A channel state information feedback method and a communication device

Abstract

This application provides a channel state information feedback method and a communication device. The method includes: a network device sending reference signal configuration information to a terminal device, the reference signal configuration information being used to configure N1 reference signals, the N1 reference signals corresponding to N antenna ports; the terminal device determining K1 first channel vectors based on K1 combining matrices and the measurement results of the N1 reference signals on the N antenna ports, wherein the i-th combining matrix in the K1 combining matrices is used to combine the N antenna ports into M... i The terminal device obtains K1 channel state information (CSI) based on K1 first channel vectors; then, the terminal device sends K2 of the K1 CSI to the network device. Based on the method described in this application, the network device does not need to send downlink reference signals under each channel shutdown pattern, and the terminal device can obtain more CSI under more channel shutdown patterns based on limited pilot overhead.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a channel state information feedback method and communication device. Background Technology

[0002] Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology has shone brightly due to its ability to significantly increase transmission reliability and capacity by utilizing limited spectrum resources. At low frequencies, MIMO technology is primarily implemented in the digital domain, including digital precoding and digital beamforming, meaning one antenna element can correspond to one digital channel. A digital channel can include a complete set of processing devices such as digital-to-analog converters (DACs / ADCs), filters, and power amplifiers (PAs). However, for high frequencies, especially millimeter waves (mmWave), the radio frequency signal frequency is too high, and the number of antenna elements that can be deployed at the base station is too large, for example, 1024 or 2048. Furthermore, the extremely high radio frequency and the vast available bandwidth result in increasingly high costs for devices such as DACs / ADCs, filters, and PAs. Deploying a completely one-to-one digital channel for all antenna elements is too costly, and the large number of processing devices would also lead to an excessively large base station size. Therefore, in high frequencies, mainstream base station products use a hybrid beamforming architecture, where one digital channel corresponds to multiple analog channels, and each analog channel corresponds to one or more antenna elements. This reduces the number of digital channels to save deployment costs and reduce the size of the base station.

[0003] When the cell load is light, the base station can shut down some transceiver channels (such as digital or analog channels) to reduce the power consumption of devices on these channels. Correspondingly, the base station can use more time-frequency resources to ensure that the average transmission rate does not decrease, thus guaranteeing data transmission performance. Since transceiver channels are associated with antenna arrays, and these channels are represented as antenna ports in the protocol, channel shutdown is also called "antenna port shutdown" or simply "antenna shutdown." Currently, the channel shutdown used in products is semi-static, meaning that a channel shutdown pattern is selected based on traffic volume prediction over a certain period, and service transmission is performed based on this pattern. However, semi-static channel shutdown can only match the average traffic volume over a certain period. During each transmission time interval (TTI), traffic arrival fluctuates, resulting in high traffic volume in some TTIs, where excessive channel shutdown will limit the transmission rate. Conversely, low traffic volume in other TTIs means that insufficient channel shutdown will not maximize energy savings. Therefore, a scheme for on-demand, dynamic channel shutdown for each TTI has been proposed.

[0004] Dynamic channel shutdown, also known as on-demand channel shutdown, aims to maximize channel shutdown ratios within each Time Period (TTI) based on the traffic volume to be transmitted, while ensuring service transmission requirements are met. This achieves maximum instantaneous energy savings without impacting user experience. However, due to varying traffic volumes across different TTIs, the desired channel shutdown pattern differs. Therefore, base stations cannot pre-transmit downlink pilot signals (i.e., downlink reference signals) based on this channel shutdown pattern to allow the UE to measure and provide feedback on channel state information (CSI) under that pattern, thus hindering precise link adaptive adjustment.

[0005] One solution is for the base station to predefine several antenna channel patterns and then pre-transmit downlink pilot signals under each channel shutdown pattern. The terminal device measures and reports the CSIs corresponding to each of these downlink pilot signals. For example, the base station can transmit downlink pilot signals based on five different channel shutdown patterns in time slot 0, and the terminal device can measure and report the CSIs corresponding to each downlink pilot signal in time slot 0. Subsequent network devices can then select the appropriate CSI from these five channel shutdown patterns for data transmission in time slots 1 through 10. Obviously, this leads to a linear increase in downlink pilot signal overhead. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a channel state information feedback method and communication device, which can determine more channel shutdown patterns' CSI based on limited downlink pilot signal overhead.

[0007] In a first aspect, this application provides a channel state information feedback method. Taking a terminal device executing the method as an example, the method includes: the terminal device receiving reference signal configuration information from a network device, the reference signal configuration information being used to configure N1 reference signals, where N1 is a positive integer, and the N1 reference signals correspond to N antenna ports, where N is an integer greater than 1; based on K1 merging matrices and the measurement results of the N1 reference signals on the N antenna ports, obtaining K1 first channel vectors, where the i-th merging matrix in the K1 merging matrices is used to merge the N antenna ports into M... i There are K1 antenna ports; the i-th first channel vector among the K1 first channel vectors is M. i Channel vectors on each antenna port; M i Less than or equal to N, and M i K1 is a positive integer, 1≤i≤K1; K1 channel state information (CSI) is obtained based on K1 first channel vectors; K2 of the K1 CSIs are sent to the network device, where K2 is a positive integer less than or equal to K1.

[0008] In the method described in the first aspect, under the HBF architecture, N antenna ports can correspond to N analog channel subarrays. One digital channel corresponds to multiple analog channel subarrays, and one digital channel corresponds to one antenna port. A merging matrix is ​​used to merge the N analog channel subarrays into multiple digital channels, thus a merging matrix corresponds one-to-one with an analog channel shutdown pattern. Based on the merging matrix corresponding to the analog channel shutdown pattern and the measurement results on all analog channel subarrays, the CSI corresponding to multiple digital channels under that analog channel shutdown pattern can be obtained. It is evident that, based on the method described in the first aspect, the network device does not need to send downlink reference signals under each analog channel shutdown pattern, but only needs to send a common downlink reference signal. The terminal device can obtain more CSI under more analog channel shutdown patterns based on limited pilot overhead. In the full-plane architecture, N antenna ports can correspond to N digital channels. After shutting down some digital channels, the corresponding antenna array can be switched to the remaining digital channels, thereby preserving the number of available antenna arrays to maintain the maximum antenna array gain. A merging matrix is ​​used to merge N digital channels, i.e., shutting down some digital channels and switching the corresponding antenna arrays to the remaining digital channels. Therefore, one merging matrix corresponds one-to-one with a digital channel shutdown pattern. Based on the merging matrix corresponding to the digital channel shutdown pattern and the measurement results on all digital channels, the CSI under that digital channel shutdown pattern can be obtained. It is evident that, based on the method described in the first aspect, the network device does not need to transmit a downlink reference signal under each digital channel shutdown pattern; instead, it only needs to transmit a common downlink reference signal. The terminal device can obtain the CSI under more digital channel shutdown patterns with limited pilot overhead.

[0009] Secondly, this application provides a channel state information feedback method. Taking a network device executing the method as an example, the method includes: the network device sending reference signal configuration information to a terminal device, the reference signal configuration information being used to configure N1 reference signals, where N1 is a positive integer, and the N1 reference signals correspond to N antenna ports, where N is an integer greater than 1; transmitting the N1 reference signals on the N antenna ports; receiving K2 CSIs from K1 channel state information (CSIs) from the terminal device, where K2 is a positive integer less than or equal to K1, the K1 CSIs being obtained based on K1 first channel vectors, the K1 first channel vectors being obtained based on K1 combining matrices and the measurement results of the N1 reference signals on the N antenna ports, and the i-th combining matrix in the K1 combining matrices being used to combine the N antenna ports into M... i There are K1 antenna ports; the i-th first channel vector among the K1 first channel vectors is M. i Channel vectors on each antenna port; M i Less than or equal to N, and M i Let i be a positive integer, K1 be a positive integer, and 1 ≤ i ≤ K1.

[0010] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, the M i Each antenna port corresponds to M i There are N digital channels, and the N antenna ports correspond to N analog channel subarrays, and M i Less than N.

[0011] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, the M i Each antenna port corresponds to one of the remaining active M under a digital channel shutdown pattern. i There are N digital channels, and the N antenna ports correspond to all N digital channels, and M i The number is less than N.

[0012] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, the K1 CSIs include CSI#j, and CSI#j includes a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), the PMI being used to determine the recommended network device for the terminal device under CSI#j in the M corresponding to CSI#j. j The precoding matrix on each antenna port.

[0013] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, the i-th merging matrix is ​​used to merge N antenna ports into M. i Each antenna port refers to: the i-th combining matrix used to combine the second channel vector into M. iThe first channel vector is obtained from the measurements on N antenna ports, and the second channel vector is obtained from the channel vectors on N antenna ports. Based on this possible implementation, a merging matrix can be used to obtain the channel vectors under a channel shutdown pattern.

[0014] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, the N antenna ports are divided into N² antenna port groups, where N² is an integer greater than 1. Different antenna port groups within the N² antenna port groups correspond to different time-domain locations. Each of the N² antenna port groups includes N³ antenna ports, where N³ is a positive integer and satisfies N = N² × N³. Based on this possible implementation, by grouping the antenna ports and assigning different antenna port groups to different time-domain locations, it is easier for network devices to switch between analog channel subarrays when transmitting reference signals from the N² antenna port groups.

[0015] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, N2 = N1; or, N2 / N1 is an integer greater than 1. Based on this possible implementation, one reference signal can correspond to one antenna port group, or multiple antenna port groups can correspond to one reference signal, which helps to reduce the overhead of the reference signal.

[0016] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, the second channel vector is H2, and the i-th first channel vector is H. 1i H 1i =A i ×H2;A i For the i-th merged matrix, Among them, a m,n It is the merged matrix A i The element in the m-th row and n-th column. Optionally, a m,n This represents the connection between the nth antenna port and M out of N antenna ports. i The combining weight of the m-th combined port out of the 10 antenna ports. Based on this possible implementation, the channel vector under the channel shutdown pattern corresponding to the combining matrix can be accurately determined.

