Communication method and device

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus, which enable a terminal device to flexibly determine a method for obtaining multicast configuration information for each multicast service based on the identifier of the multicast service, the probability of obtaining each multicast configuration information method, the level information of the terminal device, the indication information of the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information, and at least one of information indicating that data for the multicast service is to be sent or signal quality information, rather than using a fixed method to obtain configuration information for different multicast services.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0002] In wireless communication systems, multicast transmission technology involves sending data from a single sender to multiple receivers. For example, a network device sends data, and multiple terminal devices receive the data. One possible multicast transmission technology is single cell point to multipoint (SC-PTM).

[0003] When a multicast transmission technology (such as SC-PTM technology) is used to transmit a multicast service, a terminal device needs to first obtain multicast configuration information, and then receive the multicast service based on the multicast configuration information.

[0004] However, in the prior art, the way in which a terminal device obtains multicast configuration information is not flexible enough and still requires further research. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus for achieving more flexible acquisition of multicast configuration information.

[0006] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be performed by a first communication device, which may be a communication device or a communication device capable of supporting the communication device to implement the functions required by the method, such as a chip. Exemplarily, the first communication device is a terminal device, or a chip provided in the terminal device for implementing the functions of the terminal device, or other component for implementing the functions of the terminal device. The following description uses the example of the first communication device being a terminal device.

[0007] The method includes: a terminal device may obtain first information and determine a target acquisition mode based on the first information, wherein the target acquisition mode is used to obtain multicast configuration information, and the multicast configuration information is used to receive a multicast service, wherein the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service (or simply an identifier), probabilities corresponding to different acquisition modes, level information of the terminal device, indication information of the target acquisition mode, information indicating that data for the multicast service is to be sent, or at least one of signal quality information. The terminal device may also obtain the multicast configuration information based on the target acquisition mode, wherein the target acquisition mode includes one of a first mode, a second mode, a third mode, a fourth mode, a fifth mode, a sixth mode, or a seventh mode.

[0008] Among them, the first method is to obtain multicast configuration information through unicast information, or, to obtain multicast configuration information by receiving unicast information. The second method includes obtaining multicast configuration information through multicast information, or, to obtain multicast configuration information by receiving multicast information. The third method includes obtaining multicast configuration information through broadcast information, or, to obtain multicast configuration information by receiving broadcast information. The fourth method includes obtaining multicast configuration information through two sub-methods of unicast information and multicast information, or, to obtain multicast configuration information through two sub-methods of receiving unicast information and multicast information. The fifth method includes obtaining multicast configuration information through two sub-methods of multicast information and broadcast information, or, to obtain multicast configuration information through two sub-methods of receiving multicast information and broadcast information. The sixth method includes obtaining multicast configuration information through two sub-methods of unicast information and broadcast information, or, to obtain multicast configuration information through two sub-methods of receiving unicast information and broadcast information. The seventh method includes obtaining multicast configuration information through three sub-methods: unicast information, multicast information, and broadcast information, or obtaining multicast configuration information through three sub-methods: receiving unicast information, multicast information, and broadcast information.

[0009] By adopting the above method, the terminal device can flexibly determine the method to be adopted for obtaining the multicast configuration information of each multicast service based on the identifier of the multicast service, the probability of each acquisition method, the level information of the terminal device, the indication information of the target acquisition method, the information used to indicate that the data of the multicast service is to be sent, or at least one of the signal quality information, instead of adopting a fixed method to obtain the configuration information of different multicast services.

[0010] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service and the level information. The terminal device may determine that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, where the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method. Furthermore, the terminal device may determine the target acquisition method from the eighth method and the ninth method based on the level information. Therefore, flexible acquisition of multicast configuration information can be further achieved.

[0011] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service, a probability of an eighth method, and a probability of a ninth method. The terminal device may determine that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier includes the eighth method and the ninth method, wherein the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method. Furthermore, the terminal device may determine the target acquisition method from the eighth method and the ninth method based on the probability of the eighth method and the probability of the ninth method. Therefore, flexible acquisition of multicast configuration information can be further achieved.

[0012] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service and the signal quality information. The terminal device may determine that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, where the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method. Furthermore, the terminal device may determine the target acquisition method from the eighth method and the ninth method based on the signal quality information. Therefore, flexible acquisition of multicast configuration information can be further achieved.

[0013] In one possible design, the terminal device can obtain the target acquisition method corresponding to the multicast identifier based on a first correspondence relationship, and the first correspondence relationship includes a correspondence between the identifier of at least one multicast service and the acquisition method of at least one multicast configuration information, wherein the identifier belongs to the identifier of the at least one multicast service and the target acquisition method belongs to the acquisition method of the at least one multicast configuration information.

[0014] In one possible design, the terminal device may receive the first correspondence and / or the identifier of the multicast service from the network device.

[0015] In one possible design, the first correspondence may be carried on a system information block SIB, a multicast control channel MCCH, a PDSCH message for paging, or a NAS message. The physical resource indicated by the PDSCH for paging or scheduling information (such as DCI) called a paging message, the first information is carried on the PDSCH for paging, including the first correspondence carried on the paging message, or including the first correspondence carried on the PDSCH but the first correspondence is not carried in the paging message.

[0016] In one possible design, the terminal device may receive third information from the network device, where the third information indicates the indication information. Therefore, the multicast configuration information may be flexibly acquired based on the third information from the network device.

[0017] In one possible design, the third information also indicates an identifier of the multicast service.

[0018] In one possible design, the third information is carried in first downlink control information from the network device, and the first downlink control information is used to schedule a paging message; or, the third information is carried in a paging message from the network device.

[0019] In one possible design, the first information includes the information for indicating that the data of the multicast service is to be sent (or the information for starting the multicast service), and the terminal device can determine the target acquisition method corresponding to the first time-frequency resource based on the second corresponding relationship, and the first downlink control information is transmitted through the first time-frequency resource. The second corresponding relationship is the corresponding relationship between at least one time-frequency resource and the acquisition method of at least one multicast configuration information. The first time-frequency resource belongs to the at least one time-frequency resource, and the target acquisition method belongs to the acquisition method of the at least one multicast configuration information; or, the target acquisition method corresponding to the first RNTI is determined based on the third corresponding relationship, and the first RNTI is the RNTI used to scramble the first downlink control information. The third corresponding relationship is the corresponding relationship between at least one RNTI and the acquisition method of at least one multicast configuration information. The first RNTI belongs to the at least one RNTI, and the target acquisition method belongs to the acquisition method of the at least one multicast configuration information. The first downlink control information is used to schedule a paging message, and the paging message includes information for indicating that the data of the multicast service is to be sent. Therefore, flexible acquisition of multicast configuration information can be achieved based on the paging message from the network device and / or the first downlink control information used to schedule the paging message.

