Communication methods and communication devices

Abstract

This application discloses a communication method and a communication device, wherein the TAG configuration for configuring a first TAG includes not only the identifier of the first TAG but also first indication information for indicating a second TAG or a second carrier, the timing of which is a reference timing of the first uplink carrier. When the terminal device receives the aforementioned first indication information and the second indication information for indicating the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier, the terminal device can determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier. This application provides a scheme for a network device to configure a single uplink carrier (i.e., only a first uplink carrier, which has no corresponding downlink carrier) for a terminal device, so that when the terminal device sends uplink signaling to the network device (e.g., an RO node) using the first uplink carrier, it can use a timing advance TA mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a communication method and a communication device. Background Art

[0002] Uplink timing advance (TA) is a mechanism used to adjust the uplink timing of the uplink carrier of a terminal device. This mechanism reduces uplink signal interference caused by differences in the round trip delay between different terminal devices and network devices. In this TA mechanism, the terminal device adjusts the uplink timing of the uplink carrier based on the downlink timing of the downlink carrier from the network device and the timing advance amount (TA value) configured on the network device. Therefore, this TA mechanism ensures that the uplink carrier carrying the uplink signal arrives at the network device precisely within the network device's reception time window, guaranteeing time-domain alignment of uplink signals received by the network device from different terminal devices.

[0003] However, some network devices currently exist that only have uplink carriers and no downlink carriers, such as single-receiver (Rx Only, RO) nodes that assist macro base station uplink reception. These RO nodes are configured only with uplink carriers and not downlink carriers. Therefore, terminal devices sending uplink signals to these RO nodes cannot obtain the downlink timing of the RO node's downlink carrier, i.e., they cannot obtain a reference for determining the uplink timing of the uplink carrier. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an uplink timing scheme that can be implemented in scenarios where only uplink carriers are available and no downlink carriers are present. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method and a communication device for determining uplink timing for an uplink carrier that does not have a corresponding downlink carrier.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a communication method relating to a terminal device and a network device. In this method, the terminal device receives from the network device a TAG configuration for configuring a first TAG. The TAG configuration includes an identifier of the first TAG and first indication information. The first TAG includes a first uplink carrier, and the first indication information is used to indicate a second TAG different from the first TAG or a second carrier within the second TAG. Furthermore, the terminal device receives second indication information from the network device, which is used to determine a timing adjustment value for the first uplink carrier. Then, the terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier.

[0006] The uplink timing of the first uplink carrier can be understood as the timing at which the terminal device transmits an uplink signal via the first uplink carrier. The timing of the second carrier can be understood as a reference for determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier can be understood as the offset relative to the aforementioned reference. In other words, once the terminal device knows the reference for determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier and the offset relative to the aforementioned reference, the terminal device can determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0007] In traditional technologies, when a network device configures a TAG (e.g., a third TAG) for a terminal device, the TAG configuration sent to the terminal device only includes information about the aforementioned third TAG. It does not include information indicating other TAGs besides the third TAG, nor does it include information indicating a carrier that does not belong to the third TAG. In other words, traditional technologies assume that the terminal device refers to the downlink carrier indicated in the TAG configuration (e.g., the third TAG). Therefore, traditional technologies are not suitable for network devices that only configure uplink carriers and not downlink carriers.

[0008] In this application, when configuring a first TAG containing a first uplink carrier for a terminal device, the network device, in addition to sending the identifier of the first TAG to the terminal device, also sends first indication information indicating a second TAG different from the first TAG or a second carrier within the second TAG. That is, the network device configures a reference for determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier for the terminal device, located outside the first TAG. After receiving the aforementioned first indication information and the second indication information indicating the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier, the terminal device can determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier. Since the first indication information can provide the terminal device with a separate reference for determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier, the terminal device does not need to calculate the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the downlink carrier corresponding to the first uplink carrier. Therefore, even if the first uplink carrier does not have a corresponding downlink carrier, the terminal device can still use a timing advance (TA) mechanism when transmitting uplink signals using the first uplink carrier.

[0009] In this application, the first indication information in the TAG configuration of the aforementioned first TAG can be implemented in multiple ways.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the first indication information includes the identifier of the second TAG, the second carrier being a second downlink carrier, or the second carrier being a second uplink carrier.

[0011] In this embodiment, a second tag is proposed to indicate to the terminal device a reference timing for determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier. In this implementation, the network device implicitly instructs the terminal device to use the timing of the carrier in the second tag as a reference timing when determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier by indicating a second tag different from the first tag. The carrier in this second tag is referred to as the second carrier, which can be either a second uplink carrier (i.e., the uplink carrier in the second tag) or a second downlink carrier (i.e., the downlink carrier in the second tag).

[0012] In another possible implementation, the second carrier is a second downlink carrier, and the first indication information is an identifier of the second downlink carrier; or, the second carrier is a second uplink carrier, and the first indication information is an identifier of the second uplink carrier.

[0013] In this embodiment, it is proposed to use the identifier of a carrier that does not belong to the first TAG to instruct the terminal device to determine the reference timing for the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier. In this implementation, by using the identifier of the second uplink carrier or the identifier of the second downlink carrier, the terminal device can be explicitly instructed to refer to the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier or the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier when determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance (TA) value of the first uplink carrier. The terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier, including: the terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier.

[0015] In one possible implementation, when the TAG configuration also includes a timing calibration timer configuration for the first TAG, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier includes a first offset; the terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier, including: the terminal device obtaining the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier based on the first indication information; and the terminal device determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset.

[0017] In one possible implementation, when the TAG configuration does not include a timing calibration timer configuration, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

[0018] Secondly, this application provides a communication method in which a network device sends a timing advance group TAG configuration to a terminal device. The TAG configuration includes an identifier of a first TAG and first indication information. A first uplink carrier belongs to the first TAG. The first indication information is used to indicate a second TAG or a second carrier. The second carrier belongs to the second TAG.

[0019] The network device sends a second instruction to the terminal device. The second instruction is used to determine the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier. The timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the first indication information includes the identifier of the second TAG, the second carrier being a second downlink carrier, or the second carrier being a second uplink carrier.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the second carrier is a second downlink carrier, and the first indication information is an identifier of the second downlink carrier; or, the second carrier is a second uplink carrier, and the first indication information is an identifier of the second uplink carrier.

[0022] In one possible implementation, when the second carrier is the second downlink carrier, the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance TA value of the first uplink carrier, and the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0023] In one possible implementation, when the TAG configuration also includes a timing calibration timer configuration for the first TAG, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier.

[0024] In one possible implementation, when the second carrier is the second uplink carrier, the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier includes a first offset, and the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0025] In one possible implementation, when the TAG configuration does not include a timing calibration timer configuration, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

[0026] It should be noted that there are many other specific implementation methods in this application, and the specific implementation methods and their beneficial effects in the first aspect can be found therein, which will not be repeated here.

[0027] Thirdly, this application provides a terminal device, which includes a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is configured to receive a timing advance group (TAG) configuration from a network device. The TAG configuration includes an identifier of a first TAG and first indication information, wherein a first uplink carrier belongs to the first TAG, and the first indication information is used to indicate a second TAG or a second carrier, wherein the second carrier belongs to the second TAG. The transceiver module is further configured to receive second indication information from the network device, wherein the second indication information is used to determine a timing adjustment value for the first uplink carrier. The processing module is configured to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the first indication information includes the identifier of the second TAG, the second carrier being a second downlink carrier, or the second carrier being a second uplink carrier.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the second carrier is a second downlink carrier, and the first indication information is an identifier of the second downlink carrier; or, the second carrier is a second uplink carrier, and the first indication information is an identifier of the second uplink carrier.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance TA value of the first uplink carrier; the processing module is specifically used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier.

[0031] In one possible implementation, when the TAG configuration also includes a timing calibration timer configuration for the first TAG, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier includes a first offset; the processing module is specifically used to: obtain the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier according to the first indication information; and determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier according to the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset.

[0033] In one possible implementation, when the TAG configuration does not include a timing calibration timer configuration, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

[0034] It should be noted that there are many other specific implementation methods in this application, and the specific implementation methods and their beneficial effects in the first aspect can be found therein, which will not be repeated here.

[0035] Fourthly, this application provides a network device, including: a transceiver module, configured to send a timing advance group (TAG) configuration to a terminal device, the TAG configuration including an identifier of a first TAG and first indication information, a first uplink carrier belonging to the first TAG, the first indication information being used to indicate a second TAG or a second carrier, the second carrier belonging to the second TAG; the transceiver module is further configured to send second indication information to the terminal device, the second indication information being used to determine a timing adjustment value for the first uplink carrier, the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier being used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0036] In one possible implementation, the first indication information includes the identifier of the second TAG, the second carrier being a second downlink carrier, or the second carrier being a second uplink carrier.