[0017] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, a m,n It is 1 or 0; or, a m,n 0 or a m a m For the agreement pre-specified or a m Configured for network devices.

[0018] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, A i There exists a m,n1 and a m,n2 am,n1 >0, a m,n2 >0, and n1 is not equal to n2. Based on this possible implementation, a merged antenna port needs to be obtained by merging at least two antenna ports out of N antenna ports.

[0019] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, for a m,n =0; where S m It is the set of ports before merging corresponding to the m-th merged port, and satisfies S m1 With S m2 The intersection of these sets is empty, and m1 and m2 are any two distinct merged port indices. Based on this possible implementation, different merged antenna ports are obtained by merging different antenna ports from N antenna ports.

[0020] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, first indication information is received from a network device, the first indication information being used to indicate K1 merging matrices. In this possible implementation, the K1 merging matrices are not fixed and can be indicated by the network device, thus allowing the terminal device more flexibility in determining the CSI under different channel shutdown patterns.

[0021] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, a first indication message is sent to the terminal device, the first indication message indicating K1 merging matrices. In this possible implementation, the K1 merging matrices are not fixed and can be indicated by the network device, thus allowing the terminal device more flexibility in determining the CSI under different channel shutdown patterns.

[0022] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, the K1 merging matrices are K1 merging matrices out of K merging matrices. The first indication information indicates the index of the K1 merging matrices in the set of K merging matrices, where the K merging matrices are predefined by the protocol or indicated by the network device through the second indication information, and K is an integer greater than or equal to K1. In this alternative approach, the network device can pre-indicate multiple merging matrices to the terminal device, and then flexibly indicate the merging matrices that the terminal device needs to use according to requirements through the first indication information. Therefore, based on this possible implementation, the flexibility of the network device in indicating merging matrices can be increased.

[0023] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, K2 equals K1, that is, the terminal device feeds back all CSIs determined by the terminal device.

[0024] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, K2 is less than K1, where:

[0025] The K2 CSIs are the K2 CSIs with the largest benefit function among the K1 CSIs. The benefit function of a CSI is related to the rank indicator RI and the channel quality indicator CQI in the CSI; or,

[0026] K2 CSIs are one or more CSIs among the K1 CSIs whose backlash value of the benefit function is less than or equal to a first threshold, wherein the backlash value of the benefit function of the first CSI is the ratio of the benefit function of the second CSI to the benefit function of the first CSI, and the second CSI is the CSI with the largest benefit function among the K1 CSIs. The benefit function of the CSI is related to the RI and CQI in the CSI; or,

[0027] K2 CSIs are the CSIs with the smallest benefit function among the K1 CSIs whose backlash value of the benefit function is less than or equal to the first threshold. The backlash value of the benefit function of the first CSI is the ratio of the benefit function of the second CSI to the benefit function of the first CSI. The second CSI is the CSI with the largest benefit function among the K1 CSIs. The benefit function of the CSI is related to the RI and CQI in the CSI.

[0028] Based on this possible implementation method, it is beneficial to save on CSI reporting costs.

[0029] In one possible implementation of the first and second aspects, M i The combined antenna port and M i Each digital channel corresponds to one analog channel subarray, and each of the N antenna ports corresponds to one analog channel subarray. One digital channel corresponds to one or more analog channel subarrays.

[0030] Thirdly, this application provides a communication device, which can be a terminal device, a device within a terminal device, or a device compatible with a terminal device. The communication device can also be a chip system. The communication device can execute the method described in the first aspect. The functions of the communication device can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions. The unit or module can be software and / or hardware. The operations performed by the communication device and its beneficial effects can be found in the method described in the first aspect and its beneficial effects.

[0031] Fourthly, this application provides a communication device, which can be a network device, a device within a network device, or a device compatible with a network device. The communication device can also be a chip system. The communication device can execute the method described in the second aspect. The functions of the communication device can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions. The unit or module can be software and / or hardware. The operations performed by the communication device and its beneficial effects can be found in the method described in the second aspect above.

[0032] Fifthly, this application provides a communication device, which includes a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device. The processor is used to implement the method described in the first or second aspect through logic circuits or execution code instructions.

[0033] In a sixth aspect, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed by a communication device, implement the method described in the first or second aspect.

[0034] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a computer program product including instructions that, when read and executed by a communication device, cause the communication device to perform a method as described in either the first or second aspect.

[0035] Eighthly, this application provides a communication system, including a communication device for performing the method described in the first aspect above, and a communication device for performing the method described in the second aspect above. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an HBF architecture;

[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an analog channel subarray under an HBF architecture provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 3 This application provides a schematic diagram of a full-sky architecture;

[0039] Figure 4 This application provides a schematic diagram of a digital channel shutdown + antenna switching mode under an all-sky architecture;

[0040] Figure 5This application provides a schematic diagram of another digital channel shutdown + antenna switching mode under an all-sky architecture;

[0041] Figure 6 This application provides a schematic diagram of another digital channel shutdown + antenna switching mode under an all-sky architecture;

[0042] Figure 7 This application provides a schematic diagram of another digital channel shutdown + antenna switching mode under an all-sky architecture;

[0043] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating a channel state information feedback method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0045] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of another HBF architecture provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0046] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of yet another HBF architecture provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating another channel state information feedback method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 13 This is a flowchart illustrating another channel state information feedback method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0050] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0051] The terms "first" and "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or apparatuses.

[0052] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It should be understood that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0053] To facilitate understanding of the relevant content of the embodiments of this application, some concepts involved in the embodiments of this application are explained.

[0054] 1. Hybrid beamforming (HBF) architecture: In high frequency, the mainstream base station products are based on the HBF architecture, which means that one digital channel corresponds to multiple analog channels, and each analog channel corresponds to one or more antenna elements. This can reduce the number of digital channels to save deployment costs and size. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an HBF architecture on the radio frequency unit of an mmWave base station. Figure 1 As shown, the radio frequency unit contains multiple digital chains, each digital chain is connected to multiple analog chains, and each analog chain is connected to one or more antenna elements. Figure 1 Taking downlink transmission as an example. For mmWave base stations, the number of digital channels is generally small, such as 4 or 8, while the number of analog channels associated with each digital channel is large, such as 128 or 256. In the embodiments of this application, a channel can also be referred to as a link, and a channel includes a transmit channel and a receive channel.

[0055] 2. Antenna element: A physical entity, the smallest physical entity that makes up an antenna array, and the smallest electromagnetic wave transmitting unit. It is generally a half-wave element, omnidirectional element, point element, linear element, or circular element.

[0056] 3. Transceiver Channel: A transceiver channel refers to a digital or analog channel. It is a physical concept. One transceiver channel can often be associated with one or more antenna elements, forming a 1-to-N connection architecture. Mapping weights can be set between the transceiver channel and these antenna elements. For example, this can be achieved by adjusting the directional angles of these elements, or by adding phase shifters and adjusting their phases.

[0057] ① Digital Channels: One digital channel is associated with one ADC / DAC. The number of digital channels represents the number of antenna ports visible in the digital domain. One or more streams of signal can be mapped to the above multiple digital channels in the digital domain, and different mapping methods can be used for different frequency positions.

[0058] ② Analog Channels: Primarily found in the HBF architecture. A digital channel can be associated with one or more analog channels via an ADC / DAC. Signal processing between digital and analog channels can only be performed in the analog domain and requires analog devices. For example, shaping is done through filters, power amplification is done through power amplifiers (PAs), and phase adjustment is done through phase shifters (PSs). Furthermore, these processes are wideband, meaning it's not possible to add different power amplification or phase adjustment coefficients at different frequency positions.

[0059] 4. Antenna Port: In the standard, an antenna port is a logical concept, corresponding to one or more antenna elements. A digital channel, on the other hand, is a physical concept; the number N of digital channels on a single RF unit is fixed. During different transmission processes, the RF unit can have different numbers of antenna ports. That is, one antenna port can be mapped to a subset of the aforementioned N digital channels. Different antenna ports correspond to different virtual mapping methods, and in the standard, different antenna ports correspond to different transport flows.

[0060] This application primarily focuses on the antenna ports of downlink reference signals, such as the Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS) antenna ports. Generally, although a CSI-RS antenna port is also a logical concept, in most scenarios, especially FDD systems, during CSI measurements, the base station maps the CSI-RS antenna ports one-to-one with the digital channels of the radio frequency unit (RF unit). This allows the UE to obtain the channel matrix for each digital channel of the RF unit by measuring the CSI-RS. However, the standard also supports transmitting pre-coded CSI-RS. For example, an RF unit with 32 digital channels can transmit 16-port CSI-RS, where each CSI-RS port corresponds to a logical port, and each logical port is associated with a mapping vector from 1 to 32 digital channels. Currently, these pre-coded CSI-RS are mostly used in scenarios where the base station already knows some or all of the channel information, such as in TDD systems where the base station has already obtained the channel matrix based on the SRS.

[0061] 5. Channel State Information (CSI report) configuration information: A single CSI report typically performs channel / interference measurements for a specific downlink frequency band and feeds back the corresponding CSI. The CSI report configuration information may include the following:

[0062] ① Configuration of reporting type. For example, whether it is periodic CSI (P-CSI), semi-persistent CSI (SP-CSI), or aperiodic CSI (A-CSI), as well as information such as the reporting period configuration, start offset value or trigger offset value.

