A beam switching method and device for an intermediate node

Abstract

The present application discloses a beam switching method for an intermediate node, which is used in a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system includes a network device, an intermediate node device, and a user equipment. On the user node side, control information is received, including an intermediate node beam switching indication. Within a first threshold duration after receiving the control information, the downlink control signaling and / or data are forwarded by using the beam regulated by the intermediate node before switching. After the first threshold duration is accumulated with a second threshold duration after receiving the control information, the downlink control signaling and / or data are forwarded by using the beam regulated by the intermediate node after switching. The present application also includes a device and a system for implementing the method. The present application solves the problem of loss of downlink control signaling and downlink data during the beam switching process of the intermediate node.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of mobile communication technologies, and in particular, to a beam switching method and device for an intermediate node. Background Art

[0002] In the design of the NR system, an important issue related to dynamic analog beams is that there needs to be a certain interval between the downlink control channel (PDCCH) and the downlink data channel (PDSCH). Since the PDCCH contains the indication information of the transmission beam of the PDSCH, this gap is used to decode the PDCCH and to switch from the analog beamforming of the PDCCH to the analog beamforming of the PDSCH. Considering that the beam switching time of the base station antenna is relatively short (on the order of nanoseconds), which is less than the cyclic prefix (CP) length, the impact on performance can be negligible. However, the decoding of the PDCCH requires a certain amount of time (from the order of symbols to the order of time slots, depending on the capabilities of the terminal device UE). Therefore, during the process of the UE demodulating and decoding the PDCCH, if the gap between the PDSCH and the PDCCH is small, the UE cannot obtain the transmission beam indication information for receiving the PDSCH. In order to receive the information of the PDSCH, a threshold for distinguishing whether the PDCCH demodulation and decoding is completed or not is defined in the standard. If the time slot length between the PDCCH and the PDSCH is less than the threshold, the UE starts to receive the PDSCH before the PDCCH demodulation and decoding is completed and cannot obtain the beam indication from the PDCCH. At this time, the PDSCH can be received using a default beam. If the interval between the PDCCH and the PDSCH is greater than the threshold, the beam indicated by the PDCCH is used for receiving the PDSCH.

[0003] After introducing intermediate nodes such as repeaters, smart repeaters, and intelligent reflecting surfaces (RIS) into the mobile communication NR system, if these intermediate nodes can implement the functions of beam management and switching, the delay of beam switching needs to be considered. After the network device sends control information to the intermediate node through the control link, after the intermediate node receives the control information, it takes a certain amount of time for beam conversion. During this period, the terminal cannot receive data and control information from the intermediate node, resulting in the loss of downlink control signaling and downlink data. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application proposes a beam switching method and device for an intermediate node. When dealing with the beam switching between the PDCCH and the PDSCH and the beam switching between different beams of the PDSCH, considering the delay impact brought by the beam switching duration, it is determined whether to receive data during the switching time and what beam to use for receiving, so as to solve the problem of the loss of downlink control signaling and downlink data during the beam switching process of the intermediate node.

[0005] This application proposes a beam switching method for an intermediate node, which is used in a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system includes a network device, an intermediate node device, and a user equipment; the service signal sent by the network device is transmitted to the user equipment through the intermediate node device.

[0006] In a first aspect, a beam switching method for an intermediate node proposed in an embodiment of this application, which is used on the network side, includes the following steps:

[0007] Send control information, including an intermediate node beam switching indication;

[0008] Within a first threshold duration after sending the control information, use the beam regulated by the intermediate node before switching to send downlink control signaling and / or data;

[0009] After the first threshold duration is accumulated with a second threshold duration after sending the control information, use the beam regulated by the intermediate node after switching to send downlink control signaling and / or data.

[0010] Preferably, within the first threshold duration after sending the control information and before the first threshold duration is accumulated with the second threshold duration, do not send downlink control signaling and / or data.

[0011] Preferably, within the first threshold duration after sending the control information and before the first threshold duration is accumulated with the second threshold duration, do not send back downlink control signaling and / or data to the intermediate node.

[0012] Preferably, the method further includes the following steps: within the first threshold duration after sending the control information and before the first threshold duration is accumulated with the second threshold duration, send downlink control signaling and / or data through the network side beam.

[0013] Preferably, the method further includes the following steps: send indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration to the terminal device.

[0014] In a second aspect, a beam switching method for an intermediate node proposed in an embodiment of this application, which is used on the intermediate node side, includes the following steps:

[0015] Receive control information, including an intermediate node beam switching indication;

[0016] Within a first threshold duration after receiving the control information, use the beam regulated by the intermediate node before switching to forward downlink control signaling and / or data;

[0017] After the first threshold duration is accumulated with a second threshold duration after receiving the control information, use the beam regulated by the intermediate node after switching to forward downlink control signaling and / or data.

