# US 10,873,430 B2 · Signal sending method and apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,430 B2 - Document ID: US10873430B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/365,227 - Filed: 2019-03-26 - Published: 2019-07-18 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-27 - Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Zhiheng Guo; Xinqian Xie; Wei Sun - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873430B2 ## CPC - H04L 5/0021: {in which codes are applied as a frequency-domain sequences, e.g. MC-CDMA} - H04L 1/1657: {Implicit acknowledgement of correct or incorrect reception, e.g. with a moving window} - H04L 5/0007: {the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A) or DMT} - H04L 5/0055: {Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK (for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861)} - H04L 25/0226: {sounding signals per se} - H04W 72/02: Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal - H04W 72/56: based on priority criteria - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Example methods and apparatus for sending a signal are described. One method includes determining a to-be-sent first signal by a first terminal and determining a first time-frequency resource. Some or all of the first time-frequency resource are second time-frequency resources, and the second time-frequency resource is a time-frequency resource used to send a second signal. The first signal is sent by the first terminal by using the first time-frequency resource, where the first time-frequency resource includes an idle time-frequency resource that is not occupied by the second signal. The first time-frequency resource can also include a common time-frequency resource occupied by the second signal, and the first signal is orthogonal to the second signal in the common time-frequency resource. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A signal sending method, comprising: determining, by a first terminal, a first signal to be sent; determining, by the first terminal, a first time-frequency resource, wherein some or all of the first time-frequency resource are second time-frequency resources, and wherein the second time-frequency resource is a time-frequency resource used to send a second signal; and sending, by the first terminal, the first signal by using the first time-frequency resource, wherein the first time-frequency resource comprises at least one of the following: an idle time-frequency resource that is not occupied by the second signal; or a common time-frequency resource occupied by the second signal, wherein the first signal is orthogonal to the second signal in the common time-frequency resource, wherein both the first signal and the second signal are sequence signals, and wherein a third signal is orthogonal to a fourth signal, wherein the third signal is a part that is of the first signal and that is sent by the first terminal on the common time-frequency resource, and wherein the fourth signal is a part that is of the second signal and that is sent by a second terminal on the common time-frequency resource. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first signal is a signal obtained after extension is performed by using a first code division multiplexing (CDM) code, wherein the second signal is a signal obtained after extension is performed by using a second CDM code, and wherein the first CDM code and the second CDM code are orthogonal codes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a signal type of the first signal comprises at least one of an acknowledgement (ACK), a negative acknowledgement (NACK), and a scheduling request signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein a signal type of the second signal comprises at least one of an ACK, a NACK, a scheduling request signal, a sounding reference signal (SRS), and a pilot signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the second signal is a signal sent by the first terminal, and wherein the signal type of the first signal is different from the signal type of the second signal; or the second signal is a signal sent by the second terminal, and wherein the signal type of the first signal is the same as or different from the signal type of the second signal. ### Claim 6 A signal sending apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the at least one processor and storing programming instructions for execution by the at least one processor, wherein the programming instructions instruct the at least one processor to: determine a first signal to be sent; determine a first time-frequency resource, wherein some or all of the first time-frequency resource are second time-frequency resources, and wherein the second time-frequency resource is a time-frequency resource used to send a second signal; and send the first signal by using the first time-frequency resource, wherein the first time-frequency resource comprises at least one of the following: an idle time-frequency resource that is not occupied by the second signal; or a common time-frequency resource occupied by the second signal, wherein the first signal is orthogonal to the second signal in the common time-frequency resource, wherein both the first signal and the second signal are sequence signals, and wherein a third signal is orthogonal to a fourth signal, wherein the third signal is a part that is of the first signal and that is sent by a first terminal on the common time-frequency resource, and wherein the fourth signal is a part that is of the second signal and that is sent by a second terminal on the common time-frequency resource. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first signal is a signal obtained after extension is performed by using a first code division multiplexing (CDM) code, wherein the second signal is a signal obtained after extension is performed by using a second CDM code, and wherein the first CDM code and the second CDM code are orthogonal codes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a signal type of the first signal comprises at least one of an acknowledgement (ACK), a negative acknowledgement (NACK), and a scheduling request signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a signal type of the second signal comprises at least one of an ACK, a NACK, a scheduling request signal, a sounding reference signal (SRS), and a pilot signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second signal is a signal sent by the first terminal, and wherein the signal type of the first signal is different from the signal type of the second signal; or the second signal is a signal sent by the second terminal, and wherein the signal type of the first signal is the same as or different from the signal type of the second signal. ### Claim 11 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: determine a first signal to be sent; determine a first time-frequency resource, wherein some or all of the first time-frequency resource are second time-frequency resources, and wherein the second time-frequency resource is a time-frequency resource used to send a second signal; and send the first signal by using the first time-frequency resource, wherein the first time-frequency resource comprises at least one of the following: an idle time-frequency resource that is not occupied by the second signal; or a common time-frequency resource occupied by the second signal, wherein the first signal is orthogonal to the second signal in the common time-frequency resource, wherein both the first signal and the second signal are sequence signals, and wherein a third signal is orthogonal to a fourth signal, wherein the third signal is a part that is of the first signal and that is sent by a first terminal on the common time-frequency resource, and wherein the fourth signal is a part that is of the second signal and that is sent by a second terminal on the common time-frequency resource. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the first signal is a signal obtained after extension is performed by using a first code division multiplexing (CDM) code, wherein the second signal is a signal obtained after extension is performed by using a second CDM code, and wherein the first CDM code and the second CDM code are orthogonal codes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 11, wherein a signal type of the first signal comprises at least one of an acknowledgement (ACK), a negative acknowledgement (NACK), and a scheduling request signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein a signal type of the second signal comprises at least one of an ACK, a NACK, a scheduling request signal, a sounding reference signal (SRS), and a pilot signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14, wherein the second signal is a signal sent by the first terminal, and wherein the signal type of the first signal is different from the signal type of the second signal; or the second signal is a signal sent by the second terminal, and wherein the signal type of the first signal is the same as or different from the signal type of the second signal.