[0063] ② Configuration of feedback quantities. This involves configuring the feedback quantities. Examples include the CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI), synchronizationsignal / physical broadcast channel block resource indicator (SSBRI), rank indicator (RI), precoding matrix indicator (PMI), channel quality indicator (CQI), layer indicator (LI), layer 1 reference signal received power (L1-RSRP), and layer 1 signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (L1-SINR). Specifically, RI indicates the number of transport streams recommended by the UE for data transmission by the base station; PMI indicates the recommended precoding matrix for that number of transport streams; CQI indicates the recommended modulation and coding scheme for that number of transport streams and precoding matrix, which is expected to achieve a preset block error rate; and LI tells the base station which stream among the indicated transport streams has the best reception quality. CRI and SSBRI are used by the UE to tell the base station which resource the measurement is based on when the base station is configured with multiple CSI-RS or SSB for CSI measurement.

[0064] ③ Bandwidth configuration of feedback quantities. For example, whether each feedback quantity is broadband or narrowband feedback.

[0065] ④ Specific configuration information for each feedback quantity. For example, the set of RI value constraints, the codebook model of PMI, and the measurement table information of CQI, etc.

[0066] ⑤ Reference signal configuration information. Used to configure one or more reference signals.

[0067] 6. CSI Measurement: ①One-shot measurement: One-shot measurement means using the most recent reference signal to perform channel or interference measurement, and calculating the CSI to be reported this time based on the measurement results.

[0068] ② Smoothed Measurement: For a single CSI report, it can be specified whether smoothed measurement results are used for CSI calculation during channel measurement and interference measurement. Smoothed measurement means that the CSI calculation for this report is based on all measurement results in the time domain of the configured reference signal (these reference signals are generally transmitted periodically or semi-continuously, so there will be multiple measurement results in the time domain). The specific smoothing scheme is implemented by the terminal equipment.

[0069] 7. Channel Shutdown Technology: From the perspective of base station energy saving, when the cell load is light, some digital or analog channels can be shut down to reduce the power consumption of devices on these channels. Currently, channel shutdown technology on the base station side can be divided into semi-static shutdown and dynamic shutdown.

[0070] ① Semi-static channel shutdown: The shutdown timescale is typically on the order of minutes or even hours. The base station uses a shutdown period P. Then, based on the current and previous service arrival status, and using a certain algorithm, it predicts the service arrival status within the next time period P, thereby selecting a channel shutdown pattern. For example, shutting down half of the channel, 1 / 4 of the channel, 3 / 4 of the channel, or not shutting it down. Then, within this time period P, the base station transmits reference signals and performs control / data transmission based on the configured channels after shutdown.

[0071] ② Dynamic channel shutdown: also known as on-demand antenna shutdown, its core idea is that the base station maximizes the antenna shutdown ratio based on the amount of traffic to be transmitted on the TTI, while ensuring the traffic transmission demand, so as to obtain the maximum instantaneous energy saving benefits without affecting the user experience.

[0072] 8. Channel Shutdown in HBF Architecture: Channel shutdown in HBF architecture can be performed at the granularity of digital channels or analog channels. In HBF architecture, there are typically only 4 or 8 digital channels, while each digital channel is associated with hundreds of analog channels. Therefore, analog channel shutdown can provide finer-grained shutdown. For example... Figure 2 As shown, we can divide the analog channels associated with a digital channel into 16 analog channel subarrays. An analog channel subarray includes one or more analog channels. Then, by shutting down the analog channel subarrays, we can obtain 16 shutdown levels, i.e., shutting down 0 analog channel subarrays, 1 analog channel subarray, ..., 16 analog channel subarrays, for a total of 16 shutdown levels. Furthermore, even when shutting down two subarrays, selecting different subarrays will correspond to different performance characteristics. This results in a greater number of shutdown patterns, up to 2...16 More shutdown levels and combinations provide more degrees of freedom in shutdown, allowing for better trade-offs and optimizations between system performance and energy savings. Compared to shutting down digital channels, shutting down a portion of analog channels for each digital channel does not reduce the number of visible digital ports on the base station and terminal equipment, thus not reducing the base station's multiplexing capability (the base station's multiplexing capability refers to the number of streams that a base station can transmit in the spatial domain on a time-frequency resource), resulting in less reduction in spectral efficiency.

[0073] 9. Antenna Shutdown in a Full-Surface Architecture: A full-surface architecture can also be called a full-array antenna architecture. At low frequencies, one digital channel is associated with one analog channel, and antenna shutdown can only be performed in the digital domain. However, shutting down a digital channel not only means shutting down a PA (Power Amplifier), leading to a reduction in transmit power (the expected energy saving), but also shutting down the antenna arrays associated with these digital channels, resulting in a loss of roof gain (roof gain generally refers to beamforming gain. In beam-aligned terminal equipment, beamforming gain increases with the increase of the participating antenna array gain). To reduce this loss, the industry has proposed an antenna shutdown method in a full-surface architecture, such as... Figure 3 As shown, when the antennas corresponding to certain digital channels are turned off, the antennas corresponding to these digital channels will be switched to the remaining digital channels, thereby preserving the number of available antenna elements to maintain the maximum antenna array gain.

[0074] For example, assuming a low-frequency transmitter has 8 digital channels corresponding to 8 antenna ports, it can include the following 4 digital channel shutdown + antenna switching modes:

[0075] Mode 1: Turn off half of the vertical channel and switch the corresponding antenna to the remaining half of the vertical channel, such as... Figure 4 As shown.

[0076] Mode 2: Turn off 3 / 4 of the vertical channels and switch the corresponding antenna to the remaining 1 / 4 of the vertical channels, such as... Figure 5 As shown.

[0077] Mode 3: Turn off half of the vertical dimension channel and half of the horizontal dimension channel, and switch the corresponding antenna to the remaining quarter channel, such as... Figure 6 As shown.

[0078] Mode 4: Shut down 3 / 4 of the vertical channel and 1 / 2 of the horizontal channel, then switch the corresponding antenna to the remaining 1 / 8 of the channel, such as... Figure 7 As shown.

[0079] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system 8000 used in an embodiment of this application. Figure 8As shown, the communication system includes a wireless access network 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may also include an Internet 300. The wireless access network 100 may include at least one wireless access network device (such as...). Figure 8 110a and 110b in the above), may also include at least one terminal (such as Figure 8 (e.g., 120a-120j). Terminals connect wirelessly to the wireless access network (WLAN) equipment, which in turn connects to the core network via wireless or wired connections. The core network equipment and the WLAN equipment can be independent physical devices, or they can integrate the functions of the core network equipment and the logical functions of the WLAN equipment onto the same physical device. Alternatively, a single physical device can integrate some of the functions of both the core network equipment and the WLAN equipment. Terminals and WLAN equipment can connect to each other via wired or wireless connections. Figure 8 This is just an illustration; the communication system may also include other network devices, such as wireless repeaters and wireless backhaul devices. Figure 8 It is not shown in the middle.

[0080] Radio access network equipment can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a next-generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system; it can also be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of a base station, for example, it can be a central unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). Here, the CU performs the functions of the radio resource control protocol and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the base station, and can also perform the functions of the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP); the DU performs the functions of the radio link control layer and the medium access control (MAC) layer of the base station, and can also perform some or all of the physical layer functions. For specific descriptions of the above-mentioned protocol layers, please refer to the relevant technical specifications of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Wireless access network equipment can be macro base stations (such as...) Figure 8 110a in the text), can also be a micro base station or an indoor station (such as... Figure 8 The node in 110b) can also be a relay node or a donor node, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or device form used in the wireless access network equipment. In the embodiments of this application, the wireless access network equipment can be simply referred to as a network device, and a base station is a specific example of a network device.

[0081] A terminal can also be called a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. Terminals can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart cities, etc. Terminals can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technologies or device forms used in the terminals.

[0082] Base stations and terminals can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can be deployed in the air on aircraft, balloons, and artificial satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of base stations and terminals.

[0083] The roles of base stations and terminals can be relative, for example, Figure 8 The helicopter or drone 120i can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminals 120j accessing the wireless access network 100 via 120i, terminal 120i is a base station; however, for base station 110a, 120i is a terminal, meaning that 110a and 120i communicate via a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, 110a and 120i can also communicate via a base station-to-base station interface protocol; in this case, 120i is also a base station relative to 110a. Therefore, both base stations and terminals can be collectively referred to as communication devices. Figure 8 The 110a and 110b in the text can be referred to as communication devices with base station functions. Figure 8 The 120a-120j in the text can be referred to as communication devices with terminal functions.

[0084] Communication between base stations and terminals, between base stations, and between terminals can be conducted using licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or both simultaneously. Communication can be conducted using spectrum below 6 GHz, spectrum above 6 GHz, or both simultaneously. The embodiments of this application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0085] In the embodiments of this application, the functions of the base station can be executed by modules (such as chips) within the base station, or by a control subsystem that includes base station functions. This control subsystem, including base station functions, can be a control center in the aforementioned application scenarios such as smart grids, industrial control, intelligent transportation, and smart cities. Similarly, the functions of the terminal can be executed by modules (such as chips or modems) within the terminal, or by a device that includes terminal functions.

[0086] In the embodiments of this application, the base station sends downlink signals or downlink information to the terminal, with the downlink information carried on the downlink channel; the terminal sends uplink signals or uplink information to the base station, with the uplink information carried on the uplink channel. In order to communicate with the base station, the terminal needs to establish a wireless connection with a cell controlled by the base station. The cell with which the terminal has established a wireless connection is called the terminal's serving cell. When the terminal communicates with this serving cell, it is also subject to interference from signals from neighboring cells.

[0087] In the embodiments of this application, the radio frequency unit of the base station can be an HBF architecture or an all-antenna architecture. If the base station is an HBF architecture, the radio frequency unit can perform dynamic antenna shutdown at the analog channel level. If the base station is an all-antenna architecture, the radio frequency unit can perform dynamic antenna shutdown at the digital channel level.

[0088] The channel state information feedback method and communication device provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below.