[0018] Preferably, within the first threshold duration after receiving the control information, the intermediate node completes the demodulation and decoding of the control information.

[0019] Preferably, after the first threshold duration and within the period from the first threshold duration plus the second threshold duration after receiving the control information, the intermediate node completes beam switching.

[0020] In a third aspect, a beam switching method for an intermediate node proposed by an embodiment of the present application, which is used on the terminal side, includes the following steps:

[0021] Receiving indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration;

[0022] Within the first threshold duration after the network device sends the control information, receiving downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the intermediate node before switching;

[0023] After the first threshold duration plus the second threshold duration after the network device sends the control information, receiving downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the intermediate node after switching.

[0024] Preferably, within the period from after the first threshold duration to the first threshold duration plus the second threshold duration after the network device sends the control information, do not receive downlink control signaling and / or data, or receive downlink control signaling and / or data through the network-side beam.

[0025] Preferably, the indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration comes from the forwarding link or directly from the network device.

[0026] In any one of the first, second, and third aspects of the present application, preferably, the first threshold duration is not less than the maximum time for the intermediate node to complete the demodulation and decoding of the control link control information from the network side.

[0027] In any one of the first, second, and third aspects of the present application, preferably, the second threshold duration is not less than the maximum time required for the intermediate node to perform beam switching.

[0028] In any one of the first, second, and third aspects of the present application, preferably, the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration are represented as the number of time slots or symbols corresponding to different subcarriers.

[0029] In any one of the first, second, and third aspects of the present application, preferably, the indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration is transmitted by at least one of the intermediate nodes to the network device.

[0030] In any of the embodiments of the first, second, and third aspects of the present application, preferably, before the above steps, the following steps are further included: determining the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration according to the characterization data of the processing capabilities of one or more intermediate nodes.

[0031] Further preferably, the characterization data of the processing capabilities is transmitted by at least one of the intermediate nodes to the network device.

[0032] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, disposed on the network side, for implementing the method described in any one of the first aspects of the present application. At least one module in the communication device is used for at least one of the following functions: sending the control information, determining the first threshold duration and the second threshold duration, sending downlink control signaling and / or data.

[0033] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, disposed on an intermediate node, for implementing the method described in any one of the second aspects of the present application. At least one module in the communication device is used for at least one of the following functions: receiving the control information, determining the first threshold duration and the second threshold duration, forwarding downlink control signaling and / or data.

[0034] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, disposed on the terminal side, for implementing the method described in any one of the second aspects of the present application. At least one module in the communication device is used for at least one of the following functions: receiving the indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration, receiving downlink control signaling and / or data from the network device or the forwarding link.

[0035] For the devices implementing the fourth, fifth, and sixth aspects of the present application, the present application further provides a communication device, including: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor. When the computer program is executed by the processor, the steps of the method described in any embodiment of the present application are implemented.

[0036] For the devices implementing the fourth, fifth, and sixth aspects of the present application, the present application further provides a computer-readable medium, on which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the steps of the method described in any embodiment of the present application are implemented.

[0037] In a seventh aspect, the present application further provides a mobile communication system, including at least one network device described in any embodiment of the present application, at least one intermediate node described in any embodiment of the present application. Further, it includes at least one terminal device described in any embodiment of the present application.

[0038] The above at least one technical solution adopted in the embodiments of the present application can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0039] When the present invention is applied to a mobile communication system with beam switching delay at an intermediate node, during the beam switching process, the base station and the intermediate node achieve time slot alignment. It is clear how the base station determines the timing of the intermediate node's beam switching when the base station sends control information on the control link to instruct the intermediate node to perform beam switching, and how the base station controls the scheduling of control information and data for the terminals on the forwarding link during the intermediate node's beam switching process. On the one hand, it can effectively solve the problem that during the beam switching process caused by the introduction of the intermediate node, the base station and the intermediate node have inconsistent understandings of the beams regulated before and after beam switching. On the other hand, it also solves the problem that during the beam switching process caused by the introduction of the intermediate node, the terminal cannot receive beam information, and thus cannot receive and demodulate the control information and data on the forwarding link. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present application, and constitute a part of the present application. The illustrative embodiments of the present application and their descriptions are used to explain the present application, and do not constitute an improper limitation of the present application. In the drawings:

[0041] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of a multi-antenna wireless communication system provided with an intermediate node;

[0042] Figure 2 It is a timing diagram of an embodiment of the method of the present application;

[0043] Figure 3 It is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present application for a network device;

[0044] Figure 4 It is another timing diagram of an embodiment of the method of the present application;

[0045] Figure 5 It is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present application for an intermediate node;

[0046] Figure 6 It is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present application for a terminal device;

[0047] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a network device;

[0048] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an intermediate node;

[0049] Figure 9 It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a terminal device;

[0050] Figure 10 It is a schematic structural diagram of a network device of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 11 is a block diagram of an intermediate node of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 12 is a block diagram of a terminal device of the present invention. Detailed implementation manners

[0053] To make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the technical solutions of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with specific embodiments of the present application and the corresponding drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0054] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings.

