For example, in the discovery resource period p (p represents a serial number (0,1,2, . . . ) of the discovery resource period), the serial numbers of the discovery resource elements for sending the discovery signals are determined according to the following formula:
Pos_Index=(Σ_i=0^m=1c(m*p+i)·2ⁱ)mod X,

herein Pos_Index represents the determined serial numbers of the positions of the discovery resource elements for sending the device discovery signals, m is a positive integer and meets 2^m>X, and X is a positive integer and meets X≥N*K, herein the value of X may also meet X=N*K.

After the serial numbers of the discovery resource elements for sending the discovery signals are determined, coordinates for identifying the positions of the discovery resource elements for sending the device discovery signals are determined according to the serial numbers. For example the coordinates of the discovery resource elements are determined according to

$n=\mathrm{floor}??\left(\frac{X}{Y}\right)$
and k=mod(Pos_Index,K); or n=mod(Pos_Index,N) and

$k=\mathrm{floor}??(\frac{\mathrm{Pos\_Index}}{}$