[0089] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating a channel state information feedback method provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 9 As shown, the channel state information feedback method includes the following steps 901 to 905. Figure 9 The method shown can be implemented by terminal devices and network devices. Alternatively, Figure 9The method shown can be implemented by a chip in a terminal device or a chip in a network device. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the measurement results of one or more reference signals on multiple antenna ports correspond to a channel vector, meaning the channel vector corresponding to multiple transmitting antenna ports on one receiving antenna. This can also be extended to scenarios with multiple receiving antennas, where each receiving antenna corresponds to a channel vector; the channel vectors on all receiving antennas are sometimes referred to as a channel matrix. Figure 9 The method will be explained using terminal devices and network devices as examples.

[0090] 901. The network device sends reference signal configuration information to the terminal device. This reference signal configuration information is used to configure N1 reference signals, where N1 is a positive integer, and the N1 reference signals correspond to N antenna ports, where N is an integer greater than 1. Accordingly, the terminal device can receive this reference signal configuration information from the network device.

[0091] The reference signal can be CSI-RS or other downlink reference signals, such as the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (SSB). Reference signal configuration information can be located in the Channel State Information Report (CSI report) configuration information. For a description of the CSI report configuration information, please refer to the previous section on CSI report configuration information.

[0092] In one possible implementation, the RF unit of the network device can be an HBF architecture. Each digital channel is associated with an analog channel that is divided into one or more analog channel subarrays. An analog channel subarray includes one or more analog channels. The RF unit of the network device has a total of N analog channel subarrays. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the N antenna ports and the N analog channel subarrays. An analog channel subarray corresponding to an antenna port indicates that the signal on that antenna port is transmitted through that analog channel subarray.

[0093] For example, such as Figure 10 As shown, assume the network device's radio frequency (RF) unit includes two digital channels. Digital channel 1 is associated with four analog channel subarrays, designated as analog channel subarrays 1 through 4. Digital channel 2 is associated with four analog channel subarrays, designated as analog channel subarrays 5 through 8. In this scenario, one digital channel can virtualize multiple antenna ports. Analog channel subarray 1 corresponds to antenna port 1, analog channel subarray 2 corresponds to antenna port 2, and so on, with analog channel subarray 8 corresponding to antenna port 8.

[0094] In one possible implementation, the N antenna ports are divided into N2 antenna port groups, where N2 is an integer greater than 1. Different antenna port groups in the N2 antenna port groups correspond to different time-domain locations. Each antenna port group in the N2 antenna port groups includes N3 antenna ports, and satisfies N = N2 × N3.

[0095] For example, such as Figure 11 As shown, assuming N is 8, analog channel subarrays 1 to 8 correspond to antenna ports 1 to 8, respectively. N2 is 4, meaning N2 can be equal to the number of analog channel subarrays associated with a digital channel. Antenna ports 1 and 5 can be grouped into antenna port group 1. Antenna ports 2 and 6 can be grouped into antenna port group 2. Antenna ports 3 and 7 can be grouped into antenna port group 3. Antenna ports 4 and 8 can be grouped into antenna port group 4. Antenna port groups 1 to 4 correspond to different time-domain positions, meaning each digital channel is sequentially mapped to 4 analog channel subarrays through time-division switching. Alternatively, N2 can be less than the number of analog channel subarrays associated with a digital channel; this embodiment does not limit this. By grouping the antenna ports and assigning different antenna port groups to different time-domain positions, it is easier for network devices to switch analog channel subarrays when transmitting reference signals from N antenna ports.

[0096] Optionally, N2 and N1 can have the following three relationships:

[0097] ①N2 = N1. That is, one reference signal can correspond to one antenna port group, meaning one reference signal can be transmitted on one antenna port group. For example, CSI-RS 1 corresponds to antenna port group 1, meaning CSI-RS 1 is transmitted on antenna port group 1. CSI-RS 2 corresponds to antenna port group 2, meaning CSI-RS 2 is transmitted on antenna port group 2. CSI-RS 3 corresponds to antenna port group 3, meaning CSI-RS 3 is transmitted on antenna port group 3. CSI-RS 4 corresponds to antenna port group 4, meaning CSI-RS 4 is transmitted on antenna port group 4.

[0098] ② N2 / N1 is an integer greater than 1. This means that one reference signal can correspond to multiple antenna port groups, i.e., one reference signal can be transmitted on multiple antenna port groups. For example, if N2 is 4 and N1 is 1, then one reference signal corresponds to 4 antenna port groups, meaning the reference signal is transmitted on those 4 antenna port groups. As another example, if N2 is 4 and N1 is 2, reference signal 1 corresponds to antenna port group 1 and antenna port group 2, meaning reference signal 1 is transmitted on antenna port group 1 and antenna port group 2. Reference signal 2 corresponds to antenna port group 3 and antenna port group 4, meaning reference signal 2 is transmitted on antenna port group 3 and antenna port group 4. Based on this possible implementation, multiple antenna port groups can correspond to one reference signal, which helps reduce the overhead of the reference signal.

[0099] ③ N1 / N2 are integers greater than 1. This means that one antenna port group can correspond to multiple reference signals, i.e., multiple reference signals can be transmitted on one antenna port group. For example, N2 is 4 and N1 is 8. Antenna port group 1 corresponds to reference signal 1 and reference signal 2, meaning reference signal 1 and reference signal 2 are transmitted on antenna port 1 and antenna port 5 in antenna port group 1, respectively. Antenna port group 2 corresponds to reference signal 3 and reference signal 4, meaning reference signal 3 and reference signal 4 are transmitted on antenna port 2 and antenna port 6 in antenna port group 2, respectively. Antenna port group 3 corresponds to reference signal 5 and reference signal 6, meaning reference signal 5 and reference signal 6 are transmitted on antenna port 3 and antenna port 7 in antenna port group 3, respectively. Antenna port group 4 corresponds to reference signal 7 and reference signal 8, meaning reference signal 7 and reference signal 8 are transmitted on antenna port 4 and antenna port 8 in antenna port group 4, respectively.

[0100] In another possible implementation, the network device's radio frequency (RF) unit can be an all-antenna architecture. The RF unit of the network device has a total of N digital channels. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the N antenna ports and the N digital channels. For example, assuming N is 8... Figures 4-7 Digital channels 1 to 8 correspond to antenna ports 1 to 8, respectively.

[0101] In one possible implementation, the network device can also send an instruction to the terminal device, instructing it to port combine N antenna ports. The terminal device can then receive this instruction. After receiving the instruction, the terminal device can subsequently perform port combining based on the combining matrix. Based on this possible implementation, the terminal device only performs antenna port combining when instructed by the network device; it does not perform antenna port combining by default, thus offering greater flexibility.

[0102] Optionally, the indication information and the reference signal configuration information may be included in the same CSI report configuration information, or the indication information and the reference signal configuration information may not be included in the same CSI report configuration information, that is, the indication information and the reference signal configuration information are sent separately.

[0103] 902. A network device transmits N1 reference signals on N antenna ports.

[0104] In this embodiment, after the network device sends reference signal configuration information to the terminal device, it transmits N1 reference signals on N antenna ports. Correspondingly, the terminal device can measure the N1 reference signals transmitted on the N antenna ports.

[0105] 903. Based on the measurement results of K1 combining matrices and N1 reference signals on N antenna ports, the terminal equipment determines K1 first channel vectors. The i-th combining matrix among the K1 combining matrices is used to combine the N antenna ports into M vectors. i There are K1 antenna ports; the i-th first channel vector among the K1 first channel vectors is M. i Channel vectors on each antenna port; M i Less than or equal to N, and M i Let i be a positive integer, K1 be a positive integer, and 1 ≤ i ≤ K1.

[0106] In this embodiment, after receiving the reference signal configuration information from the network device, the terminal device determines K1 first channel vectors based on the measurement results of K1 combining matrices and N1 reference signals on N antenna ports. Optionally, the combining matrix may also be called other names, such as port combining matrix, channel combining matrix, port mapping matrix, port mapping table, etc.

[0107] In this embodiment of the application, a merging matrix can correspond to a channel shutdown pattern.

[0108] In one possible implementation, M i Each antenna port corresponds to M i There are N digital channels, N antenna ports corresponding to N analog channel subarrays, and M i Less than N.

[0109] For example, suppose the RF unit of the network device is an HBF architecture. K1 is 2. Merging matrix 1 corresponds to channel shutdown pattern 1, and merging matrix 2 corresponds to channel shutdown pattern 2. Channel shutdown pattern 1 is... Figure 11 Antenna ports 1 and 5 are turned off. Channel shutdown diagram 2 shows... Figure 11 Antenna ports 1 and 8 are turned off.

[0110] Combining matrix 1 is used to combine antenna ports 2 to 4 into antenna port A, and to combine antenna ports 6 to 8 into antenna port B. The combined antenna port A corresponds to digital channel 1. The combined antenna port B corresponds to digital channel 2. Based on combining matrix 1 and the reference signal measurement results on antenna ports 1 to 8, the terminal device determines the first channel vector H on antenna ports A and B. 1,1 The terminal device is based on the first channel vector H. 1,1 The CSI under channel shutdown pattern 1 can be obtained.

[0111] Similarly, merging matrix 2 is used to merge antenna ports 2 to 4 into antenna port A, and to merge antenna ports 5 to 7 into antenna port B. The merged antenna port A corresponds to digital channel 1. The merged antenna port B corresponds to digital channel 2. Based on merging matrix 2 and the reference signal measurement results on antenna ports 1 to 8, the terminal device determines the first channel vector H on antenna ports A and B. 1,2 The terminal device is based on the first channel vector H. 1,2 The CSI under channel shutdown pattern 2 can be obtained.

[0112] In one possible implementation, M i Each antenna port corresponds to one of the remaining active M under a digital channel shutdown pattern. i There are N digital channels, and N antenna ports correspond to all N digital channels, and M i The number is less than N.

[0113] For example, suppose the network device's radio frequency unit has an all-plane architecture. K1 is 2. Merging matrix 1 corresponds to channel shutdown pattern 3, and merging matrix 2 corresponds to channel shutdown pattern 4. Channel shutdown pattern 1 is... Figure 4 The channel shutdown pattern shown is shown. Channel shutdown pattern 2 is... Figure 5 The diagram shows the channel shutdown pattern.