[0055] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-antenna wireless communication system provided with an intermediate node.

[0056] It should be noted that the intermediate node of the present application controls the waveform parameters of electromagnetic waves during propagation in a communication channel by means of reflection or refraction, etc. to improve the performance of the communication system, and is not limited to the use of intelligent metasurface technology only.

[0057] After introducing intermediate nodes such as repeaters, intelligent repeaters, and intelligent metasurfaces in a mobile communication NR system, if these intermediate nodes can implement the functions of beam management and switching, the beam switching delay needs to be considered. For example, the beam switching delay of an intelligent metasurface regulated by a diode can reach the microsecond level, and the beam switching delay of an intelligent metasurface regulated by liquid crystal can reach the millisecond level. The above-mentioned beam switching duration cannot be ignored. There is a control link between the network device and the intermediate node for controlling the beam direction of the intermediate node, and there is also a backhaul link between the network device and the intermediate node for sending a backhaul signal to the intermediate node and then forwarding it to the terminal device. After the network device sends control information to the intermediate node through the control link, after the intermediate node receives the control information, it takes a certain amount of time for beam conversion. During this period, the terminal cannot receive data and control information from the intermediate node, etc., resulting in the loss of downlink control signaling and downlink data.

[0058] Figure 2 is a timing diagram of an embodiment of the method of the present application. The embodiment of the present application provides a beam selection measurement reporting method for use in a wireless communication system, where the wireless communication system includes a network device, an intermediate node device, and a user equipment; the service signal sent by the network device is transmitted to the user equipment through the intermediate node device.

[0059] As shown in the figure, a beam switching indication method and device for an intermediate node proposed in this application. The first threshold duration is the threshold for the intermediate node to complete the demodulation and decoding of the control link control information sent from the base station, and the second threshold duration is the threshold for the time delay required for the intermediate node to perform beam switching. The intermediate node reports the parameter representing the processing ability of the intermediate node or the information of the first threshold duration and the second threshold duration to the network device.

[0060] The first threshold duration and the second threshold duration define different values according to the capabilities of the intermediate node, and the values are the number of time slots or symbols corresponding to different subcarriers. Within the time of the first threshold duration after the intermediate node receives the control information of the control link, the intermediate node still uses the beam before switching to forward the link control information and data.

[0061] After the first threshold duration after the intermediate node receives the control link control information, the intermediate node accumulates the second threshold duration to perform the switching of the forward link beam. After the first threshold duration + the second threshold duration after the intermediate node receives the control link control information, the intermediate node uses the beam indicated by the control link control information to forward the link control information and data.

[0062] The time slots of the base station and the intermediate node are aligned. The base station does not send downlink control signaling and / or data within the second threshold duration after the first threshold duration of sending the control link, or uses the beam of the base station to send data and control information within the second threshold duration after the first threshold duration.

[0063] The terminal receives the downlink control signaling or downlink data on the time-frequency resources of the forward link indicated by the base station using the beam from the intermediate node or the beam from the base station of the indicated forward link.

[0064] Next, it further explains how to define the first threshold duration as the threshold set for the intermediate node to complete the demodulation and decoding of the control link control information sent from the base station.

[0065] Preferably, the first threshold duration is not less than the maximum time for the intermediate node to complete the demodulation and decoding of the control link control information from the network side. For example, according to intermediate nodes with different capabilities, the value of the first threshold is defined as the number of time slots or symbols corresponding to different subcarriers. For example, the unit is the number of symbols.

[0066] The duration of the first threshold is the threshold for PDCCH demodulation and decoding defined by the intermediate node according to the processing capacity of the intermediate node. Preferably, when the subcarrier spacing is 60 kHz, the values of the first threshold are defined as 7, 14, and 28 symbols, and when the subcarrier spacing is 120 kHz, the values of the first threshold are defined as 14 and 28 symbols. The duration of the first threshold is the time for the intermediate node to receive and decode the PDCCH, and the intermediate node does not yet know the beam information after the conversion of the intermediate node indicated by the control link.