[0037] In one possible implementation, the second carrier is a second downlink carrier, and the first indication information is an identifier of the second downlink carrier; or, the second carrier is a second uplink carrier, and the first indication information is an identifier of the second uplink carrier.

[0038] In one possible implementation, when the second carrier is the second downlink carrier, the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance TA value of the first uplink carrier, and the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0039] In one possible implementation, when the TAG configuration also includes a timing calibration timer configuration for the first TAG, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier.

[0040] In one possible implementation, when the second carrier is the second uplink carrier, the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier includes a first offset, and the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0041] In one possible implementation, when the TAG configuration does not include a timing calibration timer configuration, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

[0042] It should be noted that there are many other specific implementation methods in this application, and the specific implementation methods and their beneficial effects in the first aspect can be found therein, which will not be repeated here.

[0043] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which may be a terminal device as described in the foregoing embodiments, or a chip within the terminal device. The communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. When the communication device is a terminal device, the processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be a transceiver; the terminal device may also include a storage module, which may be a memory; the storage module is used to store instructions, and the processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module to cause the terminal device to perform the method of the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect. When the communication device is a chip within the terminal device, the processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be an input / output interface, pin, or circuit, etc.; the processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module to cause the terminal device to perform the method of the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect. The storage module may be a storage module within the chip (e.g., a register, cache, etc.), or a storage module located outside the chip within the terminal device (e.g., a read-only memory, random access memory, etc.).

[0044] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which may be a network device as described in the foregoing embodiments, or a chip within the network device. The communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. When the communication device is a network device, the processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be a transceiver; the network device may also include a storage module, which may be a memory; the storage module is used to store instructions, and the processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module to cause the network device to perform the method of the second aspect or any embodiment of the second aspect. When the communication device is a chip within the network device, the processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be an input / output interface, pin, or circuit, etc.; the processing module executes the instructions stored in the storage module to cause the network device to perform the method of the second aspect or any embodiment of the second aspect. The storage module may be a storage module within the chip (e.g., a register, cache, etc.), or a storage module located outside the chip within the network device (e.g., a read-only memory, random access memory, etc.).

[0045] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a communication device, which may be an integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit chip includes a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory for storing programs or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to perform the methods as described in the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect.

[0046] Eighthly, this application provides a communication device, which may be an integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit chip includes a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory for storing programs or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to perform the methods as described in the second aspect or any embodiment of the second aspect.

[0047] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods described in any of the various embodiments of the foregoing first and second aspects and various aspects thereof.

[0048] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods described in any of the various embodiments of the foregoing first and second aspects and various aspects thereof.

[0049] In the eleventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication system, which includes the terminal device described in the first aspect and any embodiment of the first aspect, and the network device described in the second aspect and any embodiment of the second aspect.

[0050] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, the embodiments of this application have the following advantages:

[0051] In this embodiment, when configuring a first TAG containing a first uplink carrier for a terminal device, the network device sends not only the identifier of the first TAG to the terminal device but also first indication information indicating a second TAG or a second carrier. The timing of the second carrier is a reference timing for the first uplink carrier. After receiving the aforementioned first indication information and the second indication information indicating the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier, the terminal device can determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier. This application provides a scheme for a network device to configure a single uplink carrier (i.e., only a first uplink carrier, without a corresponding downlink carrier) for a terminal device, enabling the terminal device to use a timing advance TA mechanism when sending uplink signaling to the network device (e.g., an RO node) using the first uplink carrier. Attached Figure Description

[0052] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating an application scenario to which the communication method in this application applies;

[0053] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a communication method in an embodiment of this application;

[0054] Figure 3A This is an example diagram of the first and second tags in an embodiment of this application;

[0055] Figure 3B This is another example diagram of the first and second tags in the embodiments of this application;

[0056] Figure 4 This is another flowchart of the communication method in the embodiments of this application;

[0057] Figure 5 This is another flowchart of the communication method in the embodiments of this application;

[0058] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the communication device in this application;

[0059] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication device in this application;

[0060] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication device in this application;

[0061] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the communication device in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0062] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” etc. (if present) in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a particular order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments described herein can be implemented in a sequence other than that illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms “comprising” and “having,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0063] The following is a brief introduction to the technical terms used in the communication method proposed in this application:

[0064] Downlink timing: refers to the moment when the terminal device determines it will receive the first downlink frame from the network device during downlink synchronization. It can be understood as the start time of downlink signal transmission on the network side.

[0065] Uplink timing (or uplink transmission timing) refers to the time at which a terminal device, upon receiving a timing advance command (TA command) from a network device, determines the timing for transmitting an uplink frame based on the timing adjustment value carried in the TA command. This timing adjustment value may be the timing advance TA value or a timing advance offset. Uplink frames include, but are not limited to, the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) and the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

[0066] Reference timing: refers to the base time used to determine the uplink timing of a certain carrier. Once the aforementioned reference timing and the timing adjustment value based on that reference timing are determined, the uplink timing of the aforementioned carrier can be determined. In this application, the reference timing may be the uplink timing of the uplink carrier (UL carrier) or the downlink timing of the downlink carrier (DL carrier).

[0067] Timing Advance Group (TAG): This describes a set of groups with the same timing advance characteristics. A TAG typically contains at least one uplink carrier and at least one downlink carrier. In some special scenarios, a TAG may contain only one uplink carrier. Uplink carriers belonging to the same TAG use the following methods: the same carrier as a timing reference; the same TA value and the same time alignment timer (TA Timer); and the same TA command to adjust the uplink timing of the uplink carriers within the TAG.

[0068] The following describes the system architecture and application scenarios to which the communication method proposed in this application is applicable:

[0069] The communication method proposed in this application can be applied to the fourth-generation mobile communication technology (4G) system, the fifth-generation mobile communication technology (5G) system, and subsequent evolution standards. This application does not limit it in this regard.

[0070] like Figure 1 The diagram illustrates an application scenario for the communication method of this application. In this scenario, network device 011 and terminal device 02 can communicate via downlink carrier 001 and uplink carrier 002. If terminal device 02 needs to use a timing advance (TA) mechanism, i.e., terminal device 02 uses uplink carrier 002 to send uplink signals to network device 011 at a certain uplink timing (hereinafter referred to as the uplink timing of uplink carrier 002), then network device 011 needs to send a TAG configuration to terminal device 02. This TAG configuration is used to configure a TAG including downlink carrier 001 and uplink carrier 002. Furthermore, after terminal device 02 accesses the aforementioned network device 011, network device 011 also needs to send a timing advance (TA) value for uplink carrier 002 to terminal device 02, so that terminal device 02 can determine the uplink timing of uplink carrier 002 based on the downlink timing of downlink carrier 001 and the aforementioned TA value.

[0071] However, in practical applications, some network devices lack downlink carriers. For example, Figure 1 The network device 012 shown has only an uplink carrier 003 and no downlink carrier 004. Therefore, network device 012 cannot send TAG configuration to terminal device 02, and terminal device 02 cannot obtain the reference timing for determining the uplink carrier 003 (i.e., the downlink timing of the downlink carrier 004). In this scenario, terminal device 02 cannot use the TA mechanism to send uplink signals to network device 012. For example, network device 011 is a macro base station, and network device 012 is a single-receiver RO node. In this case, the aforementioned RO node can only receive uplink signals from terminal device 02, but cannot send downlink signals to terminal device 02. Therefore, terminal device 02 cannot use the TA mechanism to send uplink signals to the RO node.

[0072] To address this, this application proposes a communication method that configures a reference timing for a terminal device to determine the uplink timing of the uplink carrier, enabling the terminal device to send uplink signals to the network device using a timing advance TA (Temporary Ahead Transmission) mechanism. See below for details. Figure 2 Corresponding implementation examples.

[0073] It should be noted that the communication method proposed in this application can be applied to other scenarios in addition to the aforementioned scenarios. For example, network device 012 may have a downlink carrier, but for some reason, the network side (e.g., network device 011) configures terminal device 02 to refer to the uplink or downlink carrier of network device 011, instead of referring to the carrier of network device 012.

[0074] It should be noted that the terminal equipment involved in this application includes devices that provide voice and / or data connectivity to users. For example, it may include a handheld device with wireless connectivity or a processing device connected to a wireless modem. This terminal equipment can communicate with the core network (e.g., a 4G core network (evolved packet core, EPC) or a 5G core network (5th generation core, 5GC)) via a radio access network (RAN), and can exchange voice and / or data with the RAN. This terminal equipment may include user equipment (UE), wireless terminal equipment, mobile terminal equipment, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, access point (AP), remote terminal equipment, access terminal equipment, user terminal equipment, user agent, or user device, etc. Furthermore, the terminal device can also be a vehicle-mounted terminal, such as a telematics box (T-Box), domain controller (DC), multi-domain controller (MDC), or onboard unit (OBU) integrated into a vehicle. The terminal device can also be a wearable device, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, shoes, or other portable devices that can be worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothing or accessories. This application does not impose any specific limitations.