[0114] Combining matrix 1 is used to combine antenna ports 1 and 3 into antenna port A, antenna ports 2 and 4 into antenna port B, antenna ports 5 and 7 into antenna port C, and antenna ports 6 and 8 into antenna port D. Antenna port A corresponds to digital channel 1. Antenna port B corresponds to digital channel 2. Antenna port C corresponds to digital channel 5. Antenna port D corresponds to digital channel 6. Based on combining matrix 1 and the reference signal measurement results on antenna ports 1 to 8, the terminal device determines the first channel vector H on antenna ports A to D. 1,1 The terminal device is based on the first channel vector H. 1,1 The CSI under channel shutdown pattern 1 can be obtained.

[0115] Similarly, merging matrix 2 is used to merge antenna ports 1, 3, 5, and 7 into antenna port A, and merging matrix 2 is used to merge antenna ports 2, 4, 6, and 8 into antenna port B. Antenna port A corresponds to digital channel 1. Antenna port B corresponds to digital channel 2. Based on merging matrix 2 and the reference signal measurement results on antenna ports 1 to 8, the terminal device determines the first channel vector H on antenna ports A and B. 1,2 The terminal device is based on the first channel vector H. 1,2 The CSI under channel shutdown pattern 2 can be obtained.

[0116] In one possible implementation, K1 CSIs include CSI#j, which contains a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) used to determine the recommended network device for the terminal device under CSI#j in the M corresponding to CSI#j. j The precoding matrix on each antenna port.

[0117] In one possible implementation, the number of antenna ports corresponding to different merging matrices can be the same or different.

[0118] For example, suppose the radio frequency unit of the network device is an HBF architecture. K1 is 2, then M1 = M2.

[0119] For another example, suppose the radio frequency unit of a network device can be an all-sky architecture. K1 is 2, and the merging matrix 1 corresponds to... Figure 4 The channel shutdown pattern shown corresponds to the merge matrix 2. Figure 5 The channel shutdown diagram is shown. Therefore, M1 ≠ M2. M1 = 4, M2 = 2.

[0120] For another example, suppose the radio frequency unit of a network device can be an all-sky architecture. K1 is 2, and the merging matrix 1 corresponds to... Figure 5 The channel shutdown pattern shown corresponds to the merge matrix 2. Figure 6 The channel shutdown pattern is shown. Therefore, M1 = M2. M1 = 2, M2 = 2.

[0121] In one possible implementation, the i-th merge matrix A i , can be represented as: Among them, a m,n It is the merged matrix A i The element in the m-th row and n-th column. Optional, a m,n This represents the connection between the nth antenna port and M out of N antenna ports. i The merging weight of the m-th merged port among the antenna ports.

[0122] Optional, a m,n There are several possibilities:

[0123] ①a m,n It is either 1 or 0. Where, a m,n A value of 0 indicates that the nth antenna port does not participate in the merging process, a m,n A value of 1 indicates that the nth antenna port participates in the merging.

[0124] For example, suppose N = 8, M i =2. Combining Figure 11 As shown, This indicates that the terminal device believes only antenna ports 1 and 5 will ultimately transmit data, and therefore the CSI at these two antenna ports needs to be measured. That is, in Figure 11 In the HBF architecture shown, each digital channel retains only the first analog channel subarray, while the other analog channel subarrays are turned off.

[0125] For another example, suppose N = 8, M i =2. Combining Figure 11 As shown, This indicates that the first and second antenna ports will be combined into one, and the fifth and sixth antenna ports will be combined into one. Network devices will use these two combined antenna ports to transmit data; therefore, terminal devices need to measure the CSI (Cost Indicator) under these two combined antenna ports. That is, in... Figure 11 In the HBF architecture shown, each digital channel retains only its corresponding first and second analog channel subarrays, while the other analog channel subarrays are turned off.

[0126] For another example, suppose N = 8, M i =2. Combining Figure 11 As shown, This indicates that antenna ports 1 and 3 will be combined into one, and antenna ports 5 and 7 will be combined into one. Network devices will use these two combined antenna ports to transmit data; therefore, terminal devices need to measure the CSI (Cost Indicator) under these two combined antenna ports. That is, in... Figure 11 In the HBF architecture shown, each digital channel retains only its corresponding first and third analog channel subarrays, while the other analog channel subarrays are turned off.

[0127] For another example, suppose N = 8, M i =2. Combining Figure 11 As shown, This indicates that antenna ports 1, 2, and 3 will be combined into one, and antenna ports 5, 6, and 7 will be combined into one. Network devices will use these two combined antenna ports to transmit data; therefore, terminal devices need to measure the CSI (Cost Indicator) under these two combined antenna ports. Figure 11 In the HBF architecture shown, each digital channel retains only its corresponding first analog channel subarray, second analog channel subarray, and third analog channel subarray, while the fourth analog channel subarray is turned off.

[0128] For another example, suppose N = 8, M i =2. Combining Figure 11 As shown, This indicates that antenna ports 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be combined into one antenna port, and antenna ports 5, 6, 7, and 8 will be combined into one antenna port. Network devices will use these two combined antenna ports to transmit data; therefore, terminal devices need to measure the CSI (Cost Indicator) under these two combined antenna ports. Figure 11 In the HBF architecture shown, each digital channel does not shut down any analog channel subarray.

[0129] ②a m,n 0 or a m a m For the agreement pre-specified or a m Once the network device is identified, it is configured and sent to the terminal device via signaling. For example... Among them, a m,n A value of 0 indicates that the nth antenna port does not participate in the merging process, a m,n For a m This indicates that the nth antenna port participates in the merging process, and the total transmit power on these participating antenna ports will be normalized.

[0130] In one possible implementation, A i There exists a m,n1 and a m,n2 a m,n1 >0, a m,n2 >0, and n1 is not equal to n2. In other words, a combined antenna port needs to be obtained by combining at least two antenna ports out of N antenna ports.

[0131] For example, This means that the first and second antenna ports will be combined into antenna port A, and the fifth and sixth antenna ports will be combined into antenna port B. In other words, antenna port A is obtained by combining two antenna ports, and antenna port B is obtained by combining two antenna ports.

[0132] In one possible implementation, for a m,n =0; where S m It is the set of ports before merging corresponding to the m-th merged port, and satisfies S m1 With S m2 The intersection of these sets is empty, and m1 and m2 are any two distinct merged port indices. In other words, different merged antenna ports are obtained by merging different antenna ports from N antenna ports.

[0133] For example, This means that the first and second antenna ports will be combined into antenna port A, and the fifth and sixth antenna ports will be combined into antenna port B. In other words, antenna port A and antenna port B are obtained by combining different antenna ports.

[0134] In one possible implementation, assume that the N ports form a vector x = [1, 1, ..., 1] of length N, consisting entirely of 1s. T M i The combined antenna ports can be represented as vectors.

[0135] In one possible implementation, the i-th merging matrix is ​​used to merge N antenna ports into M. i Each antenna port refers to: the i-th combining matrix used to combine the second channel vector into M. i The first channel vector is obtained from the measurements on the N antenna ports, and the second channel vector is obtained from the channel vectors on the N antenna ports. Based on this possible implementation, a merging matrix can be used to obtain the channel vectors under a channel shutdown pattern.

[0136] For example, assuming the terminal device has only one receiving port, the second channel vector on the N antenna ports can be represented as a channel vector H2 = [h1,…,h2] of length N. N ] T h n Let H2 represent the channel gain at the nth antenna port, which can be a complex number, 1 ≤ n ≤ N. Optionally, the terminal device sorts the N antenna ports according to a preset rule to obtain the above H2 = [h1, ..., h2]. N ] T .

[0137] In one possible implementation, the second channel vector is H2, and the i-th merging matrix is ​​A. i The i-th first channel vector is H 1,i H 1,i =A i×H2. Based on this possible implementation, it is beneficial to accurately obtain the channel vector under the channel shutdown pattern corresponding to the merging matrix.

[0138] In one possible implementation, the merging matrix can also be represented in other ways. For example, the reference signal configuration information can carry grouping information for N antenna ports, such as dividing the N antenna ports into L groups. Optionally, an antenna port belongs to at most one group. The merging matrix can be represented as a combination of L merging patterns, where the l-th merging pattern is a merging vector used to merge the antenna ports in the l-th group into one antenna port, thus fixing the final number of merged antenna ports at L. Compared to the generalized merging matrix described above, here each merged antenna port can only be merged from its corresponding group of antenna ports.

[0139] For example, it can be Figure 10 The antenna ports 1 to 4 corresponding to analog channels 1 to 4 are divided into antenna port group 1, and the antenna ports 5 to 8 corresponding to analog channels 5 to 8 are divided into antenna port group 2. The merging matrix can be represented as a combination of two merging patterns. The first merging pattern is used to merge antenna port group 1 into one antenna port. For example, the first merging pattern is P1 =

[1110] , which means merging antenna ports 1 to 3 into one antenna port. The second merging pattern is used to merge antenna port group 2 into one antenna port. For example, the first merging pattern is P2 =

[1110] , which means merging antenna ports 5 to 7 into one antenna port.

[0140] In one possible implementation, the network device may also send first indication information to the terminal device, which indicates K1 merging matrices. Correspondingly, the terminal device may also receive this first indication information. In this possible implementation, the K1 merging matrices are not fixed and can be indicated by the network device, allowing the terminal device more flexibility in determining the CSI under different channel shutdown patterns. Alternatively, the K1 merging matrices may be predefined by the protocol and do not require indication from the network device.

[0141] Optionally, the first indication information can be located in medium access control-control element (MAC-CE) signaling or downlink control information (DCI) signaling. Alternatively, the first indication information can be located in the CSI report configuration information.

