine the cluster ID to be allocated to the first terminal device, according to identification of the first terminal device.