[0020] In one possible design, when the target acquisition method includes the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method or the seventh method, at least one item of the configuration information obtained through the sub-method of the target acquisition method is different, wherein the configuration obtained by the sub-method of each acquisition method includes at least one of G-RNTI, the identifier of the multicast service, the PDCP layer configuration parameters, the RLC layer configuration parameters, the logical channel set corresponding to the identifier of the multicast service, the first identifier, the PUCCH configuration, the PDCP status report configuration, the BWP configuration or the DAPS configuration. The first identifier is used to associate the multicast configuration information obtained by different sub-methods of the target acquisition method. This design can enrich the content of the multicast configuration information.

[0021] In one possible design, the configuration information acquired by each sub-method of the target acquisition method includes a first identifier.

[0022] In one possible design, the terminal device is determined to be in an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state. Therefore, the success rate of obtaining multicast configuration information of the terminal device in the RRC idle state or the RRC inactive state can be specifically improved.

[0023] In one possible design, the terminal device may also receive information indicating modification of the multicast configuration information, obtain the modified multicast configuration information of the multicast service, and receive the multicast service based on the modified multicast configuration information.

[0024] In one possible design, the terminal device may determine a method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information based on the fourth information or the fifth information, where the fourth information includes the first information and the fifth information includes information from the network device. Thus, the terminal device can flexibly receive the modified multicast configuration information.

[0025] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be performed by a second communication device, which may be a communication device or a communication device capable of supporting the communication device to implement the functions required for the method, such as a chip. Exemplarily, the second communication device is a network device (such as a base station), or a chip provided in the network device for implementing the functions of the network device, or other components for implementing the functions of the network device. In the following introduction, the second communication device is taken as an example to be explained as a network device.

[0026] The method includes: a network device obtains first information, determines a target transmission mode based on the first information, and transmits multicast configuration information using the target transmission mode; the network device transmits a multicast service based on the multicast configuration information; and a terminal device receives the multicast service based on the multicast configuration information (i.e., the multicast configuration information is used for receiving the multicast service by the terminal device). The first information includes at least one of an identifier of the multicast service, level information of the terminal device, indication information of the target transmission mode, information indicating that data of the multicast service is to be transmitted, or signal quality information. The target transmission mode includes at least one of a first mode, a second mode, a third mode, a fourth mode, a fifth mode, a sixth mode, or a seventh mode.

[0027] The first mode includes sending multicast configuration information via unicast information. The second mode includes sending multicast configuration information via multicast information. The third mode includes sending multicast configuration information via broadcast information. The fourth mode includes sending multicast configuration information via two sub-modes: unicast information and multicast information. The fifth mode includes sending multicast configuration information via two sub-modes: multicast information and broadcast information. The sixth mode includes sending multicast configuration information via two sub-modes: unicast information and broadcast information. The seventh mode includes sending multicast configuration information via three sub-modes: unicast information, multicast information, and broadcast information.

[0028] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service and the level information, and the network device can determine that the sending method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, and the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method; and, based on the level information, determine the target sending method from the eighth method and the ninth method.

[0029] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service and the signal quality information. The network device can determine that the sending method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, and the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method; and, determine the target sending method from the eighth method and the ninth method based on the signal quality information.

[0030] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service, and the network device can obtain a target sending mode corresponding to the identifier based on a first correspondence. The first correspondence includes a correspondence between the identifier of at least one multicast service and the sending mode of at least one multicast configuration information. The identifier belongs to the identifier of the at least one multicast service, and the target sending mode belongs to the sending mode of the at least one multicast configuration information.

[0031] In one possible design, the network device may send the first correspondence and / or an identifier of the multicast service.

[0032] In one possible design, the first correspondence is carried by SIB, MCCH, PDSCH for paging, or NAS message.

[0033] In one possible design, the network device may also send third information, which includes the indication information.

[0034] In one possible design, the third information also includes an identifier of the multicast service.

[0035] In one possible design, the third information is carried in the first downlink control information, and the first downlink control information is used to schedule the paging message; or, the third information is carried in the paging message.

[0036] In one possible design, the network device may determine the first downlink control information corresponding to the target sending mode according to the second correspondence, and send the first downlink control information through the first time-frequency resource, the second correspondence being the correspondence between at least one time-frequency resource and the sending mode of at least one multicast configuration information, the first time-frequency resource belonging to the at least one time-frequency resource, and the target sending mode belonging to the sending mode of the at least one multicast configuration information; or, the network device may determine the first RNTI corresponding to the target sending mode according to the third correspondence, and send the first downlink control information encrypted by the first RNTI, the third correspondence being the correspondence between at least one RNTI and the sending mode of at least one multicast configuration information, the first RNTI belonging to the at least one RNTI, and the target sending mode belonging to the sending mode of the at least one multicast configuration information. The first downlink control information is used to schedule a paging message, and the paging message includes information for indicating that data of the multicast service is to be sent.

[0037] In one possible design, when the target sending mode includes the fourth mode, the fifth mode, the sixth mode or the seventh mode, at least one item of the configuration information sent through the sub-mode of the target sending mode is different, wherein the configuration sent by the sub-mode of each sending mode includes at least one of G-RNTI, multicast service identifier, PDCP layer configuration parameters, RLC layer configuration parameters, logical channel set corresponding to the multicast service identifier, first identifier, PUCCH configuration, PDCP status report configuration, BWP configuration or DAPS configuration. The first identifier is used to associate the multicast configuration information obtained by different sub-modes of the target acquisition mode.

[0038] In one possible design, the multicast configuration information sent by each sub-method of the target acquisition method includes the first identifier.

[0039] In one possible design, the network device may send information indicating the modification of the multicast configuration information, and send the modified multicast configuration information of the multicast service.

[0040] In one possible design, the network device may determine the sending method of the modified multicast configuration information based on fourth information or fifth information, where the fourth information includes the first information.