[0142] Optionally, the K1 merged matrices are a subset of the K merged matrices. The first indication information indicates the index of the K1 merged matrices in the set of the K merged matrices. The K merged matrices are predefined by the protocol or indicated by the network device through the second indication information, and K is an integer greater than or equal to K1.

[0143] In this optional approach, the network device can pre-indicate multiple merging matrices to the terminal device, and then flexibly indicate the merging matrix that the terminal device needs to use based on requirements via the first indication information. Therefore, in this optional approach, the first indication information can be located in MAC-CE or DCI. This also increases the flexibility of the network device in indicating the merging matrix.

[0144] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information and the second indication information can be sent simultaneously, for example, both included in the CSIreport configuration information. For instance, a single CSI report configuration message may include both reference signal configuration information and the second indication information. The second indication information configures K=10 merging matrices. The network device can indicate the sequence numbers of the four merging matrices to the terminal device via a MAC-CE or DCI. The terminal device selects K1=4 merging matrices from the K=10 merging matrices to calculate the CSI and reports the CSI.

[0145] Optionally, if the reference signal configuration information is used to configure a reference signal, i.e., N1=1, then the second indication information can be located in the reference signal configuration information.

[0146] Alternatively, the second instruction information may also be included in information other than the CSI report configuration information and sent to the terminal device; this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0147] 904. The terminal device obtains K1 CSIs based on K1 first channel vectors.

[0148] The CSI may include one or more of CRI, SSBRI, RI, PMI, CQI, LI, L1-RSRP, and L1-SINR. For descriptions of CRI, SSBRI, RI, PMI, CQI, and LI, please refer to the relevant descriptions above, which will not be repeated here. In this embodiment, the terminal device can perform one-shot measurement or smoothing measurement on the reference signal to obtain K1 CSIs. For descriptions of one-shot measurement or smoothing measurement, please refer to the relevant descriptions above, which will not be repeated here.

[0149] 905. The terminal device sends K2 out of K1 CSIs to the network device, where K2 is a positive integer less than or equal to K1. Correspondingly, the network device can receive K2 out of the K1 CSIs from the terminal device.

[0150] For example, the terminal device determines five first channel vectors based on five combining matrices, and then determines five CSIs based on these five first channel vectors. The terminal device can send these five CSIs to the network device, or it can send a portion of these five CSIs to the network device.

[0151] In one possible implementation, K2 equals K1, which is all CSIs determined by the terminal device based on the reporting terminal device.

[0152] In one possible implementation, K2 is less than K1, and K2 CSIs can have the following cases:

[0153] ①K2 CSIs are the K2 CSIs with the largest benefit function among the K1 CSIs, where K2 is a positive integer.

[0154] Optionally, the network device can specify K2 to the terminal device. That is, the network device can specify to the terminal device how many CSIs need to be reported. Alternatively, K2 can be predefined by the protocol.

[0155] Terminal devices can map each CSI to a benefit function U according to certain rules, and select the K2 CSIs with the largest benefit functions to report to the network device. The specific correspondence between CSIs and benefit functions U can be predefined by the protocol, indicated by the network device, or implemented by the terminal device itself.

[0156] Alternatively, one implementation method is to use the benefit function U as the spectral efficiency achievable at a given bit error rate, which is related to RI and CQI in CSI. For example, U = RI * f(CQI), where f(CQI) represents the single-stream transmission spectral efficiency corresponding to that CQI.

[0157] ②K2 CSIs are one or more CSIs among K1 CSIs whose backsliding value of the benefit function is less than or equal to the first threshold, wherein the backsliding value of the benefit function of the first CSI is the ratio of the benefit function of the second CSI to the benefit function of the first CSI, and the second CSI is the CSI with the largest benefit function among K1 CSIs.

[0158] For example, if there are 5 CSIs among K1 CSIs whose backoff value of the benefit function is less than or equal to the first threshold, the terminal device can report 5 CSIs to the network device, or report some of the 5 CSIs to the network device.

[0159] Optionally, the benefit function of CSI is related to the RI and CQI in CSI.

[0160] Optionally, K2 can be determined by the terminal device itself, and the terminal device can report K2 to the network device through separate information. Alternatively, K2 can be predefined by the protocol.

[0161] Optionally, the first threshold can be indicated to the terminal device by the network device. Alternatively, the first threshold can be predefined by the protocol.

[0162] ③K2 CSIs are the CSIs with the smallest benefit function among the K1 CSIs whose benefit function backtracking value is less than or equal to the first threshold. The backtracking value of the benefit function of the first CSI is the ratio of the benefit function of the second CSI to the benefit function of the first CSI. The second CSI is the CSI with the largest benefit function among the K1 CSIs.

[0163] Optional, K2 equals 1.

[0164] Optionally, the benefit function of CSI is related to the RI and CQI in CSI.

[0165] Optionally, the first threshold can be indicated to the terminal device by the network device. Alternatively, the first threshold can be predefined by the protocol.

[0166] ④K2 CSIs are the CSIs with the largest benefit function among the K1 CSIs whose benefit function backtracking value is greater than or equal to the second threshold. The backtracking value of the benefit function of the first CSI is the ratio of the benefit function of the second CSI to the benefit function of the first CSI. The second CSI is the CSI with the largest benefit function among the K1 CSIs.

[0167] Optional, K2 equals 1.

[0168] Optionally, the benefit function of CSI is related to the RI and CQI in CSI.

[0169] Optionally, the second threshold can be indicated to the terminal device by the network device. Alternatively, the second threshold can be predefined by the protocol. Optionally, in ① to ④, the terminal device can also report the number of the merging matrix corresponding to K2 CSIs, so that the network device can know which channel shutdown pattern the reported CSI belongs to.

[0170] The implementation methods ① to ④ are conducive to saving CSI reporting costs.

[0171] In one possible implementation, when the terminal device reports K2 CSIs to the network device, some feedback quantities among the K2 CSIs can be reported differentially. For example, CQI among the CSIs can be reported differentially. That is, the CQI of the first CSI (or the CSI with the largest benefit function) is reported first, then the difference between the CQI of the second CSI (or the CSI with the second largest benefit function) and the previous one is reported, and so on.

[0172] It can be seen that, in Figure 9In the described method, under the HBF architecture, N antenna ports can correspond to N analog channel subarrays. One digital channel corresponds to multiple analog channel subarrays, and one digital channel corresponds to one antenna port. A merging matrix is ​​used to merge the N analog channel subarrays into multiple digital channels; therefore, one merging matrix corresponds one-to-one with one analog channel shutdown pattern. Based on the merging matrix corresponding to the analog channel shutdown pattern and the measurement results on all analog channel subarrays, the CSI corresponding to multiple digital channels under that analog channel shutdown pattern can be obtained. It can be seen that, based on... Figure 9 The described method eliminates the need for network devices to transmit downlink reference signals for every analog channel shutdown pattern. Instead, it requires only transmitting a common downlink reference signal. Terminal devices can acquire CSI for more analog channel shutdown patterns with limited pilot overhead. In a full-plane architecture, N antenna ports can correspond to N digital channels. Shutting down some digital channels allows switching the corresponding antenna elements to the remaining digital channels, thus preserving the number of available antenna elements to maintain maximum antenna array gain. A merging matrix is ​​used to merge the N digital channels, i.e., shutting down some digital channels and switching the corresponding antenna elements to the remaining digital channels. Therefore, one merging matrix corresponds one-to-one with one digital channel shutdown pattern. Based on the merging matrix corresponding to the digital channel shutdown pattern and the measurement results on all digital channels, the CSI for that digital channel shutdown pattern can be obtained. It is evident that based on... Figure 9 The described method eliminates the need for network devices to send downlink reference signals for every digital channel shutdown pattern. Instead, it only requires sending a common downlink reference signal, enabling terminal devices to obtain CSI for more digital channel shutdown patterns with limited pilot overhead.

[0173] The following are two specific examples. Figure 9 The described method will be further explained as follows:

[0174] Example 1: Dynamic channel shutdown at the analog channel granularity under HBF architecture

[0175] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating another channel state information feedback method provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 12 As shown, the channel state information feedback method includes the following steps 1201 to 1207.

[0176] 1201. The network device sends a CSI report configuration information to the terminal device. The CSI report configuration information includes reference signal configuration information and second indication information. The reference signal configuration information is used to configure 4 CSI-RS, and the 4 CSI-RS correspond to 8 antenna ports. The second indication information indicates K combining matrices.

[0177] like Figure 11As shown, assume the network device's radio frequency unit includes two digital channels, and each digital channel is associated with an analog channel divided into four time-domain non-overlapping subarrays. There are 15 possible analog channel shutdown patterns corresponding to a single digital channel: {0001, 0010, 0100, 1000, 0011, 0101, 0110, 1001, 1010, 1100, 0111, 1110, 1111}. Here, 1 indicates the corresponding subarray is on, and 0 indicates the corresponding subarray is off.

[0178] Antenna ports 1 to 8 correspond to respectively Figure 11 The simulation channel subarrays are 1 to 8. The eight antenna ports are divided into four antenna port groups, each containing two antenna ports. Each antenna port group corresponds to one CSI-RS. Different antenna port groups correspond to different time-domain locations. Antenna port group 1 includes antenna port 1 and antenna port 5. Antenna port group 2 includes antenna port 2 and antenna port 6. Antenna port group 3 includes antenna port 7. Antenna port group 4 includes antenna port 4 and antenna port 8.

[0179] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information can also be configured with only one CSI-RS, corresponding to eight antenna ports. In this example, we will describe the configuration with four CSI-RS.

[0180] The overall merge matrix has the following two cases:

[0181] Scenario 1: Assuming that each digital port uses the same merging method, there are a total of 15 merging matrices, each corresponding to one of the above analog channel opening patterns.

[0182] Scenario 2: If different digital ports can be merged in different ways, then there are a total of 15^2 merging matrices.