[0075] It should be understood that the terminal device in this application embodiment can be any of the above-mentioned devices or chips, and no specific limitation is made here. Whether as a device or a chip, the terminal device can be manufactured, sold, or used as an independent product. In this embodiment and subsequent embodiments, only the terminal device is used as an example for description.

[0076] Furthermore, the network equipment involved in this application is an access network RAN ​​device currently providing services to terminal devices. It can be a 4G radio access network device, or a device in a 4G access network that communicates with a wireless terminal device via one or more cells on the air interface. For example, the network equipment can be an LTE base station, or an evolved Node B (NodeB, eNB, or e-NodeB) in a Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE) system or an Evolved LTE-A system. This network equipment can be used to convert received air frames to and from Internet Protocol (IP) packets, acting as a router between the terminal device and the rest of the access network, which may include an IP network. The network equipment can also coordinate the management of air interface attributes. For example, the aforementioned network equipment 011 can be a macrocell, and the aforementioned network equipment 012 can be an RO node.

[0077] It should be understood that the network device in this application embodiment can be any of the above-described devices or chips from those devices, and no specific limitation is made here. Whether as a device or a chip, the network device can be manufactured, sold, or used as an independent product. In this embodiment and subsequent embodiments, only an access network device is described as an example.

[0078] The following is combined Figure 2 The main flow of the communication method proposed in this application is described below. This method is used to determine uplink timing. In this method, the terminal device and the network device mainly perform the following steps:

[0079] Step 201: The network device sends a timing advance group TAG configuration to the terminal device, wherein the TAG configuration includes an identifier of the first TAG and first indication information. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the timing advance group TAG configuration from the network device.

[0080] The aforementioned TAG configuration includes an identifier for the first TAG, which can be understood as being used to configure the first TAG. For ease of explanation, the aforementioned TAG configuration used to configure the first TAG will be referred to as the first TAG configuration in the following text. Generally, a TAG contains one or more uplink carriers. In addition to the aforementioned identifier for the first TAG, the first TAG configuration also includes first indication information. This first indication information can explicitly or implicitly indicate a reference timing for the uplink carrier in the first TAG. This reference timing can be understood as the base (or foundation) for calculating the uplink timing of the uplink carrier in the first TAG. That is, the first indication information can explicitly or implicitly indicate the reference time for determining the uplink timing of the uplink carrier in the first TAG. Based on this reference time and the adjustment value indicated by the network device, the uplink timing of the aforementioned uplink carrier in the first TAG can be obtained. In other words, when the terminal device receives the aforementioned first indication information, it can know which carrier in which TAG will be used as the reference time for calculating the uplink timing of the uplink carrier in the first TAG.

[0081] In this application, one uplink carrier in the aforementioned first TAG is referred to as the first uplink carrier. It should be noted that the first TAG may contain only the aforementioned first uplink carrier, or it may contain other uplink carriers. Optionally, the aforementioned first TAG may also include a first downlink carrier corresponding to the aforementioned first uplink carrier. Optionally, the aforementioned first TAG may not contain a downlink carrier corresponding to the first uplink carrier. This application does not impose any specific limitations.

[0082] In an optional implementation, when the first TAG contains only the first uplink carrier, and the first uplink carrier may not have a corresponding first downlink carrier, the first indication information indicates the timing of a carrier not belonging to the first TAG as the reference timing of the first uplink carrier. In this case, the first uplink carrier, which originally had no reference timing, obtains a precise reference timing, allowing the terminal device to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the reference timing, thereby enabling the terminal device to use the TA mechanism when transmitting uplink signals using the first uplink carrier. Figure 3AFor example, the first tag contains only a 2.6GHz uplink carrier (i.e., UL carrier1@2.6GHz), which can be understood as the first uplink carrier. The second tag contains a 3.5GHz uplink carrier (i.e., UL carrier2@3.5GHz) (which can be understood as the second uplink carrier) and a 3.5GHz downlink carrier (i.e., DL carrier2@3.5GHz) (which can be understood as the second downlink carrier). The aforementioned 3.5GHz uplink and downlink carriers can be collectively referred to as the second carrier. At this time, the 2.6GHz uplink carrier does not have a corresponding downlink carrier. The first indication information can indicate the timing of a carrier (3.5GHz uplink carrier or 3.5GHz downlink carrier) in the second tag as a reference timing for the 2.6GHz uplink carrier, so that the 2.6GHz uplink carrier, which originally had no reference timing, obtains a precise reference timing.

[0083] In another optional implementation, when the first uplink carrier in the aforementioned first TAG has a corresponding first downlink carrier, the first indication information can also indicate the timing of a carrier not belonging to the first TAG as the reference timing of the first uplink carrier. In this case, the terminal device no longer uses the downlink timing of the first downlink carrier as the reference timing of the first uplink carrier, but instead uses the timing of the carrier indicated by the first indication information. This implementation allows for flexible adjustment of the carrier's reference timing. Figure 3B For example, the first TAG includes a 2.6GHz uplink carrier (i.e., UL carrier1@2.6GHz) (which can be understood as the first uplink carrier) and a 2.6GHz downlink carrier (i.e., DL carrier1@2.6GHz) (which can be understood as the first downlink carrier corresponding to the first uplink carrier); the second TAG includes a 3.5GHz uplink carrier (i.e., UL carrier2@3.5GHz) (which can be understood as the second uplink carrier) and a 3.5GHz downlink carrier (i.e., DL carrier2@3.5GHz) (which can be understood as the second downlink carrier). The aforementioned 3.5GHz uplink carrier and 3.5GHz downlink carrier can be collectively referred to as the second carrier. Although the 2.6GHz uplink carrier has a corresponding downlink carrier, the first indication information in the second TAG indicates the timing of a carrier (either the 3.5GHz uplink carrier or the 3.5GHz downlink carrier) as a reference timing for the 2.6GHz uplink carrier. Therefore, when calculating the uplink timing of the 2.6GHz uplink carrier, the terminal device will no longer refer to the downlink timing of the 2.6GHz downlink carrier, but will refer to the timing of the carrier in the second TAG.

[0084] In this application, the first TAG may be implemented in any of the aforementioned ways, and this embodiment is not limited to any specific method. However, in the following text, only the example of the first TAG containing a first uplink carrier and the first uplink carrier not having a corresponding downlink carrier will be described.

[0085] Specifically, the aforementioned first instruction information can be implemented in several ways:

[0086] In one optional implementation, the first indication information indicates a second tag that is different from the first tag. For example, the first indication information is the identifier of the second tag. In this case, the first indication information implicitly indicates the carrier in the second tag, that is, it implicitly indicates that the reference timing of the first uplink carrier is the timing of the carrier in the second tag. For ease of explanation, the carrier in the second tag is referred to as the second carrier. This second carrier may be the uplink carrier in the second tag (hereinafter referred to as the second uplink carrier) or the downlink carrier in the second tag (hereinafter referred to as the second downlink carrier). That is, after receiving the aforementioned first indication information, the terminal device can know that when determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier, it needs to refer to the timing of the second carrier, rather than referring to the timing of a carrier in the first tag.

[0087] Furthermore, the aforementioned second TAG includes a second uplink carrier and a second downlink carrier. Therefore, the first TAG configuration also needs to indicate whether the terminal device should reference the second uplink carrier or the second downlink carrier. Further, referencing the second uplink carrier can be understood as the terminal device referencing the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier when determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier; referencing the second downlink carrier can be understood as the terminal device referencing the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier when determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0088] In one possible implementation, the distinction between instructing the terminal device to reference a second uplink carrier or instructing the terminal device to reference a second downlink carrier can be made by whether or not a timer configuration is set in the aforementioned first TAG configuration. The timer configuration specifies the duration of a timer, which represents the effective duration of the TA value in the TAG containing the timer configuration. For example, if the timer configuration in the first TAG configuration indicates a duration of 500ms, it means that the effective duration of the TA value of the first TAG is 500ms. After the aforementioned 500ms, the TA value of the first TAG will expire or be updated. For example, by including the timer configuration of the first TAG in the first TAG configuration, the aforementioned timing reference is implicitly indicated as the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier; by not including the timer configuration of the first TAG in the first TAG configuration, the aforementioned timing reference is implicitly indicated as the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier. In other words, when the terminal device receives the aforementioned first TAG configuration, if the first TAG configuration includes the identifier of the first TAG, the identifier of the second TAG, and the timer configuration of the first TAG, then the terminal device will know that the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier is referenced to the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier. When the terminal device receives the aforementioned first TAG configuration, if the first TAG configuration only includes the identifiers of the first TAG and the second TAG, and does not carry the timer configuration, then the terminal device will know that the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier is referenced to the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