[0041] In one possible design, the network device may send fifth information, which is used to indicate a method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information.

[0042] The beneficial effects of the method shown in the above second aspect and its possible design can refer to the beneficial effects in the first aspect and its possible design.

[0043] In a third aspect, a communication device is provided, for example, the first communication device described above. The first communication device is configured to perform the method of the first aspect or any possible embodiment thereof. Specifically, the first communication device may include modules for performing the method of the first aspect or any possible embodiment thereof, such as a processing module and a transceiver module. Exemplarily, the transceiver module may include a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module and the receiving module may be different functional modules, or they may be the same functional module but capable of performing different functions. Exemplarily, the first communication device is a communication device, or a chip or other component provided in a communication device. Exemplarily, the communication device is a terminal device. Below, the first communication device is taken as an example of a terminal device. For example, the transceiver module may be implemented by a transceiver, and the processing module may be implemented by a processor. Alternatively, the transmitting module may be implemented by a transmitter, and the receiving module may be implemented by a receiver. If the first communication device is a communication device, the transceiver may be implemented by an antenna, feeder, codec, etc. within the communication device. Alternatively, if the first communication device is a chip provided in a communication device, then the transceiver (or transmitter and receiver) may be a communication interface in the chip, which is connected to a radio frequency transceiver component in the communication device to transmit and receive information via the radio frequency transceiver component. In the description of the third aspect, the first communication device is still described as a terminal device, and the processing module and the transceiver module are used as examples.

[0044] In the execution of the method shown in the first aspect above, the processing module may obtain first information and determine a target acquisition method based on the first information, wherein the target acquisition method is used to obtain multicast configuration information, and the multicast configuration information is used to receive a multicast service. The first information includes an identifier of the multicast service, probabilities corresponding to different acquisition methods, level information of the terminal device, indication information of the target acquisition method, information indicating that data for the multicast service is to be sent, or at least one of signal quality information. The transceiver module may obtain the multicast configuration information based on the target acquisition method, wherein the target acquisition method includes one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, or the seventh method.

[0045] The first method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving unicast information. The second method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving multicast information. The third method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving broadcast information. The fourth method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving both unicast information and multicast information. The fifth method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving both multicast information and broadcast information. The sixth method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving both unicast information and broadcast information. The seventh method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving both unicast information and broadcast information.

[0046] In one possible design, the first information includes the identifier of the multicast service and the level information, and the processing module can determine that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, and the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method; and the target acquisition method can be determined from the eighth method and the ninth method according to the level information.

[0047] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service, a probability of an eighth method, and a probability of a ninth method. The processing module can determine that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, and the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method; and the target acquisition method can be determined from the eighth method and the ninth method based on the probability of the eighth method and the probability of the ninth method.

[0048] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service and the signal quality information. The processing module may determine that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, and the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method; and, determine the target acquisition method from the eighth method and the ninth method according to the signal quality information.

[0049] In one possible design, the terminal device can obtain the target acquisition method corresponding to the identifier based on a first correspondence relationship, and the first correspondence relationship includes a correspondence between the identifier of at least one multicast service and the acquisition method of at least one multicast configuration information, the identifier belongs to the identifier of the at least one multicast service, and the target acquisition method belongs to the acquisition method of the at least one multicast configuration information.

[0050] In one possible design, the transceiver module may receive the first correspondence and / or the identifier of the multicast service from the network device.

[0051] In one possible design, the first correspondence may be carried in a system information block SIB, a multicast control channel MCCH, a PDSCH message for paging, or a NAS message.

[0052] In one possible design, the transceiver module may receive third information from the network device, where the third information includes indication information of the target acquisition method.

[0053] In one possible design, the third information also indicates an identifier of the multicast service.

[0054] In one possible design, the third information is carried in first downlink control information from the network device, and the first downlink control information is used to schedule a paging message; or, the third information is carried in a paging message from the network device.

[0055] In one possible design, the first information includes the information for indicating that the data of the multicast service is to be sent. The processing module can determine the target acquisition method corresponding to the first time-frequency resource according to the second correspondence, and the first downlink control information is transmitted through the first time-frequency resource. The second correspondence is the correspondence between at least one time-frequency resource and the acquisition method of at least one multicast configuration information. The first time-frequency resource belongs to the at least one time-frequency resource, and the target acquisition method belongs to the acquisition method of the at least one multicast configuration information; or, determine the target acquisition method corresponding to the first RNTI according to the third correspondence, and the first RNTI is the RNTI used to scramble the first downlink control information. The third correspondence is the correspondence between at least one RNTI and the acquisition method of at least one multicast configuration information. The first RNTI belongs to the at least one RNTI, and the target acquisition method belongs to the acquisition method of the at least one multicast configuration information. The first downlink control information is used to schedule a paging message, and the paging message includes information for indicating that the data of the multicast service is to be sent.

[0056] In one possible design, when the target acquisition method includes the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method or the seventh method, at least one item of the configuration information obtained through the sub-method of the target acquisition method is different, wherein the configuration obtained by the sub-method of each acquisition method includes at least one of G-RNTI, multicast service identifier, PDCP layer configuration parameters, RLC layer configuration parameters, logical channel set corresponding to the multicast service identifier, first identifier, PUCCH configuration, PDCP status report configuration, BWP configuration or DAPS configuration. The first identifier is used to associate the multicast configuration information obtained by different sub-methods of the target acquisition method.

[0057] This design, on the one hand, can differentiate the configuration information content of different multicast services, thereby meeting the needs of different multicast services; in addition, broadcast / multicast common configuration can be sent once to multiple UEs, reducing signaling overhead and providing flexibility in the sending method. On the other hand, by associating the same multicast configuration information with a first identifier, after receiving the multicast configuration in the broadcast / multicast information, the UE can use the first identifier to know whether there is any remaining configuration, thereby deciding whether to receive the unicast configuration, avoiding the UE from performing unnecessary operations that lead to power consumption and signaling overhead (for example, an idle or inactive UE triggering random access); in addition, the first identifier can avoid confusion between the UE and the base station in understanding the same multicast configuration information.

[0058] In one possible design, the configuration information acquired by each sub-method of the target acquisition method includes a first identifier.

[0059] In one possible design, the processing module may determine whether it is in an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state.