[0067]

[0068] The following further describes how to define the second threshold, which is the threshold set for the delay required for the intermediate node to perform beam switching. Preferably, the duration of the second threshold is not less than the maximum time required for the intermediate node to perform beam switching. The second threshold defines different values according to the capabilities of the intermediate node, and the values are the number of time slots or symbols corresponding to different subcarriers.

[0069] For example, as shown in the following table, different types of intermediate nodes support different second thresholds according to their own beam switching capabilities. The specific value unit of the second threshold is the number of symbols, and the length of one symbol in μs depends on different subcarrier spacings. Taking a subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz as an example, the length of one symbol is 66.67 μs, and the second threshold of the intermediate node of the nth type of capability is An symbols. By analogy, for a subcarrier spacing of 240 kHz, the length of one time slot is 4.17 μs, and the intermediate node of the nth type of capability is En symbols.

[0070]

[0071] Furthermore, to achieve time slot alignment between the intermediate node and the network device, the intermediate node reports the parameter characterizing the processing capacity of the intermediate node, or the information of the first threshold and the second threshold to the network device.

[0072] Method 1: The intermediate node searches for the data of the first threshold and the second threshold according to its own capabilities and reports them to the network device.

[0073] Method 2: Bind the first threshold, the second threshold, and the definition of the capabilities of the intermediate node. As shown in the table, different types of intermediate nodes with different capabilities correspond to different first thresholds and second thresholds. The intermediate node only needs to report the capability type.

[0074] Intermediate Node Capability Type Index First Threshold Second Threshold 0 First Threshold Type1 Second Threshold type1 1 First Threshold Type1 Second Threshold type2 … … … M First Threshold typeN Second Threshold typeN

[0075] Preferably, report using Method 2.

[0076] Figure 3Flowchart of an embodiment of the method of this application for a network device.

[0077] A beam switching method for an intermediate node proposed in an embodiment of this application, for the network side, includes the following steps 201 to 204:

[0078] Step 201, send control information, including an intermediate node beam switching indication.

[0079] It should be noted that the "control information" mentioned in all embodiments of this application refers to the control information transmitted on the control link between the network device and the intermediate node. The control information is used to control the intermediate node and set the beam direction.

[0080] Step 202, within the first threshold duration after sending the control information, send downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the intermediate node before switching;

[0081] Step 203, after the first threshold duration after sending the control information and within the period from the first threshold duration plus the second threshold duration, do not backhaul downlink control signaling and / or data to the intermediate node.

[0082] Preferably, after the first threshold duration after sending the control information and within the period from the first threshold duration plus the second threshold duration, do not send downlink control signaling and / or data.

[0083] Or, after the first threshold duration after sending the control information and within the period from the first threshold duration plus the second threshold duration, send downlink control signaling and / or data through the network side beam.

[0084] Step 204, after the first threshold duration plus the second threshold duration after sending the control information, send downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the intermediate node after switching.

[0085] Preferably, before steps 201 to 204, the indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration is transmitted from at least 1 of the intermediate nodes to the network device. Or, the characterization data of the processing capacity is transmitted from at least 1 of the intermediate nodes to the network device.

[0086] Preferably, before step 202, the following steps are further included: determining the first threshold duration according to the characterization data of the processing capacity of one or more intermediate nodes; before step 203, the following steps are further included: determining the second threshold duration according to the characterization data of the processing capacity of one or more intermediate nodes.

[0087] Preferably, before step 202, the following steps are further included: The network device sends indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration to the terminal device. Before step 203, the following steps are further included: The network device sends indication information of the second threshold duration to the terminal device. The indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration is carried by a high-layer signaling, a MAC CE, or a physical layer dynamic downlink control signaling; and is sent to the terminal through a forwarding link or directly sent by the network device to the terminal.

[0088] Figure 4 This is another timing diagram of the embodiment of the method of this application.

[0089] The base station and the intermediate node are time slot aligned. The base station does not send downlink control signaling and / or data to the terminal within the second threshold duration after the first threshold duration of sending the control link, or uses the beam of the base station to send data and control information within the second threshold duration after the first threshold duration.

[0090] Mode 1: As shown in the figure, the base station, according to the information of the first threshold and the second threshold reported by the intermediate node, uses the beam regulated by the intermediate node before handover to send downlink control signaling and / or data within the first threshold duration after sending the control information of the intermediate node control link. The base station does not send downlink control signaling and / or data within the second threshold duration after the first threshold duration of sending the control link, and uses the beam regulated by the switched intermediate node to send downlink control signaling and / or data after the second threshold duration after the first threshold duration of sending the control link.