[0089] In another alternative implementation, the first indication information indicates a carrier that does not belong to the first TAG. For example, the first indication information indicates a carrier located in the second TAG. As described above, the second TAG includes a second uplink carrier and a second downlink carrier. In this case, the aforementioned first indication information may be an identifier of the second uplink carrier or an identifier of the second downlink carrier. In this implementation, the network device explicitly indicates the timing reference for the uplink timing of the aforementioned first uplink carrier through the identifier of the second uplink carrier or the identifier of the second downlink carrier. That is, the terminal device can determine, based on the aforementioned first indication information being an identifier of the second downlink carrier, to refer to the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier when calculating the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier; the terminal device can determine, based on the aforementioned first indication information being an identifier of the second uplink carrier, to refer to the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier when calculating the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier. In other words, when the terminal device receives the aforementioned first TAG configuration, if the first TAG configuration includes the identifier of the first TAG and the identifier of the second downlink carrier, the terminal device will know that the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier is referenced to the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier. When the terminal device receives the aforementioned first TAG configuration, if the first TAG configuration includes both the identifier of the first TAG and the identifier of the second uplink carrier, the terminal device will know that the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier is referenced to the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

[0090] Optionally, when the aforementioned first indication information indicates a carrier that does not belong to the first TAG, rather than indicating a second TAG different from the first TAG, the aforementioned first TAG configuration may also include a timer configuration. In this case, the timer configuration in the first TAG configuration is the timer configuration of the first TAG, which can indicate the effective duration of the TA value (or offset) of the first uplink carrier. Optionally, if the aforementioned first indication information is an identifier of the second downlink carrier, the duration indicated by the timer configuration of the first TAG and the duration indicated by the timer configuration of the second TAG may be the same or different. Optionally, if the aforementioned first indication information is an identifier of the second uplink carrier, the duration indicated by the timer configuration of the first TAG and the duration indicated by the timer configuration of the second TAG should be the same.

[0091] Of course, the aforementioned first TAG configuration may not include a timer configuration. In this case, the first uplink carrier adopts the timer configuration of the TAG containing the reference carrier (i.e., the carrier corresponding to the reference timing). For example, if the first indication information indicates a second downlink carrier belonging to the second TAG, then the first uplink carrier in the first TAG will adopt the timer configuration of the second TAG. That is, when the terminal device calculates the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier, it not only refers to the timing of the second downlink carrier but also adopts the timer configuration of the TAG containing the second downlink carrier.

[0092] It should be understood that the aforementioned TAG configuration received by the terminal device may be received before the terminal device accesses the network device; or it may be received after the terminal device accesses the network device. For example, during the initial access phase, the network device may have already configured one or more TAGs for the terminal device (e.g., the TAG configuration for the second TAG, which will be described later). Subsequently, based on the needs of the terminal device or the network device, the network device may send another TAG configuration to the terminal device (e.g., the aforementioned TAG configuration for the first TAG).

[0093] Step 202: The network device sends second instruction information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second instruction information from the network device.

[0094] The second indication information is used to determine the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier. This timing adjustment value is used to adjust the timing of the first uplink carrier based on a reference timing to obtain the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier. In other words, the terminal device can obtain the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier by adjusting the timing of the first uplink carrier based on the aforementioned timing adjustment value and the aforementioned reference timing.

[0095] The timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier can be a TA value, that is, the TA value of the first uplink carrier, or it can be understood as the TA value of the first TAG; the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier can also be an offset, which is based on the reference timing and can determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier (hereinafter referred to as the first offset).

[0096] In an optional implementation, when the reference timing of the first uplink carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier, the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier in this step is the TA value of the first uplink carrier.

[0097] In another optional implementation, when the reference timing of the first uplink carrier is the uplink timing of the second downlink carrier, the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier in this step is the aforementioned first offset.

[0098] Step 203: The terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the first indication information and the second indication information in the TAG configuration.

[0099] Since the first indication information can indicate a second carrier that does not belong to the first TAG, and the second indication information indicates a timing adjustment value (i.e., the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier) with the timing of the aforementioned second carrier as a timing reference, this step can be understood as the terminal device determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier.

[0100] In one optional implementation, the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance (TA) value of the first uplink carrier. In this case, the terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier.

[0101] In another optional implementation, the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier includes a first offset. In this case, the terminal device obtains the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier according to the first indication information; the terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset.

[0102] In this embodiment, when configuring the first TAG containing the first uplink carrier for the terminal device, the network device, in addition to sending the identifier of the first TAG to the terminal device, also sends first indication information for indicating the second TAG or the second carrier. The timing of the second carrier is a reference timing of the first uplink carrier. After the terminal device receives the aforementioned first indication information and the second indication information for indicating the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier, the terminal device can determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier. This application provides a scheme for the network device to configure a single uplink carrier (i.e., only the first uplink carrier, which has no corresponding downlink carrier) for the terminal device, so that when the terminal device sends uplink signaling to the network device (e.g., RO node) using the first uplink carrier, it can use the timing advance TA mechanism.

[0103] The main flow of the communication method proposed in this application has been introduced above. The following sections will describe the schemes for referencing downlink carriers that do not belong to the first TAG (i.e., the reference timing of the first uplink carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier) and the schemes for referencing uplink carriers that do not belong to the first TAG (i.e., the reference timing of the first uplink carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier):

[0104] like Figure 4 The illustration shows an embodiment where the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier is configured as a reference timing for the first uplink carrier. The first network device in this embodiment is an implementation of the network device described in the preceding embodiments. Specifically, the first network device is a network device configured with both uplink and downlink carriers, for example... Figure 1 In the scenario shown, network device 011 is the macro base station; the second network device is a network device that only has uplink carriers and no downlink carriers, for example, Figure 1 Network device 012 in the scenario shown is the RO node.

[0105] Step 401: The first network device sends the TAG configuration of the first TAG to the terminal device, wherein the first TAG includes the first uplink carrier.

[0106] The first TAG includes the first uplink carrier, which can be understood as the first uplink carrier belonging to the first TAG. The TAG configuration of this first TAG includes the identifier of the first TAG and first indication information, which can explicitly or implicitly indicate that the reference timing of the first uplink carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier. For ease of explanation, the TAG configuration of the first TAG will be referred to as the first TAG configuration below.

[0107] In one optional implementation, the aforementioned first TAG configuration includes: an identifier for a first TAG, an identifier for a second TAG, and a timer configuration. The identifier for the first TAG indicates that the first TAG configuration is used to configure the first TAG and not other TAGs. For example, if the first TAG configuration includes "TAG-ID=2", it indicates that the first TAG configuration is used to configure the TAG with identifier "2". Furthermore, the identifier for the second TAG indicates that the reference timing of the uplink carrier (i.e., the first uplink carrier) in the first TAG is the timing of the carrier in the second TAG. For example, if the first TAG configuration includes "Reference-tag-ID=0", it indicates that the reference timing of the uplink carrier in the TAG to be configured (i.e., the first TAG) in the first TAG configuration is the timing of the carrier in the TAG with identifier "0". Additionally, the timer configuration in the first TAG configuration indicates a duration, which is the effective duration of the TA value of the uplink carrier (i.e., the first uplink carrier) in the first TAG. For example, if the first TAG configuration includes "TA Timer = 750ms", it means that the effective duration of the TA value in the TAG to be configured (i.e., the first TAG) is 750ms. Furthermore, the identifier and timer configuration of the second TAG in the aforementioned first TAG configuration are used to indicate that the reference timing of the uplink carrier in the TAG to be configured (i.e., the first TAG) is the downlink timing of the downlink carrier (i.e., the second downlink carrier) in the second TAG.

[0108] For example, the first TAG is configured as "TAG-ID=2; Reference-tag-ID=0; TA Timer=750ms". This first TAG configuration indicates that it is used to configure the TAG with TAG identifier "2", the reference timing of the uplink carrier in the TAG with TAG identifier "2" is the downlink timing of the downlink carrier in the TAG with TAG identifier "0", and the effective duration of the TA value corresponding to the TAG with TAG identifier "2" is 750ms.