[0183] Optionally, K is selected from these total merge matrices. For example, for case one, the K merge matrices are all the merge matrices, or the K merge matrices are a subset of the 15 merge matrices, such as the merge matrices corresponding to {0001, 0010, 0011, 1100, 0111, 1110, 1111}.

[0184] 1202. The network device transmits 4 CSI-RS signals on 8 antenna ports.

[0185] 1203. The terminal device measures the four reference signals transmitted on the eight antenna ports to obtain the second channel vector on the eight antenna ports.

[0186] 1204. The network device sends a first indication information to the terminal device via MAC CE signaling or DCI signaling. The first indication information indicates the sequence number of the K1 merging matrices in the set of K merging matrices.

[0187] Where K1 can be equal to K, or K1 can be less than K.

[0188] 1205. The terminal device determines K1 first channel vectors based on K1 merging matrices and the second channel vector.

[0189] Alternatively, the network device may not send the first indication information. The terminal device, by default, calculates and reports K CSIs based on K merging matrices and the second channel vector, i.e., K = K1.

[0190] Alternatively, the network device may not send the first indication information; instead, the terminal device may select K1 merging matrices from the K merging matrices to calculate the CSI and report it. This example illustrates the scenario where the network device sends the first indication information.

[0191] Assume K1 is 2. The terminal device is based on the first merge matrix. The first channel vector is determined by the second channel vector H2. 1,1 = A1 × H2. A1 represents antenna ports 1 and 3 combined into one antenna port A, and antenna ports 5 and 7 combined into one antenna port B. Network devices will use these two combined antenna ports to transmit data; therefore, terminal devices need to measure the CSI under these two combined antenna ports. That is, in Figure 11 In the HBF architecture shown, each digital channel retains only the first and third analog channel subarrays, while the other analog channel subarrays are turned off.

[0192] Terminal devices are based on the second merging matrix The first channel vector is determined by the second channel vector H2. 1,2 = A2 × H2. A2 indicates that the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd antenna ports will be combined into one antenna port, and the 5th, 6th, and 7th antenna ports will be combined into one antenna port. Network devices will use these two combined antenna ports to transmit data; therefore, terminal devices need to measure the CSI under these two combined antenna ports. That is, in Figure 11 In the HBF architecture shown, each digital channel retains only the first, second, and third analog channel subarrays, while the fourth analog channel subarray is turned off.

[0193] 1206. The terminal device obtains K1 CSIs based on K1 first channel vectors.

[0194] 1207. The terminal device sends K2 out of K1 channel state information (CSI), where K2 is a positive integer less than or equal to K1. Correspondingly, the network device can receive K2 out of K1 CSI from the terminal device.

[0195] Optionally, K2 = K1.

[0196] Optionally, when K2 < K1, the terminal device calculates the corresponding spectral efficiency (SE) for the CSI corresponding to K1 combining matrices. i = RI i ×R [[ID=eleven]] i ×Q i . Among them, RI i is the RI in the CSI corresponding to the i-th combining matrix, and R i , Q i are respectively the coding rate and modulation order corresponding to the CQI in the CSI corresponding to the i-th combining matrix. There are several cases for the K2 CSI:

[0197] ① The K2 CSI are the K2 CSI with the largest benefit function among the K1 CSI. The terminal device also indicates to the network device the numbers of the combining matrices corresponding to the reported CSI, so that the network device can know which channel shutdown pattern the reported CSI belongs to.

[0198] ② The terminal device determines the maximum benefit function SE max , and calculates the fallback value β i = SE max / SE i for each CSI. The terminal device finds one or more CSI that satisfy β i ≤β th1 , and reports the one or more CSI to the network device. Among them, β th1 is a preset threshold, which can be configured by the network device in the CSI report. The terminal device also indicates to the network device the numbers of the combining matrices corresponding to the reported CSI, so that the network device can know which channel shutdown pattern the reported CSI belongs to. [[ID=eleven]]

[0199] ③ The terminal device determines the maximum benefit function SE max , and calculates the fallback value β i = SE max / SE <element> i , finds the CSI with the smallest benefit function among the CSI that satisfy β i ≤β th1 , and reports the CSI to the network device. Among them, β th1This is a preset threshold, which can be configured by the network device in the CSI report. The terminal device also indicates to the network device the number of the merge matrix corresponding to the reported CSI, so that the network device can know which channel shutdown pattern the reported CSI belongs to.

[0200] ④ Determine the maximum benefit function SE for terminal equipment max And calculate the backlash value β of the benefit function for each CSI. i =SE max / SE i Find the one that satisfies β i ≥β th2 The CSI with the highest benefit function among the CSIs is reported to the network device. Where β... th2 This is a preset threshold, which can be configured by the network device in the CSI report. The terminal device also indicates to the network device the number of the merge matrix corresponding to the reported CSI, so that the network device can know which channel shutdown pattern the reported CSI belongs to.

[0201] Example 2: Dynamic channel shutdown at the digital channel granularity in a full-plane architecture

[0202] Please see Figure 13 , Figure 13 This is a flowchart illustrating another channel state information feedback method provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 13 As shown, the channel state information feedback method includes the following steps 1301 to 1307. Wherein:

[0203] 1301. The network device sends a CSI report configuration information to the terminal device. The CSI report configuration information includes reference signal configuration information and second indication information. The reference signal configuration information is used to configure one CSI-RS, and one CSI-RS corresponds to 64 antenna ports. The second indication information indicates K combining matrices.

[0204] The reference signal configuration information can also be configured for multiple CSI-RS. This example uses the reference signal configuration information to configure one CSI-RS. Each digital channel corresponds one-to-one with an antenna port.

[0205] 1302. The network device transmits one CSI-RS on 64 antenna ports.

[0206] 1303. The terminal device measures a reference signal transmitted on 64 antenna ports to obtain the second channel vector on the 64 antenna ports.

[0207] 1304. The network device sends a first indication information to the terminal device via MAC CE signaling or DCI or signaling, the first indication information indicating the sequence number of K1 merging matrices in the set of K merging matrices.

[0208] 1305. The terminal device determines K1 first channel vectors based on K1 merging matrices and the second channel vector.

[0209] Assuming K1 is 4, the terminal device determines four first channel vectors based on merging matrices 1 to 4 and the second channel vector. Merging matrix 1 corresponds to... Figure 4 The digital channel shutdown + antenna switching mode 1 is shown. Merging matrix 2 corresponds to... Figure 5 The digital channel shutdown + antenna switching mode 2 is shown. Merging matrix 3 corresponds to... Figure 6 The digital channel shutdown + antenna switching mode shown is 3. The merging matrix 4 corresponds to... Figure 7 The digital channel shutdown + antenna switching mode 4 is shown. The terminal device can determine the CSI in these four digital channel shutdown + antenna switching modes based on the four first channel vectors.

[0210] Each of the K merging matrices is divided into 8 sub-matrices. Each sub-matrice is responsible for channel shutdown and antenna merging of the subarray consisting of 4 adjacent channels in V dimension and 2 adjacent channels in H dimension. The 8 subarrays handled by the 8 sub-matrices do not overlap, corresponding to a total of 64 digital channels.

[0211] Each submatrix in merge matrix 1 is Antenna ports 1 to 8 correspond to respectively Figure 4 Digital channels 1 through 8 are represented in submatrix A. 1i This indicates that antenna port 1 and antenna port 3 are combined into one antenna port, antenna port 2 and antenna port 4 are combined into one antenna port, antenna port 5 and antenna port 7 are combined into one antenna port, and antenna port 6 and antenna port 8 are combined into one antenna port.

[0212] Each submatrix in merge matrix 2 is Antenna ports 1 to 8 correspond to respectively Figure 5 Digital channels 1 through 8 are represented in submatrix A. 2i This indicates that antenna ports 1, 3, 5, and 7 are combined into one antenna port, and antenna ports 2, 4, 6, and 8 are combined into one antenna port.

[0213] Each submatrix in merge matrix 3 is Antenna ports 1 to 8 correspond to respectively Figure 6 Digital channels 1 through 8 are represented in submatrix A. 3iThis indicates that antenna ports 1 through 4 are combined into one antenna port, and antenna ports 5 through 8 are combined into one antenna port.

[0214] Each submatrix in merged matrix 4 is A 4i =[1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1]. Antenna ports 1 to 8 correspond to respectively Figure 7 Digital channels 1 through 8 are represented in submatrix A. 4i This indicates that antenna ports 1 through 8 are combined into one antenna port.

[0215] 1306. The terminal device obtains K1 CSIs based on K1 first channel vectors.

[0216] 1307. The terminal device sends K2 out of K1 Channel State Information (CSI) messages to the network device, where K2 is a positive integer less than or equal to K1. Correspondingly, the network device can receive K2 out of the K1 Channel State Information (CSI) messages from the terminal device.

[0217] The descriptions of K1 and K2 in Example 2 can be found in Example 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0218] It is understood that, in order to achieve the functions in the above embodiments, the network device and terminal device include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to perform each function. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that, based on the units and method steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed in this application, this application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0219] Figure 14 and Figure 15 The diagram illustrates the possible structures of communication devices provided in embodiments of this application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of terminal devices or network devices in the above method embodiments, and thus also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments. In the embodiments of this application, the communication device can be as follows: Figure 8 One of the terminal devices 120a-120j shown can also be as follows: Figure 8 The network devices 110a or 110b shown can also be modules (such as chips) applied to terminal devices or network devices.

[0220] like Figure 14 As shown, the communication device 1400 includes a processing unit 1410 and a transceiver unit 1420. The communication device 1400 is used to implement the above-mentioned... Figure 9 The methods illustrated in this embodiment demonstrate the functions of the terminal device or network device.