[0091] This mode is applicable to the situation where the terminal's location cannot receive the direct beam from the base station, or the situation where the terminal's location can receive the direct beam from the base station, but the handover time of the intermediate node is short, such as the second threshold duration is less than one time slot or 7 symbols.

[0092] Mode 2: As shown in the figure, the base station, according to the information of the first threshold and the second threshold reported by the intermediate node, uses the beam regulated by the intermediate node before handover to send downlink control signaling and / or data within the first threshold duration after sending the control information of the intermediate node control link. The base station uses the direct beam sent by the base station controlled by the base station to send downlink control signaling and / or data to the terminal within the second threshold duration after the first threshold duration of sending the control link, and sends this beam information to the terminal through the control information of the forwarding link. After the second threshold duration after the first threshold duration of sending the control link, the base station uses the beam regulated by the switched intermediate node to send downlink control signaling and / or data.

[0093] On the one hand, this mode is applicable to the situation where the terminal's location can receive the direct beam from the base station, but the handover time of the intermediate node is long, such as the second threshold duration is longer than one time slot or 7 symbols.

[0094] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present application for an intermediate node.

[0095] A beam switching method for an intermediate node proposed in an embodiment of the present application, for the intermediate node side, includes the following steps:

[0096] Step 301, receive control information, including an intermediate node beam switching indication.

[0097] Step 302, within a first threshold duration after receiving the control information, use the beam regulated by the intermediate node before switching to forward downlink control signaling and / or data.

[0098] Within a first threshold duration after receiving the control information, the intermediate node completes demodulation and decoding of the control information.

[0099] Within a first threshold duration after the intermediate node receives the control information of the control link, it still uses the beam before switching to forward the data of the forwarding link.

[0100] As Figure 2 shown in Figure 3 or 4, the PDCCH indicating the control information of the intermediate node sent by the control link schedules the time domain resources of the PDSCH, and the symbol where it is located is on the time domain resources not less than after the first threshold duration. In this way, when the network device instructs the intermediate node to perform beam switching, enough time is reserved for the intermediate node to decode the PDCCH and perform beam switching after decoding. In this way, after the beam switching of the intermediate node is successful, the terminal device uses the receiving beam indicated by the PDCCH to receive the scheduled downlink data PDSCH.

[0101] Step 303, within the first threshold duration after receiving the control information and within the first threshold duration plus the second threshold duration, the intermediate node completes beam switching.

[0102] Step 304, after the first threshold duration plus the second threshold duration after receiving the control information, use the beam regulated by the intermediate node after switching to forward downlink control signaling and / or data.

[0103] The intermediate node performs beam switching of the forwarding link after the first threshold duration after receiving the control information of the control link, and after the first threshold + second threshold duration, the forwarding link uses the beam after being indicated by the control information of the control link to forward data.

[0104] Preferably, before steps 301 to 304, indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration is transmitted by at least one of the intermediate nodes to the network device. Alternatively, characterization data of the processing capability is transmitted by at least one of the intermediate nodes to the network device.

[0105] Preferably, before step 302, the following steps are further included: determining the first threshold duration according to characterization data of the processing capabilities of one or more intermediate nodes; before step 303, the following steps are further included: determining the second threshold duration according to characterization data of the processing capabilities of one or more intermediate nodes.

[0106] Preferably, before step 302, the following steps are further included: the intermediate node device forwards (or sends) indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration to the terminal device. Before step 303, the following steps are further included: the intermediate node device sends indication information of the second threshold duration to the terminal device. The indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration is carried by a high-layer signaling or a MAC CE or a physical layer dynamic downlink control signaling.

[0107] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of the implementation of the method of this application for a terminal device.

[0108] A beam switching method for an intermediate node proposed in an embodiment of this application, for the terminal side, includes the following steps:

[0109] Step 401, receive indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration.

[0110] Preferably, the indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration comes from a forwarding link or directly from the network device.

[0111] For example, when the base station sends beam switching control information for the control link to the intermediate node, it uses a high-layer signaling or a MAC CE or a physical layer dynamic downlink control signaling to indicate to the terminal the first threshold, the second threshold, and the beam information for receiving the downlink control signaling or downlink data on the forwarding link.

[0112] Step 402, within the first threshold duration after the network device sends the control information, receive the downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the intermediate node before the handover.

[0113] Step 403, preferably, after the first threshold duration and within the sum of the first threshold duration and the second threshold duration after the network device sends the control information, do not receive the downlink control signaling and / or data, or receive the downlink control signaling and / or data through the network-side beam.