[0109] In another optional implementation, the aforementioned first TAG configuration includes: an identifier for the first TAG and an identifier for a second downlink carrier, wherein the second downlink carrier is not part of the aforementioned first TAG. The identifier for the first TAG indicates that the first TAG configuration is used to configure the first TAG and not other TAGs. For example, if the first TAG configuration contains "TAG-ID=2", it indicates that the first TAG configuration is used to configure the TAG with identifier "2". Furthermore, the identifier for the second downlink carrier indicates that the reference timing of the uplink carrier (i.e., the first uplink carrier) in the first TAG is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier. For example, if the first TAG configuration contains "DL carrier-ID=0-001", it indicates that the reference timing of the uplink carrier in the TAG to be configured (i.e., the first TAG) is the downlink timing of the downlink carrier with identifier "0-001". The identifier for the downlink carrier reflects that the carrier is a downlink carrier and not an uplink carrier. For example, the identifier for the downlink carrier contains a single character indicating whether the carrier is uplink or downlink. Optionally, the downlink carrier identifier can also reflect which TAG the carrier belongs to. For example, the downlink carrier identifier may contain another character indicating the TAG to which the carrier belongs. Alternatively, the identifier of the carrier in the first TAG configuration can be set to not belong to the TAG to be configured in the first TAG configuration. That is, when the terminal device receives the first TAG configuration for configuring the first TAG and recognizes that the first TAG configuration contains a carrier identifier, the terminal device can determine that the carrier in the first TAG configuration does not belong to the first TAG. Furthermore, it can be understood that the terminal device does not perceive which TAG the carrier indicated by the carrier identifier in the first TAG configuration belongs to; the terminal device only needs to determine the reference timing of the uplink carrier in the first TAG based on the first TAG configuration. However, the network device can perceive which TAG the carrier indicated by the carrier identifier in the first TAG configuration belongs to.

[0110] Optionally, the first TAG configuration may also include a timer configuration that indicates a duration for which the TA value of the uplink carrier (i.e., the first uplink carrier) in the first TAG is valid. For example, if the first TAG configuration includes "TA Timer = 750ms", it means that the first TAG configuration specifies that the TA value in the TAG to be configured (i.e., the first TAG) is valid for 750ms.

[0111] For example, the first TAG is configured as "TAG-ID=2; DL carrier-ID=0-001; TA Timer=750ms". This first TAG configuration indicates that it is used to configure the TAG with TAG identifier "2", the reference timing of the uplink carrier in the TAG with TAG identifier "2" is the downlink timing of the downlink carrier with TAG identifier "DL carrier-ID=0-001", and the effective duration of the TA value corresponding to the TAG with TAG identifier "2" is 750ms.

[0112] In this embodiment, the TAG configuration of the first TAG can be implemented using any of the aforementioned implementation methods. The specific implementation method is not limited in this embodiment.

[0113] Optionally, the TAG configuration of the aforementioned first TAG is carried as a radio resource control (RRC) parameter in the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

[0114] Step 402: The terminal device sends a random access preamble (RA preamble) to the second network device using the first uplink carrier.

[0115] In this embodiment, after the terminal device performs downlink synchronization with the first network device, it selects a cell for random access. Since the first TAG configured by the first network device for the terminal device includes the first uplink carrier, the terminal device can perform random access in the cell corresponding to the first uplink carrier. Because the cell corresponding to the first uplink carrier belongs to the second network device, the terminal device sends a random access preamble to the second network device via the first uplink carrier.

[0116] Step 403: The second network device generates the TA value of the first uplink carrier.

[0117] In this embodiment, during the process of receiving the random access preamble sent by the terminal device through the first uplink carrier, the second network device will measure the air interface transmission delay of the first uplink carrier and generate the TA value of the first uplink carrier based on the aforementioned air interface transmission delay.

[0118] It should be noted that there is data or signaling interaction between the first network device and the second network device. The first network device can send the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier to the second network device, and the second network device can know that the first TAG configuration configured by the first network device for the aforementioned terminal device indicates that the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier is the second downlink carrier and not another carrier (e.g., the second uplink carrier). Therefore, the second network device can determine the TA value of the first uplink carrier based on the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier, the aforementioned air interface transmission delay, and other factors. Furthermore, the TA value of the first uplink carrier generated by the second network device should be relative to the TA value of the aforementioned second downlink carrier. That is, the TA value of the first uplink carrier generated by the second network device is an offset based on the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier. After the terminal device receives the TA value of the aforementioned first uplink carrier, the terminal device can determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the downlink timing of the aforementioned second downlink carrier and the TA value of the aforementioned first uplink carrier.

[0119] Step 404: The second network device sends the TA value of the first uplink carrier to the first network device.

[0120] In this embodiment, the first network device and the second network device can interact with each other, and the second network device can send the TA value of the first uplink carrier to the first network device.

[0121] Step 405: The first network device sends a random access response to the terminal device using the second downlink carrier.

[0122] It should be understood that the first network device can directly forward the TA value of the first uplink carrier from the second network device to the terminal device; the first network device can also adjust the TA value of the first uplink carrier from the second network device according to the transmission delay between the first network device and the second network device to obtain the adjusted TA value of the first uplink carrier, and then send the adjusted TA value of the first uplink carrier to the terminal device.

[0123] Step 406: The terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier.

[0124] The downlink timing of the second downlink carrier can be obtained by the terminal device when performing downlink synchronization with the first network device, or it can be obtained by the terminal device when receiving a random access response from the first network device through the second downlink carrier. This application does not limit the specific timing.

[0125] Step 407: The terminal device uses the first uplink carrier to send an uplink signal to the second network device during the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0126] In this embodiment, step 407 is an optional step.

[0127] In this embodiment, after determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier, the terminal device can use the TA mechanism, that is, the terminal device sends an uplink signal to the second network device using the first uplink carrier according to a certain timing advance.

[0128] In this embodiment, the first network device configures the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier as a reference timing for the first uplink carrier. The terminal device can determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier. Therefore, the terminal device can use the first uplink carrier to send uplink signals to the second network device (e.g., RO node), meaning that the terminal device and the second network device can use a timing advance TA mechanism. The solution proposed in this embodiment can configure a reference for determining the uplink timing of the uplink carrier (i.e., the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier) for the terminal device in scenarios where there is only an uplink carrier and no downlink carrier, thereby enabling the timing advance TA mechanism to be used even in scenarios where there is only an uplink carrier and no downlink carrier.

[0129] like Figure 5 The illustration shows an embodiment where the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier is configured as a reference timing for the first uplink carrier. The first network device in this embodiment is an implementation of the network device described in the preceding embodiments. Specifically, the first network device is a network device configured with both uplink and downlink carriers, for example... Figure 1 In the scenario shown, network device 011 is the macro base station; the second network device is a network device that only has uplink carriers and no downlink carriers, for example, Figure 1 Network device 012 in the scenario shown is the RO node.

[0130] Step 501: The first network device sends the TAG configuration of the second TAG to the terminal device, the second TAG including the second uplink carrier.

[0131] The second TAG includes a second uplink carrier and a second downlink carrier; that is, the second uplink carrier and the second downlink carrier belong to the second TAG. The TAG configuration of this second TAG (hereinafter referred to as the second TAG configuration) includes an identifier and a timer configuration. The identifier of the second TAG indicates that this second TAG configuration is used to configure the second TAG and not other TAGs. Additionally, the timer configuration in the second TAG configuration indicates a duration, which is the effective duration of the TA value of the uplink carrier (i.e., the second uplink carrier) in the second TAG.

[0132] For example, the second TAG is configured as "TAG-ID=0; TA Timer=500ms". This second TAG configuration indicates that it is used to configure the TAG with TAG identifier "0". By default, the reference timing of the uplink carrier in the TAG with TAG identifier "0" is the downlink timing of the downlink carrier in the same TAG (i.e., the TAG with TAG identifier "0"). Furthermore, the effective duration of the TA value corresponding to the TAG with TAG identifier "0" is 500ms.

[0133] Optionally, the TAG configuration of the aforementioned second TAG is carried as an RRC parameter in the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH).

[0134] Step 502: The terminal device sends a random access preamble to the first network device using the second uplink carrier.

[0135] In this embodiment, after the terminal device performs downlink synchronization with the first network device, it selects a cell for random access. Since the second TAG configured by the first network device for the terminal device includes a second uplink carrier, the terminal device can perform random access in the cell corresponding to the second uplink carrier. Because the cell corresponding to the second uplink carrier belongs to the first network device, the terminal device sends a random access preamble to the first network device via the second uplink carrier.

[0136] Step 503: The first network device generates the TA value of the second uplink carrier.

[0137] In this embodiment, during the process of receiving the random access preamble sent by the terminal device through the first uplink carrier, the first network device will measure the air interface transmission delay of the second uplink carrier and generate the TA value of the second uplink carrier based on the aforementioned air interface transmission delay.

[0138] Step 504: The first network device sends a random access response to the terminal device using the second downlink carrier.

[0139] The random access response carries the TA value of the aforementioned second uplink carrier.

[0140] Step 505: The terminal device determines the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier based on the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the second uplink carrier.