[0060] In one possible design, the transceiver module may also receive information indicating modification of the multicast configuration information, obtain the modified multicast configuration information of the multicast service, and receive the multicast service based on the modified multicast configuration information.

[0061] In one possible design, the processing module may determine a method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information based on fourth information or fifth information, wherein the fourth information includes the first information and the fifth information includes information from the network device.

[0062] The beneficial effects of the method shown in the third aspect and its possible design can refer to the beneficial effects in the first aspect and its possible design.

[0063] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, for example, the second communication device described above. The second communication device is configured to perform the method of the second aspect or any possible embodiment thereof. Specifically, the second communication device may include modules for performing the method of the second aspect or any possible embodiment thereof, such as a processing module and a transceiver module. Exemplarily, the transceiver module may include a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module and the receiving module may be different functional modules, or they may be the same functional module but capable of performing different functions. Exemplarily, the second communication device is a communication device, or a chip or other component provided in a communication device. Exemplarily, the communication device is a network device. Below, the second communication device is used as an example of a network device. For example, the transceiver module may be implemented using a transceiver, and the processing module may be implemented using a processor. Alternatively, the transmitting module may be implemented using a transmitter, and the receiving module may be implemented using a receiver. If the second communication device is a communication device, the transceiver may be implemented using an antenna, feeder, codec, etc. within the communication device. Alternatively, if the second communication device is a chip provided in a communication device, the transceiver (or transmitter and receiver) may be a communication interface in the chip, which is connected to a radio frequency transceiver component in the communication device to transmit and receive information via the radio frequency transceiver component. In the description of the fourth aspect, the second communication device is still described as a network device, and the processing module and the transceiver module are used as examples.

[0064] When executing the method described in the second aspect, the processing module may obtain first information, determine a target transmission mode based on the first information, and the transceiver module may transmit multicast configuration information using the target transmission mode. The multicast configuration information is used for receiving a multicast service on a terminal device. The first information includes an identifier for the multicast service, level information for the terminal device, information indicating the target transmission mode, information indicating that data for the multicast service is to be transmitted, or at least one of signal quality information. The target transmission mode includes at least one of the first mode, the second mode, the third mode, the fourth mode, the fifth mode, the sixth mode, or the seventh mode.

[0065] The first mode includes sending multicast configuration information via unicast information. The second mode includes sending multicast configuration information via multicast information. The third mode includes sending multicast configuration information via broadcast information. The fourth mode includes sending multicast configuration information via two sub-modes: unicast information and multicast information. The fifth mode includes sending multicast configuration information via two sub-modes: multicast information and broadcast information. The sixth mode includes sending multicast configuration information via two sub-modes: unicast information and broadcast information. The seventh mode includes sending multicast configuration information via three sub-modes: unicast information, multicast information, and broadcast information.

[0066] In one possible design, the first information includes the identifier of the multicast service and the level information, and the processing module can determine that the sending method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, and the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method; and, according to the level information, determine the target sending method from the eighth method and the ninth method.

[0067] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service and the signal quality information. The processing module can determine that the sending mode corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth mode and a ninth mode, and the eighth mode and the ninth mode are respectively one of the first mode, the second mode, the third mode, the fourth mode, the fifth mode, the sixth mode and the seventh mode, and the eighth mode is different from the ninth mode; and, determine the target sending mode from the eighth mode and the ninth mode according to the signal quality information.

[0068] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service, and the processing module can obtain a target sending mode corresponding to the identifier based on a first correspondence relationship. The first correspondence relationship includes a correspondence between the identifier of at least one multicast service and the sending mode of at least one multicast configuration information. The identifier belongs to the identifier of the at least one multicast service, and the target sending mode belongs to the sending mode of the at least one multicast configuration information.

[0069] In one possible design, the transceiver module may send the first correspondence and / or the identifier of the multicast service.

[0070] In one possible design, the first correspondence is carried by SIB, MCCH, PDSCH for paging, or NAS message.

[0071] In one possible design, the transceiver module may also send third information, which includes indication information of the target sending method.

[0072] In one possible design, the third information also indicates an identifier of the multicast service.

[0073] In one possible design, the third information is carried in the first downlink control information, and the first downlink control information is used to schedule the paging message; or, the third information is carried in the paging message.

[0074] In one possible design, the processing module can determine the first downlink control information corresponding to the target sending mode according to the second corresponding relationship, and the transceiver module can send the first downlink control information through the first time-frequency resource, and the second corresponding relationship is the corresponding relationship between at least one time-frequency resource and the sending mode of at least one multicast configuration information, the first time-frequency resource belongs to the at least one time-frequency resource, and the target sending mode belongs to the sending mode of the at least one multicast configuration information; or, the processing module can determine the first RNTI corresponding to the target sending mode according to the third corresponding relationship, and the transceiver module can send the first downlink control information encrypted by the first RNTI, and the third corresponding relationship is the corresponding relationship between at least one RNTI and the sending mode of at least one multicast configuration information, the first RNTI belongs to the at least one RNTI, and the target sending mode belongs to the sending mode of the at least one multicast configuration information. The first downlink control information is used to schedule a paging message, and the paging message includes information for indicating that data of the multicast service is to be sent.

[0075] In one possible design, when the target transmission mode includes the fourth mode, the fifth mode, the sixth mode or the seventh mode, at least one item of the configuration information sent through the sub-mode of the target transmission mode is different, wherein the configuration sent by the sub-mode of each transmission mode includes at least one of G-RNTI, multicast service identifier, PDCP layer configuration parameters, RLC layer configuration parameters, logical channel set corresponding to the multicast service identifier, first identifier, PUCCH configuration, PDCP status report configuration, BWP configuration or DAPS configuration. The first identifier is used to associate the multicast configuration information sent by different sub-modes of the target transmission mode.

[0076] In one possible design, the multicast configuration information sent by each sub-mode of the target sending mode includes the first identifier.

[0077] In one possible design, the transceiver module may send information indicating the modification of the multicast configuration information, and send the modified multicast configuration information of the multicast service.

[0078] In one possible design, the processing module may determine the sending method of the modified multicast configuration information based on the fourth information or the fifth information, where the fourth information includes the first information.

[0079] In one possible design, the transceiver module may send fifth information, which is used to indicate a method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information.