[0114] Step 404: After the first threshold duration is accumulated with the second threshold duration after the network device sends the control information, use the beam regulated by the switched intermediate node to receive downlink control signaling and / or data.

[0115] In steps 403 - 404, the terminal receives downlink control signaling or downlink data on the time-frequency resources of the forwarding link indicated by the base station using the beam from the intermediate node or the beam from the base station of the indicated forwarding link.

[0116] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the network device.

[0117] An embodiment of the present application also proposes a communication device (i.e., a network device) that uses the method of any one of the embodiments of the present application. At least one module in the network device is used for at least one of the following functions: sending the control information, determining the first threshold duration and the second threshold duration, and sending downlink control signaling and / or data.

[0118] To implement the above technical solution, a communication device 500 proposed by the present application includes a network sending module 501, a network determining module 502, and a network receiving module 503.

[0119] The network sending module is used to send the control information, downlink control signaling and / or data.

[0120] The network determining module is used to determine the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration according to the characterization data of the processing capability of the intermediate node, and to determine that the timing of sending downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the intermediate node before switching is no later than the first threshold duration after sending the control information. It is also used to determine that the timing of sending downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the switched intermediate node is no earlier than the first threshold duration plus the second threshold duration after sending the control information. Further, it is also used to determine the timing of not relaying downlink control signaling and / or data to the intermediate node, and to determine that the timing of sending downlink control signaling and / or data through the network-side beam is within the first threshold duration and within the first threshold duration plus the second threshold duration after sending the control information.

[0121] The network receiving module is used to receive information from the intermediate node, including the characterization data of the processing capability of the intermediate node and the indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration.

[0122] For other specific methods of implementing the functions of the network sending module, network determining module, and network receiving module, as described in the method embodiments of the present application, they will not be elaborated here.

[0123] The network device described in this application can be a network-side device or a network-side processing device connected to the network side.

[0124] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an intermediate node.

[0125] This application also proposes a communication device (i.e., an intermediate node) that uses the method of any embodiment of this application. At least one module in the intermediate node is used for at least one of the following functions: receiving the control information, determining a first threshold duration and a second threshold duration, and forwarding downlink control signaling and / or data.

[0126] To implement the above technical solution, an intermediate node 600 for controlling a reflection unit (such as an intelligent metasurface 604) or other phase transformation devices proposed in this application includes an intermediate transmission module 601, an intermediate determination module 602, and an intermediate reception module 603.

[0127] The intermediate reception module is used to receive the control information.

[0128] The intermediate determination module is used to determine that the timing of forwarding downlink control signaling and / or data by the beam regulated by the intermediate node before switching is no later than the first threshold duration after receiving the control information, and is also used to determine that the timing of forwarding downlink control signaling and / or data by the beam regulated by the intermediate node after switching is no earlier than the first threshold duration plus the second threshold duration after receiving the control information.

[0129] The intermediate transmission module is used to forward downlink signals and uplink signals, and is also used to send characterization data of the processing capabilities of the intermediate node, as well as indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration, to the network device or the terminal device.

[0130] The intermediate node described in this application can refer to a mobile terminal connected to a reflection unit or other phase transformation devices or other devices dedicated to controlling the reflection unit or other phase transformation devices.

[0131] Figure 9 It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a terminal device;

[0132] This application also proposes a communication device (i.e., a terminal device) that uses the method of any embodiment of this application. At least one module in the terminal device is used for at least one of the following functions: receiving the indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration, and receiving downlink control signaling and / or data from the network device or the forwarding link.

[0133] To implement the above technical solution, a terminal device 700 proposed in this application includes a terminal transmission module 701, a terminal determination module 702, and a terminal reception module 703.

[0134] The terminal receiving module is configured to receive downlink control signaling and / or data directly from a network device or forwarded by an intermediate node, and indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration directly from the network device, the intermediate node, or forwarded by the intermediate node.

[0135] The terminal determining module is configured to determine that the timing of receiving downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the intermediate node before handover is no later than the first threshold duration after the network device sends the control information, and is further configured to determine that the timing of receiving downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the intermediate node after handover is no earlier than the sum of the first threshold duration and the second threshold duration after the network device sends the control information. It is further configured to determine the timing of not receiving downlink control signaling and / or data, and the timing of receiving downlink control signaling and / or data through the network-side beam, within the period from after the first threshold duration to the sum of the first threshold duration and the second threshold duration after the network device sends the control information.

[0136] The terminal sending module is configured to send uplink information.

[0137] The terminal device described in this application may be a mobile terminal device.