[0141] After this, the terminal device enters the connected state. The terminal device can then use a second uplink carrier to send uplink signals to the first network device during the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

[0142] Based on the needs of the terminal device or the network device, the first network device will configure a first tag for the terminal device that is different from the aforementioned second tag, so that the terminal device can use the uplink carrier in the first tag to send uplink signals to the second network device. At this time, the first network device will perform the following steps:

[0143] Step 506: The first network device sends the TAG configuration of the first TAG to the terminal device, wherein the first TAG includes the first uplink carrier.

[0144] The first TAG includes the first uplink carrier, which can be understood as the first uplink carrier belonging to the first TAG. The TAG configuration of this first TAG includes the identifier of the first TAG and first indication information, which can explicitly or implicitly indicate that the reference timing of the first uplink carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier. For ease of explanation, the TAG configuration of the first TAG will be referred to as the first TAG configuration below.

[0145] In one optional implementation, the aforementioned first TAG configuration includes: an identifier for a first TAG and an identifier for a second TAG. The identifier for the first TAG indicates that the first TAG configuration is used to configure the first TAG and not other TAGs. For example, if the first TAG configuration includes "TAG-ID=2", it indicates that the first TAG configuration is used to configure the TAG with identifier "2". Furthermore, the identifier for the second TAG indicates that the reference timing of the uplink carrier (i.e., the first uplink carrier) in the first TAG is the timing of the carrier in the second TAG. For example, if the first TAG configuration includes "Reference-tag-ID=0", it indicates that the reference timing of the uplink carrier in the TAG to be configured (i.e., the first TAG) in the first TAG configuration is the timing of the carrier in the TAG with identifier "0". Additionally, the first TAG configuration does not include timer configuration. The aforementioned first TAG configuration does not include a timer configuration but includes an identifier for the second TAG, which is used to indicate that the reference timing of the uplink carrier in the TAG to be configured (i.e., the first TAG) is the uplink timing of the uplink carrier in the second TAG (i.e., the second uplink carrier).

[0146] For example, the first TAG is configured as "TAG-ID=2; Reference-tag-ID=0", and the second TAG is configured as "TAG-ID=0; TA Timer=500ms". This first TAG configuration indicates that it is used to configure the TAG with TAG identifier "2", where the reference timing of the uplink carrier in the TAG with TAG identifier "2" is the uplink timing of the uplink carrier in the TAG with TAG identifier "0", and the effective duration of the TA value corresponding to the TAG with TAG identifier "0" is 500ms.

[0147] In another optional implementation, the aforementioned first TAG configuration includes: an identifier for the first TAG and an identifier for a second uplink carrier, wherein the second uplink carrier is not part of the aforementioned first TAG. The identifier for the first TAG indicates that the first TAG configuration is used to configure the first TAG and not other TAGs. For example, if the first TAG configuration includes "TAG-ID=2", it indicates that the first TAG configuration is used to configure the TAG with identifier "2". Furthermore, the identifier for the second uplink carrier indicates that the reference timing of the uplink carrier (i.e., the first uplink carrier) in the first TAG is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier. For example, if the first TAG configuration includes "DL carrier-ID=0-002", it indicates that the reference timing of the uplink carrier in the TAG to be configured (i.e., the first TAG) is the uplink timing of the uplink carrier with identifier "0-002". The identifier for the uplink carrier reflects that the carrier is an uplink carrier and not a downlink carrier. For example, the identifier for the uplink carrier contains a single character indicating whether the carrier is uplink or downlink. Optionally, the uplink carrier identifier can also reflect which TAG the carrier belongs to. For example, the uplink carrier identifier may contain another character indicating the TAG to which the carrier belongs. Alternatively, the identifier of the carrier in the first TAG configuration can be set to not belong to the TAG to be configured in the first TAG configuration. That is, when the terminal device receives the first TAG configuration for configuring the first TAG and recognizes that the first TAG configuration contains a carrier identifier, the terminal device can determine that the carrier in the first TAG configuration does not belong to the first TAG. Furthermore, it can be understood that the terminal device does not perceive which TAG the carrier indicated by the carrier identifier in the first TAG configuration belongs to; the terminal device only needs to determine the reference timing of the uplink carrier in the first TAG based on the first TAG configuration. However, the network device can perceive which TAG the carrier indicated by the carrier identifier in the first TAG configuration belongs to.

[0148] For example, the first TAG is configured as "TAG-ID=2; UL carrier-ID=0-002". This first TAG configuration indicates that it is used to configure the TAG with TAG identifier "2", and the reference timing of the uplink carrier in the TAG with TAG identifier "2" is the uplink timing of the uplink carrier with TAG identifier "UL carrier-ID=0-002".

[0149] In this embodiment, the TAG configuration of the first TAG can be implemented using any of the aforementioned implementation methods. The specific implementation method is not limited in this embodiment.

[0150] Optionally, the TAG configuration of the aforementioned first TAG is carried as an RRC parameter in the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH).

[0151] Step 507: The first network device obtains the first offset.

[0152] The first offset is an offset relative to the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier. This first offset can be determined by the first network device, obtained by the first network device from the second network device, or pre-configured.

[0153] In one optional implementation, the first network device calculates the aforementioned first offset. Specifically, the first network device can obtain the air interface delay 1 between itself and the terminal device through the aforementioned interaction process with the terminal device. Furthermore, the first network device can also obtain the air interface delay 2 between itself and the second network device through the interaction process with the second network device. Then, the first network device calculates the first offset based on the aforementioned air interface delay 1 and air interface delay 2.

[0154] In another alternative implementation, the second network device calculates the aforementioned first offset. Specifically, the terminal device transmits an uplink signal to the second network device using a first uplink carrier. Then, during the process of receiving the uplink signal transmitted by the terminal device via the first uplink carrier, the second network device measures the air interface transmission delay of the first uplink carrier and generates a first offset based on the aforementioned air interface transmission delay. The second network device then transmits the aforementioned first offset to the first network device.

[0155] In another alternative implementation, a pre-configured offset is provided in the first network device, and the first network device uses the pre-configured offset in the first network device as the aforementioned first offset.

[0156] Step 508: The first network device sends a first offset to the terminal device using a second downlink carrier.

[0157] Optionally, the aforementioned first offset is carried as a radio resource control (RRC) parameter in the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

[0158] Optionally, the aforementioned first offset is carried in a medium access control element (MACCE) in the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

[0159] Step 509: The terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset.

[0160] The uplink timing of the second uplink carrier can be determined by the terminal device in step 505, or it can be determined by the terminal device when receiving the first offset using the second downlink carrier in step 508. No specific limitation is made here.

[0161] Specifically, the terminal device obtains the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier by adding the aforementioned first offset to the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier. The aforementioned first offset may be a positive value (i.e., the value of the first offset is greater than 0) or a negative value (i.e., the value of the first offset is less than 0).

[0162] Step 510: The terminal device uses the first uplink carrier to transmit uplink signals during the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0163] In this embodiment, step 510 is an optional step.

[0164] In this embodiment, after determining the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier, the terminal device can use the TA mechanism, that is, the terminal device sends an uplink signal to the second network device using the first uplink carrier according to a certain timing advance.

[0165] In this embodiment, the first network device configures the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier as the reference timing of the first uplink carrier. The terminal device can determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset. Therefore, the terminal device can use the first uplink carrier to send uplink signals to the second network device (e.g., RO node), meaning that the terminal device and the second network device can use a timing advance TA mechanism. The solution proposed in this embodiment can configure a reference basis (i.e., the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier) for determining the uplink timing of the uplink carrier in scenarios where there is only an uplink carrier and no downlink carrier, thereby enabling the timing advance TA mechanism to be used even in scenarios where there is only an uplink carrier and no downlink carrier.

[0166] like Figure 6 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a communication device 60 provided in this embodiment. It should be understood that the aforementioned... Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 The terminal device in the corresponding method embodiment can be based on this embodiment. Figure 6 The structure of the communication device 60 shown.

[0167] The communication device 60 includes at least one processor 601, at least one memory 602, and at least one transceiver 603. The processor 601, memory 602, and transceiver 603 are connected together. Optionally, the communication device 60 may further include an input device 605, an output device 606, and one or more antennas 604. The antennas 604 are connected to the transceiver 603, and the input device 605 and output device 606 are connected to the processor 601.

[0168] In this embodiment, the memory 602 is mainly used to store software programs and data. The memory 602 can exist independently and be connected to the processor 601. Optionally, the memory 602 can be integrated with the processor 601, for example, integrated within one or more chips. The memory 602 can store program code that executes the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and its execution is controlled by the processor 601. The various types of computer program code being executed can also be considered as drivers for the processor 601. It should be understood that in this embodiment... Figure 6 Only one memory and one processor are shown; however, in practical applications, the communication device 60 may have multiple processors or multiple memories, which is not limited here. Furthermore, the memory 602 may also be referred to as a storage medium or storage device, etc. The memory 602 may be a storage element located on the same chip as the processor (i.e., an on-chip storage element), or it may be a separate storage element; this embodiment of the application does not limit this.