[0080] The beneficial effects of the method shown in the fourth aspect and its possible design can refer to the beneficial effects in the first aspect and its possible design.

[0081] In a fifth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes the communication device shown in the third aspect and the fourth aspect.

[0082] In a sixth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which is used to store computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed on a computer, the computer executes the method shown in the first aspect or the second aspect or any possible embodiment thereof.

[0083] In the seventh aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which is used to store computer instructions. When the computer instructions are run on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method shown in the above-mentioned first aspect or second aspect or any possible embodiment thereof.

[0084] In an eighth aspect, a circuit is provided, the circuit being coupled to a memory, and being used to execute the method described in the first aspect or the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof. The circuit may include a chip circuit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0085] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0086] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0087] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a multicast service channel provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of another multicast service channel provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of another multicast service channel provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of another multicast service channel provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of another multicast service channel provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of another multicast service channel provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] Figure 10A schematic diagram of another multicast service channel provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0095] Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0096] Figure 12 A flowchart of a method for obtaining configuration information of a multicast service;

[0097] Figure 13 A flowchart of a method for sending a multicast service;

[0098] Figure 14 A flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0099] Figure 15 A schematic diagram of the structure of the instruction information provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0100] Figure 16 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0101] Figure 17 A schematic diagram of the logical architecture of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0102] Figure 18 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0103] Figure 19 A schematic diagram of the logical architecture of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0104] Figure 20 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0105] Figure 21 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0106] Figure 22 A schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0107] Figure 23 A schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0108] Figure 24 A schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0109] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of this application more clear, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The specific operation methods and functional descriptions in the method embodiments can also be applied to the device embodiments or system embodiments.

[0110] like Figure 1 As shown, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to a wireless communication system, which may include a terminal device 101 and a network device 102.

[0111] It should be understood that the above wireless communication system is applicable to both low-frequency scenarios (sub 6G) and high-frequency scenarios (above 6G). Application scenarios of wireless communication systems include but are not limited to existing communication systems such as the fifth generation system (5G), new radio (NR) communication system, or future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN) systems.

[0112] The terminal device 101 shown above can be user equipment (UE), terminal, access terminal, terminal unit, terminal station, mobile station (MS), remote station, remote terminal, mobile terminal, wireless communication device, terminal agent or terminal device, etc. The terminal device 101 can also be a communication chip with a communication module, or a vehicle with communication function, or a vehicle-mounted device (such as a vehicle-mounted communication device, a vehicle-mounted communication chip), etc. The terminal device 101 can have a wireless transceiver function, which can communicate with one or more network devices of one or more communication systems (such as wireless communication) and receive network services provided by the network devices. The network devices here include but are not limited to the network device 102 shown in the figure.

[0113] Among them, the terminal device 101 can be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a future 5G network, or a terminal device in a future evolved PLMN network, etc.

[0114] The terminal device 101 can specifically be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, etc.

[0115] In addition, the terminal device 101 can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; the terminal device 101 can also be deployed on the water surface (such as a ship, etc.); the terminal device 101 can also be deployed in the air (for example, on an airplane, a balloon, and a satellite, etc.). The network device 102 can be an access network device (or access network point). Among them, the access network device refers to a device that provides network access functions, such as a radio access network (RAN) base station, etc. The network device 102 can specifically include a base station (BS), or a base station and a wireless resource management device for controlling the base station, etc. The network device 102 can also include a relay station (relay device), an access point, a base station in a 5G network or an NR base station, a base station in a future evolved PLMN network, etc. The network device 102 can be a wearable device or a vehicle-mounted device. The network device 102 can also be a communication chip with a communication module.

[0116] For example, the network device 102 includes, but is not limited to: a base station (g nodeB, gNB) in 5G, an evolved node B (eNB) in a long term evolution (LTE) system, a radio network controller (RNC), a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) system, a base station controller (BSC), a home base station (e.g., home evolved nodeB, or home nodeB, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a transmission point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a mobile switching center, a base transceiver station (BTS) in a global system for mobile communications (GSM) or a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, and may also be a node base station (BTS) in a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) network. It can be a base station (NB), an evolved NB (eNB or eNodeB) in LTE, a base station device in a future 5G network or an access network device in a future evolved PLMN network, or a wearable device or a vehicle-mounted device.

[0117] In some deployments, network devices may include a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). The network device may also include an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU implements some of the network device's functions, while the DU implements some of the network device's functions. For example, the CU is responsible for processing non-real-time protocols and services, and implementing the functions of the radio resource control (RRC) and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers. The DU is responsible for processing physical layer protocols and real-time services, and implementing the functions of the radio link control (RLC), media access control (MAC), and physical (PHY) layers. The AAU implements some physical layer processing functions, RF processing, and active antenna-related functions. Because RRC layer information ultimately becomes PHY layer information, or is converted from PHY layer information, in this architecture, higher-layer signaling, such as RRC layer signaling, can also be considered to be sent by the DU, or by the DU+AAU. It is understood that the network device may include one or more of a CU node, a DU node, and an AAU node. In addition, the CU may be classified as a network device in an access network (RAN) or a network device in a core network (CN), which is not limited in this application.

[0118] In addition, the network device 102 can be connected to a core network (CN) device, which can be used to provide core network services for the terminal device 101 accessing the network device 102. The core network device can correspond to different devices in different systems. For example, in 3G, the core network device can correspond to the serving GPRS support node (SGSN) of the general packet radio service (GPRS) and / or the gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) of GPRS. In 4G, the core network device can correspond to the mobility management entity (MME) and / or the serving gateway (S-GW). In 5G, the core network device can correspond to the access and mobility management function (AMF), the session management function (SMF) or the user plane function (UPF).

[0119] like Figure 2 As shown, in embodiments of the present application, a network device may also transmit data or control signaling to multiple terminal devices to implement multicast service transmission. It should be understood that the multicast service herein refers to a service that uses multicast or broadcast transmission technology for data transmission. The term "multicast service" herein may be replaced by a broadcast-multicast service or a "multimedia broadcast-multicast service."