[0138] Figure 10 FIG. shows a schematic structural diagram of the network device of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the network device 800 includes a processor 801, a wireless interface 802, and a memory 803. Among them, the wireless interface may be multiple components, that is, including a transmitter and a receiver, and provides a unit for communicating with various other devices on a transmission medium. The wireless interface realizes the communication function with the intermediate device, processes wireless signals through the receiving and transmitting devices, and the data carried by its signals communicates with the memory or the processor through the internal bus structure. The memory 803 contains a computer program for implementing any embodiment of the present application related to the network device or the terminal device, and the computer program runs or changes on the processor 801. When the memory, the processor, and the wireless interface circuit are connected through a bus system. The bus system includes a data bus, a power bus, a control bus, and a status signal bus, which will not be elaborated here.

[0139] Figure 11 FIG. is a block diagram of an intermediate device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The intermediate device 900 includes at least one processor 901, a memory 902, a network interface 903, and at least one control interface 904. Each component in the intermediate device 900 is coupled together through a bus system. The bus system is used to realize the connection and communication between these components. The bus system includes a data bus, a power bus, a control bus, and a status signal bus.

[0140] The control interface 904 is used to connect to the phase transformation device (such as a metasurface device) of the intermediate device, convert the multiple sets of control parameters into drive signals for each surface unit, and realize the adjustment of the reflection (or refraction) signal of the intermediate device.

[0141] Figure 12 It is a block diagram of the terminal device of the present invention.

[0142] The terminal device A00 includes at least one processor A01, a memory A02, a user interface A03, and at least one network interface A04. Each component in the terminal device A00 is coupled together through a bus system. The bus system is used to realize the connection and communication between these components. The bus system includes a data bus, a power bus, a control bus, and a status signal bus.

[0143] The user interface A03 may include a display, a keyboard, or a pointing device, such as a mouse, a trackball, a touchpad, or a touch screen, etc.

[0144] The memories 902, A02 store executable modules or data structures. The operating system and application programs can be stored in the memory. Among them, the operating system contains various system programs, such as a framework layer, a core library layer, a driver layer, etc., for realizing various basic services and processing hardware-based tasks. The application programs contain various application programs, such as a media player, a browser, etc., for realizing various application services.

[0145] In an embodiment of the present invention, the memory 902 contains a computer program for executing any embodiment of the present application related to the intermediate device, or the memory A02 contains a computer program for executing any embodiment of the present application related to the terminal device, and the computer program runs or changes on the processors 901, A01.

[0146] The memories 902, A02 contain a computer-readable storage medium, and the processors 901, A01 read the information in the memories 902, A02 and complete the steps of the above method in combination with their hardware. Specifically, a computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is executed by the processors 901, A01, it realizes the steps of the method embodiment described in any of the above embodiments.

[0147] The processor 901, A01 may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, the steps of the method of this application can be completed by the integrated logic circuit of the hardware in the processor 901, A01 or the instructions in the form of software. The processor 901, A01 can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field-programmable gate array or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components. It can implement or execute the various methods, steps and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or the processor can also be any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the method disclosed in combination with the embodiments of the present invention can be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware decoding processor, or executed by a combination of the hardware and software modules in the decoding processor.

[0148] Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present invention can be provided as a method, a system, or a computer program product. Therefore, the present invention can take the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. In a typical configuration, the device of this application includes one or more processors (CPUs), an input / output user interface, a network interface, and a memory.

[0149] In addition, the present invention can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk memory, CD-ROM, optical memory, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0150] Therefore, this application also proposes a computer-readable medium, on which a computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the steps of the method described in any one of the embodiments of this application. For example, the memories 803, 902, A02 of the present invention may include non-permanent memories in the computer-readable medium, in the form of random access memory (RAM) and / or non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM) or flash memory (flash RAM).

[0151] Based on the above embodiments of this application, this application also proposes a mobile communication system, which includes at least one embodiment of any intermediate node in this application and / or at least one embodiment of any network device in this application. Further, the mobile communication system also includes at least one embodiment of any terminal device in this application.

[0152] It should also be noted that the term "comprising", "including" or any other variant thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, commodity or device comprising a series of elements not only includes those elements but also includes other elements not expressly listed, or further includes elements inherent to such process, method, commodity or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the statement "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, commodity or device comprising said element.

[0153] It should also be noted that the "first" and "second" in this application are used to distinguish multiple objects with the same name, not to limit the size.