[0169] In this embodiment, the transceiver 603 can be used to support the reception or transmission of radio frequency signals between the communication device 60 and the access network equipment. The transceiver 603 can be connected to the antenna 604. The transceiver 603 includes a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx. Specifically, one or more antennas 604 can receive radio frequency signals. The receiver Rx of the transceiver 603 is used to receive the radio frequency signals from the antennas 604, convert the radio frequency signals into digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals, and provide the digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals to the processor 601 so that the processor 601 can perform further processing on the digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals, such as demodulation and decoding. In addition, the transmitter Tx in the transceiver 603 is also used to receive the modulated digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals from the processor 601, convert the modulated digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals into radio frequency signals, and transmit the radio frequency signals through one or more antennas 604. Specifically, the receiver Rx can selectively perform one or more stages of downmixing and analog-to-digital conversion on the radio frequency signal to obtain a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The order of the downmixing and IF conversion processes is adjustable. The transmitter Tx can selectively perform one or more stages of upmixing and digital-to-analog conversion on the modulated digital baseband signal or digital IF signal to obtain a radio frequency signal. The order of the upmixing and IF conversion processes is also adjustable. The digital baseband signal and the digital IF signal can be collectively referred to as digital signals.

[0170] It should be understood that the aforementioned transceiver 603 can also be referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver device, etc. Optionally, the device in the transceiver unit used to implement the receiving function can be regarded as the receiving unit, and the device in the transceiver unit used to implement the transmitting function can be regarded as the transmitting unit. That is, the transceiver unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit can also be referred to as a receiver, input port, receiving circuit, etc., and the transmitting unit can be referred to as a transmitter, transmitter, or transmitting circuit, etc.

[0171] The processor 601 can be a baseband processor or a central processing unit (CPU), and the baseband processor and CPU can be integrated together or separate. The processor 601 can be used to implement various functions for the terminal device, such as processing communication protocols and communication data, or controlling the entire terminal device, executing software programs, and processing data from software programs; or assisting in completing computational processing tasks, such as graphics processing or audio processing; or the processor 601 can be used to implement one or more of the above functions.

[0172] Furthermore, the output device 606 communicates with the processor 601 and can display information in a variety of ways, which are not limited here.

[0173] Specifically, in the communication device 60, transceiver 603 receives timing advance group (TAG) configuration from the network device via antenna 604. This TAG configuration includes an identifier for a first TAG and first indication information, indicating that a first uplink carrier belongs to the first TAG. The first indication information is used to indicate a second TAG or a second carrier, indicating that the second carrier belongs to the second TAG. Furthermore, transceiver 603 receives second indication information from the network device via antenna 604, which is used to determine the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier. Then, processor 601 determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier.

[0174] Optionally, the first indication information includes the identifier of the second TAG, and the second carrier is either a second downlink carrier or a second uplink carrier. Alternatively, the second carrier is a second downlink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second downlink carrier; or, the second carrier is a second uplink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second uplink carrier.

[0175] In one optional implementation, the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance (TA) value of the first uplink carrier. In this case, the processor 601 is specifically configured to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier. Optionally, when the TAG configuration further includes a timing calibration timer configuration for the first TAG, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier.

[0176] In one optional implementation, the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier includes a first offset. In this case, the processor 601 is specifically configured to obtain the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier according to the first indication information, and to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset.

[0177] Optionally, when the TAG configuration does not include a timing calibration timer configuration, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

[0178] The remaining methods can be referred to the terminal device methods in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0179] like Figure 7 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of another communication device 70 provided in this embodiment. It should be understood that the aforementioned... Figure 2 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 The network device, first network device, and second network device in the corresponding method embodiment can be based on this embodiment. Figure 7 The structure of the communication device 70 shown is illustrated. It should also be understood that when subsequent evolved ISP access network equipment or base stations execute the methods involved in the embodiments of this application, the subsequent evolved ISP access network or base station can also adopt the methods described in this embodiment. Figure 7 The structure of the communication device 70 shown.

[0180] The communication device 70 includes at least one processor 701, at least one memory 702, at least one transceiver 703, at least one network interface 705, and one or more antennas 704. The processor 701, memory 702, transceiver 703, and network interface 705 are connected via a connection device, and the antenna 704 is connected to the transceiver 703. The aforementioned connection device may include various interfaces, transmission lines, or buses, etc., and this embodiment does not limit its scope.

[0181] The aforementioned network interface 705 is used to enable the communication device 70 to connect with other communication devices via a communication link. Specifically, the network interface 705 may include a network interface between the communication device 70 and a core network element, such as an S1 interface; the network interface 705 may also include a network interface between the communication device 70 and other network devices (such as other access network devices or core network elements), such as an X2 or Xn interface.

[0182] The transceiver 703, memory 702, and antenna 704 can be referenced. Figure 6 The relevant descriptions of the transceiver 603, memory 602, and antenna 604 in the corresponding embodiments will not be repeated here.

[0183] Furthermore, the aforementioned processor 701 is primarily used for processing communication protocols and communication data, controlling the entire network device, executing software programs, and processing software program data, for example, to support the communication device 70 in performing the actions described in the foregoing embodiments. The communication device 70 may include a baseband processor and a central processing unit (CPU), wherein the baseband processor is primarily used for processing communication protocols and communication data, and the CPU is primarily used for controlling the entire communication device 70, executing software programs, and processing software program data. Figure 7The processor 701 can integrate the functions of a baseband processor and a central processing unit. Those skilled in the art will understand that the baseband processor and the central processing unit can also be independent processors interconnected via technologies such as buses. Those skilled in the art will understand that the communication device 70 can include multiple baseband processors to adapt to different network standards, and the communication device 70 can include multiple central processing units to enhance its processing capabilities. The various components of the communication device 70 can be connected via various buses. The baseband processor can also be described as a baseband processing circuit or a baseband processing chip. The central processing unit can also be described as a central processing circuit or a central processing chip. The function of processing communication protocols and communication data can be built into the processor or stored in memory as a software program, with the processor executing the software program to implement the baseband processing function.

[0184] Specifically, in the communication device 70, the transceiver 703 sends a timing advance group TAG configuration to the terminal device via the antenna 704. This TAG configuration includes an identifier for a first TAG and first indication information. A first uplink carrier belongs to the first TAG. The first indication information is used to indicate a second TAG or a second carrier, where the second carrier belongs to the second TAG. The processor 701 generates second indication information. The transceiver 703 sends the second indication information to the terminal device via the antenna 704. This second indication information is used to determine the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier. The timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0185] Optionally, the first indication information includes the identifier of the second TAG, and the second carrier is either a second downlink carrier or a second uplink carrier. Alternatively, the second carrier is a second downlink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second downlink carrier; or, the second carrier is a second uplink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second uplink carrier.

[0186] Optionally, when the second carrier is the second downlink carrier, the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance TA value of the first uplink carrier, and the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0187] Optionally, when the TAG configuration also includes a timing calibration timer configuration for the first TAG, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier.

[0188] Optionally, when the second carrier is the second uplink carrier, the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier includes a first offset, and the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0189] Optionally, when the TAG configuration does not include a timing calibration timer configuration, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

[0190] The methods of the network devices in the above embodiments can be referred to for the rest, and will not be repeated here.

[0191] like Figure 8 As shown, this application also provides another communication device 80, which can be a terminal device or a chip in a terminal device. The communication device 80 includes a receiving module 801 and a processing module 802.

[0192] The receiving module 801 is configured to receive a timing advance group (TAG) configuration from the network device. This TAG configuration includes an identifier for a first TAG and first indication information, indicating that a first uplink carrier belongs to the first TAG. The first indication information indicates a second TAG or a second carrier, indicating that the second carrier belongs to the second TAG. Furthermore, the receiving module 801 is configured to receive second indication information from the network device, which is used to determine the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier. The processing module 802 is configured to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier.

[0193] Optionally, the first indication information includes the identifier of the second TAG, and the second carrier is either a second downlink carrier or a second uplink carrier. Alternatively, the second carrier is a second downlink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second downlink carrier; or, the second carrier is a second uplink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second uplink carrier.

[0194] In one optional implementation, the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance (TA) value of the first uplink carrier. In this case, the processing module 802 is specifically used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier. Optionally, when the TAG configuration also includes a timing calibration timer configuration for the first TAG, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier.

[0195] In one optional implementation, the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier includes a first offset. In this case, the processing module 802 is specifically configured to obtain the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier according to the first indication information, and to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset.