[0120] The following uses the multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) as an example to introduce multicast services. It should be understood that MBMS is a type of multicast service. MBMS is mainly suitable for services targeting multiple terminal devices, such as live broadcasts, scheduled program broadcasts, etc. MBMS is generally provided in the form of multicast or broadcast. For example, in the LTE system, each cell can have several subframes to send MBMS data, and all terminal devices can receive MBMS data by receiving these subframes. Among them, the terminal device can receive MBMS subframes in idle state or connected state, and the network side does not need to know which terminal devices are receiving them. Before sending the MBMS service, the network can also configure and send the configuration information of the MBMS service, and the terminal device uses this configuration information to receive the MBMS data.

[0121] In addition, the multicast service of LTE adopts the multimedia broadcast multicast service single frequency network (MBMSFN) technology or the single cell point to multipoint (SC-PTM) technology.

[0122] MBMSFN requires simultaneous transmission of identical waveforms from multiple cells. This allows terminal receivers to perceive multiple MBSFN cells as a single, larger cell. Furthermore, terminal devices are not affected by inter-cell interference from adjacent cells and benefit from the combined signals from multiple MBSFN cells. Multiple cells transmitting identical waveforms form an MBSFN area. Within an area, multiple physical multicast channels (PMCHs) can be configured, each of which can carry multiple multicast services.

[0123] SC-PTM is a multicast transmission technology. The first multicast technology introduced by LTE was the evolved multimedia broadcast / multicast service (eMBMS). In eMBMS technology, all cells in a region are required to send the same content simultaneously. If terminal devices are only distributed in some cells, the transmission efficiency of eMBMS technology is relatively low. To this end, the 3GPP standard proposed SC-PTM technology. In SC-PTM technology, Figure 3 As shown, a cell uses a group radio network temporary identifier (G-RNTI) to schedule service data to multiple terminal devices simultaneously. Each G-RNTI can be associated with a multicast service. In this way, within a region, only cells containing users need to send data, while cells without users do not need to send data, thus saving air interface resources.

[0124] SC-PTM technology transmits multicast services on the physical downlink share channel (PDSCH). Different from the PDSCH that carries unicast data, the PDSCH that carries multicast data is called the multicast PDSCH. During the SC-PTM transmission process, a network device (such as a base station) sends downlink control information (DCI) carried on the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to a group of terminal devices in a cell. The terminal devices then receive the multicast PDSCH based on the scheduling information included in the DCI. For SC-PTM transmission, the base station can configure the DCI format to DCI format 1A, which is used for continuous resource block (RB) allocation.

[0125] SC-PTM technology introduces two logical channels, namely Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the single cell MBMS point-to-multipoint control channel (SC-MCCH) and the single cell MBMS traffic control channel (SC-MTCH) are shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, both SC-MCCH and SC-MTCH are mapped to the downlink shared channel (DL-SCH).

[0126] The SC-MCCH is used to transmit control information, including SC-MTCH configuration information, such as the G-RNTI corresponding to the SC-MTCH and discontinuous reception (DRX) parameters. The SC-MCCH is transmitted periodically. The SC-MCCH period consists of a repetition period (RP) and a modification period (MP). An SC-MCCH is transmitted during each repetition period. A modification period contains several repetition periods, and the SC-MCCH content remains unchanged within a modification period. The SC-MCCH content in different modification periods can vary.

[0127] SC-MTCH is used to transmit services, and each service corresponds to one SC-MTCH channel. SC-MTCH can be transmitted continuously, for example Figure 4 Service 3 shown can also be configured with discontinuous transmission, for example Figure 4 Business 1 and Business 2 are shown.

[0128] The following describes the general process of a terminal device receiving SC-PTM services. First, the terminal device obtains system information (such as SIB20) from a network device (such as a base station). The system information contains control information for transmitting SC-PTM services, namely the configuration information of the SC-MCCH. The configuration information of the SC-MCCH is used to configure the reception parameters of the SC-MCCH. The terminal device can know how to receive the SC-MCCH through the system information. The SC-MCCH is transmitted using the PDSCH, and its corresponding PDCCH is scrambled using a single cell RNTI (SC-RNTI). The value of the SC-RNTI can be fixed by the protocol and does not need to be configured in the broadcast.

[0129] Specifically, the configuration information of the SC-MCCH may include the following information:

[0130] The repetition period sc-mcch-RepetitionPeriod and offset sc-mcch-Offset of SC-MCCH, i.e., the boundary of the SC-MCCH period, appear in each system frame that satisfies SFN mod sc-mcch-RepetitionPeriod = sc-mcch-Offset. SFN represents the system frame number (SFN). For example, if sc-mcch-RepetitionPeriod is rf16, i.e., 16 radio frames (rf), and sc-mcch-Offset = 1, then the system frame where SC-MCCH appears is Figure 6 As shown. mod means remainder operation.

[0131] SC-MCCH transmission time (sc-mcch-duration) indicates the SC-MCCH transmission duration.

[0132] SC-MCCH starting position (sc-mcch-FirstSubframe) indicates the starting position of SC-MCCH. For example, in a system frame containing SC-MCCH, sc-mcch-FirstSubframe = 4, sc-mcch-duration = 3, then the subframe position of SC-MCCH is as follows: Figure 7 shown.

[0133] Modify the period, for example, set it to MP = 48, then Figure 8As shown, assuming that the repetition period RP of SC-MCCH is one radio frame, 48 SC-MCCHs are included in one modification period; assuming that the repetition period RP of SC-MCCH is 16 radio frames, 3 SC-MCCHs are included in one modification period.

[0134] In addition, the configuration information of SC-MTCH can be transmitted via SC-MCCH. The configuration information of SC-MTCH may include the configuration information of multicast services. The configuration information of each service may include the temporary multicast group identifier (TMGI) of the service, the corresponding G-RNTI, DRX parameters, and the neighboring cell information for sending the configuration information of this service. SC-MTCH is also carried on PDSCH, and its corresponding PDCCH is scrambled with G-RNTI.

[0135] Optionally, the SC-MTCH configuration information may include the following configuration information:

[0136] MBMS session information (MBMSSessionInfo) indicates the identifier of the SC-PTM service, including, for example, TMGI and session identifier (session ID).

[0137] G-RNTI used to receive SC-MTCH.

[0138] SC-MCCH scheduling information (sc-mtch-schedulingInfo) indicates the time information for receiving SC-MTCH. Figure 9 As shown, the terminal can receive multicast service data in SC-MTCH according to SC-MCCH scheduling information and PDCCH.