[0154] The above are only embodiments of this application and are not used to limit this application. For those skilled in the art, this application can have various changes and modifications. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of this application shall be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A beam switching method for an intermediate node, used in a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system including a network device, an intermediate node device, and a user equipment; the service signal sent by the network device is transmitted to the user equipment through the intermediate node device, characterized in that, The network side includes the following steps: Send control information, including an indication of beam switching of the intermediate node; Within the first threshold duration after sending the control information, send downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the intermediate node before switching; After the first threshold duration is accumulated with the second threshold duration after sending the control information, send downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the switched intermediate node; The first threshold duration is not less than the maximum time for the intermediate node to complete demodulation and decoding of the control link control information from the network side; The second threshold duration is not less than the maximum time required for the intermediate node to perform beam switching; 2. The beam switching method for an intermediate node according to claim 1, characterized in that, Within the period after the first threshold duration and before the first threshold duration is accumulated with the second threshold duration after sending the control information, do not send downlink control signaling and / or data; 3. The beam switching method for an intermediate node according to claim 1, characterized in that, Within the period after the first threshold duration and before the first threshold duration is accumulated with the second threshold duration after sending the control information, do not send back downlink control signaling and / or data to the intermediate node; 4. The beam switching method for an intermediate node according to claim 3, characterized in that, Further includes the following steps: Within the period after the first threshold duration and before the first threshold duration is accumulated with the second threshold duration after sending the control information, send downlink control signaling and / or data through the network side beam; 5. The beam switching method for an intermediate node according to claim 1, characterized in that, Send indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration to the terminal device; 6. The beam switching method for an intermediate node according to claim 1, characterized in that, The intermediate node side includes the following steps: Receive control information, including an indication of beam switching of the intermediate node; Within the first threshold duration after receiving the control information, forward downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the intermediate node before switching; After the first threshold duration is accumulated with the second threshold duration after receiving the control information, forward downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the switched intermediate node; 7. The beam switching method for an intermediate node according to claim 6, characterized in that, Within the first threshold duration after receiving the control information, the intermediate node completes demodulation and decoding of the control information; 8. The beam switching method for an intermediate node according to claim 6, characterized in that, Within the period after the first threshold duration and before the first threshold duration is accumulated with the second threshold duration after receiving the control information, the intermediate node completes beam switching; 9. A beam switching method for an intermediate node, used in a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system including a network device, an intermediate node device, and a user equipment; the service signal sent by the network device is transmitted to the user equipment through the intermediate node device, characterized in that, The terminal side includes the following steps: Receive indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration; Within the first threshold duration after the network device sends control information, receive downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the intermediate node before switching; After the first threshold duration is accumulated with the second threshold duration after the network device sends the control information, receive downlink control signaling and / or data using the beam regulated by the switched intermediate node; The first threshold duration is not less than the maximum time for the intermediate node to complete demodulation and decoding of the control link control information from the network side;The second threshold duration is not less than the maximum time required for the intermediate node to perform beam switching; 10. The beam switching method for an intermediate node according to claim 9, wherein, Within the period after the network device sends the control information and before the first threshold duration is accumulated with the second threshold duration, Do not receive downlink control signaling and / or data, or receive downlink control signaling and / or data through the network side beam; 11. The beam switching method for an intermediate node according to claim 9, wherein, The indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration comes from the forwarding link or directly from the network device; 12. The beam switching method for an intermediate node according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, The first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration are expressed as the number of time slots or symbols corresponding to different subcarriers.

13. The beam switching method for an intermediate node according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, The indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration is transmitted by at least one of the intermediate nodes to the network device.

14. The beam switching method for an intermediate node according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, Before the step, the following steps are further included: Determine the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration according to the characterization data of the processing capabilities of one or more intermediate nodes.

15. The beam switching method for an intermediate node according to claim 14, wherein, The characterization data of the processing capabilities is transmitted by at least one of the intermediate nodes to the network device.

16. A communication device for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 12 to 15 on the network side, wherein, At least one module in the communication device is used for at least one of the following functions: sending the control information, determining the first threshold duration and the second threshold duration, sending the downlink control signaling and / or data.

17. A communication device for implementing the method according to any one of claims 6 to 8 and 12 to 15 at an intermediate node, wherein, At least one module in the communication device is used for at least one of the following functions: receiving the control information, determining the first threshold duration and the second threshold duration, forwarding the downlink control signaling and / or data.

18. A communication device for implementing the method according to any one of claims 9 to 15 at the terminal side, wherein, At least one module in the communication device is used for at least one of the following functions: receiving the indication information of the first threshold duration and / or the second threshold duration, receiving the downlink control signaling and / or data from the network device or the forwarding link.

19. A communication device, wherein, Comprising: A memory, a processor, and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, where when the computer program is executed by the processor, the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15 are implemented.

20. A computer-readable medium having a computer program stored thereon, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15 are implemented.

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