[0196] In addition, the aforementioned communication device 80 also includes a transmission module 803, used to transmit a random access preamble to the network device using a first uplink carrier.

[0197] Optionally, when the TAG configuration does not include a timing calibration timer configuration, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

[0198] The remaining methods can be referred to the terminal device methods in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0199] like Figure 9 As shown, this application also provides another communication device 90, which can be a network device or a chip in a network device. The network device is an access network device, which can be the first network device in the aforementioned embodiments, such as a macro base station; or it can be the second network device in the aforementioned embodiments, such as a RO node. The communication device 90 includes: a transmitting module 901, a processing module 902, and a receiving module 903.

[0200] The sending module 901 is used to send a timing advance group TAG configuration to the terminal device. This TAG configuration includes an identifier for a first TAG and first indication information. A first uplink carrier belongs to this first TAG. The first indication information is used to indicate a second TAG or a second carrier, where the second carrier belongs to the second TAG. The processing module 902 is used to generate second indication information. The sending module 901 sends the second indication information to the terminal device. This second indication information is used to determine the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier. The timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

[0201] In one possible implementation, the communication device 90 is a second network device or a chip within a second network device, and the receiving module 903 receives a random access preamble from the terminal device via a first uplink carrier. The processing module 902 is used to generate a TA value for the first uplink carrier based on the aforementioned random access preamble. The transmitting module 901 is used to transmit the TA value of the first uplink carrier to the aforementioned first network device.

[0202] In one possible implementation, the communication device 90 is a first network device or a chip within the first network device, and the transmitting module 901 is used to transmit a random access response to the terminal device using a second downlink carrier. The random access response carries the TA value of the aforementioned first uplink carrier.

[0203] In one possible implementation, the communication device 90 is a first network device or a chip within the first network device, and the receiving module 903 is used to receive a random access preamble from the terminal device using a second uplink carrier. The processing module 902 is used to generate a TA value for the second uplink carrier. The transmitting module 901 is used to transmit a random access response to the terminal device using a second downlink carrier, wherein the random access response carries the aforementioned TA value of the second uplink carrier.

[0204] In one possible implementation, the communication device 90 is a first network device or a chip within the first network device, and the processing module 902 is used to obtain a first offset. The transmitting module 901 is used to transmit the first offset to the terminal device using a second downlink carrier.

[0205] The methods of the network devices in the above embodiments can be referred to for the rest, and will not be repeated here.

[0206] In implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by integrated logic circuits in the processor hardware or by instructions in software. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software modules can reside in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. This storage medium is located in memory, and the processor reads information from the memory and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are omitted here. It should also be understood that the terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and various numerical designations used herein are merely for descriptive convenience and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0207] Furthermore, this application provides a computer program product comprising one or more computer instructions. When these computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. For example, implementing the aforementioned... Figure 2 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 Methods related to network devices (e.g., the first network device, etc.). For example, implementing the methods described above. Figure 2 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 5Methods related to terminal devices in the process. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can store or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., digital versatile disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid-state disk (SSD)).

[0208] Furthermore, this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that is executed by a processor to perform the aforementioned functions. Figure 2 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 Methods related to terminal devices in [the context of the text].

[0209] Furthermore, this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that is executed by a processor to perform the aforementioned functions. Figure 2 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 Methods related to network devices (e.g., the first network device, etc.).

[0210] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0211] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of this application, the order of the above-mentioned processes does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0212] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0213] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: The terminal device receives a timing advance group TAG configuration from the network device. The TAG configuration includes the identifier of the first TAG and the first indication information. The first uplink carrier belongs to the first TAG. The first indication information is used to indicate the second TAG or the second carrier. The second carrier belongs to the second TAG. The terminal device receives second indication information from the network device. The second indication information is used to determine the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier. The timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance TA value of the first uplink carrier or includes a first offset. The terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first indication information includes the identifier of the second TAG, and the second carrier is either a second downlink carrier or a second uplink carrier.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second carrier is a second downlink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second downlink carrier; or, the second carrier is a second uplink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second uplink carrier.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance TA value of the first uplink carrier; The terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier, including: The terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, When the TAG configuration also includes the timing calibration timer configuration of the first TAG, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier.

6. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier includes the first offset. The terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier, including: The terminal device obtains the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier according to the first indication information; The terminal device determines the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, When the TAG configuration does not include a timing calibration timer configuration, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

8. A communication method, characterized in that, include: The network device sends a timed advance group TAG configuration to the terminal device. The TAG configuration includes the identifier of the first TAG and the first indication information. The first uplink carrier belongs to the first TAG. The first indication information is used to indicate the second TAG or the second carrier. The second carrier belongs to the second TAG. The network device sends a second indication information to the terminal device. The second indication information is used to determine the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier. The timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance TA value of the first uplink carrier or includes a first offset. The timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first indication information includes the identifier of the second TAG, and the second carrier is either a second downlink carrier or a second uplink carrier.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second carrier is a second downlink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second downlink carrier; or, the second carrier is a second uplink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second uplink carrier.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, When the second carrier is the second downlink carrier, the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance TA value of the first uplink carrier, and the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, When the TAG configuration also includes the timing calibration timer configuration of the first TAG, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier.

13. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, When the second carrier is the second uplink carrier, the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier includes a first offset. The uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, When the TAG configuration does not include a timing calibration timer configuration, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

15. A terminal device, characterized in that, include: The transceiver module is used to receive the timing advance group TAG configuration from the network device. The TAG configuration includes the identifier of the first TAG and the first indication information. The first uplink carrier belongs to the first TAG. The first indication information is used to indicate the second TAG or the second carrier. The second carrier belongs to the second TAG. The transceiver module is further configured to receive second indication information from the network device, the second indication information being used to determine the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier, the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier being the timing advance TA value of the first uplink carrier or including a first offset. The processing module is used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier.

16. The terminal device according to claim 15, characterized in that, The first indication information includes the identifier of the second TAG, and the second carrier is either a second downlink carrier or a second uplink carrier.

17. The terminal device according to claim 15, characterized in that, The second carrier is a second downlink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second downlink carrier; or, the second carrier is a second uplink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second uplink carrier.

18. The terminal device according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance TA value of the first uplink carrier; The processing module is specifically used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier based on the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier.

19. The terminal device according to claim 18, characterized in that, When the TAG configuration also includes the timing calibration timer configuration of the first TAG, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier.

20. The terminal device according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier, and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier includes the first offset. The processing module is specifically used for: The uplink timing of the second uplink carrier is obtained according to the first indication information; The uplink timing of the first uplink carrier is determined based on the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset.

21. The terminal device according to claim 20, characterized in that, When the TAG configuration does not include a timing calibration timer configuration, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

22. A network device, characterized in that, include: The transceiver module is used to send a timing advance group TAG configuration to the terminal device. The TAG configuration includes the identifier of the first TAG and the first indication information. The first uplink carrier belongs to the first TAG. The first indication information is used to indicate the second TAG or the second carrier. The second carrier belongs to the second TAG. The transceiver module is further configured to send second indication information to the terminal device. The second indication information is used to determine the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier. The timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance TA value of the first uplink carrier or includes a first offset. The timing of the second carrier and the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

23. The network device according to claim 22, characterized in that, The first indication information includes the identifier of the second TAG, and the second carrier is either a second downlink carrier or a second uplink carrier.

24. The network device according to claim 22, characterized in that, The second carrier is a second downlink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second downlink carrier; or, the second carrier is a second uplink carrier, and the first indication information is the identifier of the second uplink carrier.

25. The network device according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that, When the second carrier is the second downlink carrier, the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier is the timing advance TA value of the first uplink carrier, and the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier and the TA value of the first uplink carrier are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

26. The network device according to claim 25, characterized in that, When the TAG configuration also includes the timing calibration timer configuration of the first TAG, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the downlink timing of the second downlink carrier.

27. The network device according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that, When the second carrier is the second uplink carrier, the timing adjustment value of the first uplink carrier includes a first offset. The uplink timing of the second uplink carrier and the first offset are used to determine the uplink timing of the first uplink carrier.

28. The network device according to claim 27, characterized in that, When the TAG configuration does not include a timing calibration timer configuration, the identifier of the second TAG in the TAG configuration is used to indicate that the timing of the second carrier is the uplink timing of the second uplink carrier.

29. A communication device, characterized in that, Including processor and memory; The memory stores computer programs; The processor invokes the computer program in the memory to cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

30. A communication device, characterized in that, Including processor and memory; The memory stores computer programs; The processor invokes the computer program in the memory to cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 14.

31. A communication system, characterized in that, include: The terminal device as described in any one of claims 15 to 21, and the network device as described in any one of claims 22 to 28.

32. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

33. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 14.

34. A computer program product comprising instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7 or 8 to 14.

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