[0139] The detailed configuration of SC-MCCH is as follows Figure 10 As shown, SC-MCCH is repeatedly sent in each MP, and the repetition period is MCCH RP. The content of SC-MCCH is the same in the same MP. When SC-MCCH changes, a PDCCH containing a modification notification (MCCH change notification) is sent. When the terminal device detects a single cell notification RNTI (SC-N-RNTI) on the PDCCH, it is considered that a modification notification has been detected, and the terminal device reacquires the SC-MCCH, where SC-N-RNTI is used to scramble the modification notification. When the terminal device acquires the SC-MCCH, it needs to detect the PDCCH scrambled by the SC-RNTI to obtain the scheduling information of the SC-MCCH.

[0140] In SC-PTM technology, core network equipment and network equipment (such as base stations) are not associated with terminal devices when establishing multicast channels, and network equipment notifies all terminal devices in RRC connection state to receive multicast services through SC-MCCH. All RRC connection states may include RRC idle state, RRC connected state and RRC inactive state. Among them, in the RRC idle state (hereinafter referred to as the idle state), there is no RRC connection for the terminal device, and the terminal device can perform cell selection and reselection, monitor the paging channel and perform tracking area update (TAU). In the RRC connected state (hereinafter referred to as the connected state), the terminal device establishes an RRC connection, the terminal device can send and receive dedicated data, and can save air interface resources and terminal device power consumption level through DRX according to the activity of the terminal device. In the RRC inactive state (hereinafter referred to as the inactive state), the terminal device can quickly recover to the RRC connected state.

[0141] Furthermore, the same multicast process is used for receiving multicast services by terminal devices in connected, idle or inactive states. To support the same multicast process, core network devices and network devices need to have a separate multicast startup process.

[0142] like Figure 11 As shown, terminal device 1, terminal device 2 and terminal device 3 are all connected to the network device. The network device can configure a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) and a data radio bearer (DRB) for each terminal device. At the same time, the DRB is also associated with a G-RNTI, and dynamic conversion between unicast and multicast is achieved through G-RNTI and C-RNTI scheduling. Figure 11 In the example, device 1, device 2, and device 3 receive the same multicast service. Each device has an RRC connection, which is a channel for receiving data based on the C-RNTI. The network device configures the same G-RNTI for all three devices. When using C-RNTI scheduling, the network device can schedule the same data to each of the three devices, which is unicast scheduling. When using G-RNTI scheduling, the network device schedules a single copy of the data, which can be received by all three devices.

[0143] Currently, when a terminal device in an idle or inactive state needs to obtain configuration information of a multicast service, the terminal device needs to enter a connected state, and then a network device (such as a base station) sends the configuration information of the multicast service to these terminal devices in a unicast manner (or multicast configuration information, or multicast configuration, in the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified, they can be used interchangeably). This process is for example Figure 12 When a terminal device is in an idle or inactive state, it must first establish an RRC connection with the network device and then obtain multicast configuration information from the network device. When there are a large number of idle or inactive terminal devices in the network, the signaling overhead required for each terminal device to establish an RRC connection with the network device, as well as the signaling overhead caused by the network device sending multicast configuration information to each terminal device in turn, is very high.

[0144] In addition, another way to obtain the configuration information of the multicast service is to inform the terminal devices in the idle or inactive state of the change of the system information through paging. At this time, these terminal devices will re-acquire the system information in the next system information change cycle. Figure 13 As shown, UE1 and UE2 each carry an indication of requesting service 1 when establishing a protocol data unit (PDU) session, wherein different terminal devices make independent requests. When the core network element finds that multiple terminal devices request the same service, it can instruct the base station to establish the same PDU session for these terminal devices. The base station knows that the services of these terminal devices are the same and can choose to transmit in multicast mode. At this time, the base station can carry multicast configuration information in the broadcast, which is equivalent to a change in the system information. The network device can inform all terminal devices of a change in the current system information through a paging message. The terminal device that receives the indication of the system information change will re-acquire the system information in the next system information change period. The network device will send an updated broadcast message in the next system information change period, i.e., a broadcast message carrying the multicast configuration information.

[0145] However, when the paging carries a system information change indication, the base station will send the paging message at all possible paging locations, resulting in a large paging overhead. At the same time, it will cause some terminal devices that do not need to receive multicast configuration information to re-acquire broadcast messages, resulting in increased energy consumption. On the other hand, system information usually does not change frequently, so the system information change cycle will be relatively long. When the system information changes due to the addition of new multicast configuration information, the terminal device will go to the next system information change cycle according to the base station's instructions to re-receive the broadcast message, and the delay in obtaining the multicast configuration information is relatively large. It can be seen that the above-mentioned methods of obtaining multicast configuration information are relatively fixed and not flexible enough, and each method has certain limitations. Therefore, the current method of obtaining configuration information for multicast services needs to be optimized.

[0146] In order to optimize the current method of obtaining configuration information of multicast services, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The communication method can be implemented by a terminal device and a network device. Optionally, the terminal device includes Figure 1 The terminal device 101 shown, the network device includes Figure 1 As shown in FIG. Figure 14 As shown, the method may include the following steps:

[0147] S101: The terminal device obtains first information.

[0148] The first information may include at least one of the identification of the multicast service, the probabilities corresponding to different acquisition methods, the level information of the terminal device, the indication information of the target acquisition method, the information for indicating that the data of the multicast service is to be sent, or the signal quality information.

[0149] The "information indicating that data for the multicast service is to be sent" may include "information indicating the start of the multicast service," "information indicating the arrival of the multicast service," or "information indicating that the network side is about to send data for the multicast service." It is understood that the "information indicating that data for the multicast service is to be sent" may also be referred to as "information indicating that data for the multicast service is to be received."

[0150] Ways in which the terminal device obtains the above-mentioned first information include: the terminal device obtains it by itself (such as being pre-installed in a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, or being obtained by protocol presets, etc.); or, the terminal device obtains it from a network device, specifically, from an access network device (for example, carried in system information, RRC message, DCI or media access control (MAC) control element (CE); specifically, the first information can be carried in a physical resource indicated by a paging message or a DCI of a scheduled paging message, for example, the physical resource can carry a paging message and / or the first information); or, the first information can be carried in the DCI of a scheduled paging message; or, the terminal device obtains it from a core network device, such as by receiving it through a NAS message).