[0221] When the communication device 1400 is used to implement Figure 9 In the method embodiment shown, the terminal device functions as follows: the transceiver unit 1420 receives reference signal configuration information from the network device, which is used to configure N1 reference signals, where N1 is a positive integer and the N1 reference signals correspond to N antenna ports, where N is an integer greater than 1; the processing unit 1410 determines K1 first channel vectors based on K1 combining matrices and the measurement results of the N1 reference signals on the N antenna ports; and obtains K1 channel state information (CSI) based on the K1 first channel vectors; the transceiver unit 1420 is also used to send K2 of the K1 CSIs to the network device.

[0222] When the communication device 1400 is used to implement Figure 9 In the method embodiment shown, the network device functions as follows: the transceiver unit 1420 is used to send reference signal configuration information to the terminal device, the reference signal configuration information being used to configure N1 reference signals, the N1 reference signals corresponding to N antenna ports; and is also used to send N1 reference signals on the N antenna ports; and is also used to receive K2 CSIs from K1 Channel State Information (CSI) from the terminal device; the processing unit 1410 is used to process the data.

[0223] For a more detailed description of the processing unit 1410 and the transceiver unit 1420, please refer to [the relevant documentation]. Figure 9 The relevant descriptions in the method embodiments shown are directly obtained and will not be repeated here.

[0224] like Figure 15 As shown, the communication device 1500 includes a processor 1510 and an interface circuit 1520. The processor 1510 and the interface circuit 1520 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 1520 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1500 may also include a memory 1530 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1510, or storing input data required by the processor 1510 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after the processor 1510 executes instructions.

[0225] When the communication device 1500 is used to achieve Figure 9 In the method shown, the processor 1510 is used to implement the functions of the processing unit 1410, and the interface circuit 1520 is used to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 1420.

[0226] When the aforementioned communication device is a chip applied to a terminal device, the terminal device chip implements the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiments. The terminal device chip receives information from other modules (such as an RF module or antenna) in the terminal device, the information being sent to the terminal device by the network device; or, the terminal device chip sends information to other modules (such as an RF module or antenna) in the terminal device, the information being sent to the network device by the terminal device.

[0227] When the aforementioned communication device is a module applied to a network device, the network device module implements the functions of the network device in the above method embodiments. The network device module receives information from other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) within the network device; this information is sent from the terminal device to the network device. Alternatively, the network device module sends information to other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) within the network device; this information is sent from the network device to the terminal device. The network device module here can be the baseband chip of the network device, or a DU (Digital Unit) or other modules. The DU here can be a DU under an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture.

[0228] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of this application may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0229] The method steps in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can consist of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disks, portable hard disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and storage medium can reside in an ASIC. Additionally, the ASIC can reside in a network device or terminal device. Alternatively, the processor and storage medium can exist as discrete components in the network device or terminal device.

[0230] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are performed entirely or partially. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user equipment, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access 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, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; it can also be an optical medium, such as a digital video optical disc; or it can be a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or may include both types of storage media.

[0231] In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features of different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

Claims

1. A channel state information feedback method, executed by a communication device, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive reference signal configuration information and indication information from network devices, wherein the reference signal configuration information is used for configuration. The reference signal, the The value is a positive integer. Each reference signal corresponds to One antenna port, the The value is an integer greater than 1, and the indication information is used to indicate that the N antenna ports should be port-merged; based on The merged matrix and the aforementioned The antenna ports described above The measurement results of the reference signal determine The first channel vector, the The first merged matrix in the nth merged matrix A merging matrix is ​​used to combine the... The antenna ports are merged into One antenna port; the The first channel vector in the first channel vector The first channel vector is the Channel vectors on each antenna port; Less than or equal to the And the The value is a positive integer. It is a positive integer. ; Based on the above The first channel vector is obtained as follows Channel Status Information (CSI); Send the network device In CSI One CSI, the Less than or equal to the Positive integers.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first A merging matrix is ​​used to combine the... The antenna ports are merged into The antenna port is specifically: the first... A merging matrix is ​​used to merge the second channel vector into The first channel vector on each antenna port, the second channel vector is based on the... The measurement results obtained from each antenna port Channel vectors on each antenna port.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The Each antenna port is divided into One antenna port group, the The integer is greater than 1. Different antenna port groups in each antenna port group correspond to different time-domain locations. Each antenna port group includes [the following]. One antenna port, the It is a positive integer and satisfies .

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, ;or, It is an integer greater than 1.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second channel vector is The first The first channel vector is The The For the first A merged matrix, , wherein It is a merged matrix No. Line 1 The elements of the column.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The It is 1 or 0; or, the 0 or The As specified in the agreement or as stated Configured for the network device.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The There exists and , ， ,and Not equal to .

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that, for , a m,n = 0; where, It is the first The set of ports before merging corresponding to the merged ports, and satisfying the following conditions: and The intersection of these sets is an empty set. and It can be any two different merged port numbers.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive first indication information from the network device, the first indication information being used to instruct the A merged matrix.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The The merged matrices are In the merged matrix A merged matrix, the first indication information indicating the The merged matrices are in The index of the set composed of merged matrices, wherein the The merging matrix is ​​either predefined by the protocol or indicated by the network device through second indication information. greater than or equal to the Integers.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The Smaller than the ,in: The The CSI is the The CSI with the largest benefit function A CSI, wherein the benefit function is related to the rank indicator RI and the channel quality indicator CQI in the CSI; or... The The CSI is the One or more CSIs whose benefit function regression value is less than or equal to a first threshold, wherein the regression value of the benefit function of the first CSI is the ratio of the benefit function of the second CSI to the benefit function of the first CSI, and the second CSI is the... The CSI with the largest benefit function among all CSIs, where the benefit function is related to the RI and CQI in the CSI; or... The The CSI is the Among the CSIs, the CSI with the smallest benefit function among those whose backlash value is less than or equal to a first threshold is the CSI with the smallest benefit function. The backlash value of the benefit function of the first CSI is the ratio of the benefit function of the second CSI to the benefit function of the first CSI. The second CSI is the... The CSI with the largest benefit function among all CSIs, where the benefit function is related to the RI and CQI in the CSI.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The The combined antenna port and Each digital channel corresponds one-to-one with the aforementioned Each antenna port and Each analog channel subarray corresponds one-to-one, and one digital channel corresponds to one or more analog channel subarrays.

13. A channel state information feedback method, executed by a communication device, characterized in that, The method includes: Send reference signal configuration information and indication information to the terminal device, wherein the reference signal configuration information is used for configuration. The reference signal, the The value is a positive integer. Each reference signal corresponds to One antenna port, the The value is an integer greater than 1, and the indication information is used to indicate that the N antenna ports should be port-merged; In the The antenna port transmits the above One reference signal; Receive from the terminal device Channel State Information (CSI) One CSI, the Less than or equal to the positive integers, the Each CSI is based on The first channel vector is obtained, the The first channel vector is based on The merged matrix and the aforementioned The measurements were obtained from the antenna ports. The first merged matrix in the nth merged matrix A merging matrix is ​​used to combine the... The antenna ports are merged into One antenna port; the The first channel vector in the first channel vector The first channel vector is the Channel vectors on each antenna port; Less than or equal to the And the The value is a positive integer. It is a positive integer. .

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The first A merging matrix is ​​used to combine the... The antenna ports are merged into The antenna port is specifically: the first... A merging matrix is ​​used to merge the second channel vector into The first channel vector on each antenna port, the second channel vector is based on the... The measurement results obtained from each antenna port Channel vectors on each antenna port.

15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The Each antenna port is divided into One antenna port group, the The integer is greater than 1. Different antenna port groups in each antenna port group correspond to different time-domain locations. Each antenna port group includes [the following]. One antenna port, the It is a positive integer and satisfies .

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, ;or, It is an integer greater than 1.

17. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The second channel vector is The first The first channel vector is The The For the first A merged matrix, , wherein .

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that, The It is 1 or 0; or, the 0 or The As specified in the agreement or as stated This is determined for the communication device.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that, The There exists and , ， ,and Not equal to .

20. The method according to any one of claim 17 or 18, characterized in that, for , a m,n = 0; where, It is the first The set of ports before merging corresponding to the merged ports, and satisfying the following conditions: and The intersection of these sets is an empty set. and It can be any two different merged port numbers.

21. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a first indication message to the terminal device, the first indication message being used to instruct the terminal device to send a first indication message to the terminal device. A merged matrix.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that, The The merged matrices are In the merged matrix A merged matrix, the first indication information indicating the The merged matrices are in The index of the set composed of merged matrices, wherein the The K merging matrices are either predefined by the protocol or determined by the communication device. greater than or equal to the Integers.

23. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that, The Smaller than the ,in: The The CSI is the The CSI with the largest benefit function A CSI, wherein the benefit function is related to the rank indicator RI and the channel quality indicator CQI in the CSI; or... The The CSI is the One or more CSIs whose benefit function regression value is less than or equal to a first threshold, wherein the regression value of the benefit function of the first CSI is the ratio of the benefit function of the second CSI to the benefit function of the first CSI, and the second CSI is the... The CSI with the largest benefit function among all CSIs, where the benefit function is related to the RI and CQI in the CSI; or... The The CSI is the Among the CSIs, the CSI with the smallest benefit function among those whose backlash value is less than or equal to a first threshold is the CSI with the smallest benefit function. The backlash value of the benefit function of the first CSI is the ratio of the benefit function of the second CSI to the benefit function of the first CSI. The second CSI is the... The CSI with the largest benefit function among all CSIs, where the benefit function is related to the RI and CQI in the CSI.

24. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that, The The combined antenna port and Each digital channel corresponds one-to-one with the aforementioned Each antenna port and Each analog channel subarray corresponds one-to-one, and one digital channel corresponds to one or more analog channel subarrays.

25. A communication apparatus comprising a module for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, or comprising a module for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 24.

26. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices besides the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices besides the communication device. The processor is used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 12 through logic circuits or executable code instructions, or the processor is used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 13 to 24 through logic circuits or executable code instructions.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 12, or the method as described in any one of claims 13 to 24.

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