[0151] S102: The terminal device determines a method for obtaining multicast configuration information (also referred to as a target acquisition method in various embodiments of the present application) based on the first information. The multicast configuration information is used to receive multicast services.

[0152] The target acquisition method includes one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method or the seventh method.

[0153] The first method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving unicast information. The second method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving multicast information. The third method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving broadcast information. The fourth method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving unicast information and multicast information. The fifth method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving multicast information and broadcast information. The sixth method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving unicast information and broadcast information. The seventh method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving unicast information, multicast information, and broadcast information.

[0154] The following describes unicast information, multicast information, and broadcast information respectively.

[0155] In the present application, unicast information can be understood as information sent by a network device to a terminal device in a unicast manner. Unicast information can be carried in dedicated signaling. For example, unicast information can be carried in RRC signaling, or MAC CE, or carried in a PDSCH scheduled by a DCI scrambled by a UE-specific RNTI, or in a DCI scrambled by a dedicated RNTI. Among them, the terminal device-specific RNTI can be a terminal identifier at the cell level, which is unique in the cell. For example, the terminal device-specific RNTI can be a C-RNTI, a modulation and coding scheme (MCS)-C-RNTI or a configured scheduling RNTI (CS-RNTI), a temporary cell radio network temporary identifier (TC-RNTI), a message B (MASGB / MsgB) radio network temporary identifier (MSGB radio network temporary identifier, MSGB-RNTI), wherein MSGB-RNTI is used for monitoring random access responses in two-step random access (RA), and is not specifically limited.

[0156] In one possible design, the multicast configuration information is carried in a downlink message during the random access procedure performed by the terminal device. The random access procedure here can be a two-step random access procedure or a four-step random access procedure. When the random access procedure is a four-step random access procedure, the multicast configuration information can be carried in the PDSCH of the scheduling contention resolution message, or the multicast configuration information can be carried in the PDSCH of the DCI scheduling encrypted by TC-RNTI; when the random access procedure is a two-step random access procedure, the multicast configuration information can be carried in the PDSCH of the DCI scheduling encrypted by MSGB-RNTI.

[0157] In another possible design, the multicast configuration information is carried in a downlink message after the terminal device completes the random access process. The downlink message here can be an RRC message or a PDSCH scheduled by C-RNTI-encrypted DCI. For example, the RRC message can be an RRC reconfiguration message.

[0158] Multicast information can be understood as information that the network device sends to the terminal device using a multicast method. Among them, when using a multicast method to send unicast information (such as sending the multicast configuration shown in this application), the solution shown in the background technology can be adopted, such as using SC-PTM technology. One implementation method is that the multicast information can be carried in the RRC message corresponding to the multicast common control channel (the RRC message can be understood as the RRC message sent on the resources corresponding to the multicast common control channel); another implementation method is that the multicast information can be carried in the DCI-scheduled PDSCH encrypted by the multicast RNTI. Among them, the multicast RNTI can be G-RNTI, SC-RNTI or SC-N-RNTI, without specific limitation.

[0159] Broadcast information can be understood as information sent by a network device to a terminal device using a broadcast method. Broadcast information can be carried in a system information block (SIB). One way to carry it in a SIB is to add multicast configuration information content to the existing SIB. Another way is to introduce a new system information block, such as SIBx, to carry the multicast configuration information.

[0160] Optionally, before receiving multicast configuration information (sent by unicast, multicast or broadcast) from the network device, the terminal device may send multicast configuration request information to the network device, and the multicast configuration request information includes the identifier of the terminal device and / or the identifier of the multicast service. Specifically, the multicast configuration request message may be carried in an uplink message or other uplink RRC message during the random access process performed by the terminal device; the random access process here may be a two-step random access process or a four-step random access process. When the random access process is a four-step random access process, the multicast configuration request information may be carried in message 1 (Msg1) or message 3 (Msg3); Msg3 may include common control channel (CCCH) information. Exemplarily, Msg3 may be an RRC connection establishment request message, an RRC connection reestablishment request message, an RRC connection recovery request message, etc. When the random access process is a two-step random access process, the multicast configuration request information can be carried in MsgA. Here, MsgA can also be called message A, including a random access preamble and uplink signaling, which is equivalent to "sending together" Msg1 and Msg3 in the four-step random access process. It can also be understood that Msg1 and Msg3 are sent simultaneously or in time-sharing.

[0161] In addition, the multicast configuration request information can be carried in an RRC message. Specifically, the multicast configuration request information can be carried in an RRC message in which the terminal device requests system information, such as an RRC system information request (RRCSystemInfoRequest) message. The multicast configuration request information can be 1 bit or multiple bits.

[0162] As mentioned above, the multicast configuration may include configuration information of multiple multicast services. Therefore, when the terminal device sends a multicast configuration request message, 1-bit information can be used to indicate the configuration information of all multicast services requested; or, multiple bits can be used to indicate which or which multicast service configuration information is requested; for example, if there are 3 multicast services, 3 bits can be used to indicate it. The correspondence between these 3 bits and the 3 multicast service configurations is one-to-one, and the order of the 3 bits from left to right can be in ascending order of the multicast service ID or in descending order of the service ID; or the order of the 3 bits from left to right can be in ascending or descending order of the subscript corresponding to the SIBx (for example, SIB15, SIB16, SIB17) that carries the multicast configuration; in addition, the correspondence between the multicast configuration request message and the configuration information of the multicast service can also be other methods pre-determined by the terminal device and the network device, which is not limited here.

[0163] S103: Acquire the multicast configuration information according to the target acquisition method.

[0164] Optionally, the terminal device may receive the multicast configuration information from the network device according to the acquisition method, and may subsequently receive the multicast service according to the multicast configuration information.

[0165] Among them, the network device can send multicast configuration information according to the sending mode corresponding to the target acquisition mode (the sending mode can be referred to as the target sending mode), so that the terminal device can receive the multicast configuration information according to the target acquisition mode. It should be understood that the sending mode corresponding to the above first mode (for the network device, the sending mode corresponding to the first mode can be referred to as the first mode for short, and the same applies below) is to send multicast configuration information through unicast information. The sending mode corresponding to the second mode is to send multicast configuration information through multicast information. The sending mode corresponding to the third mode is to send multicast configuration information through broadcast information. The sending mode corresponding to the fourth mode is to send multicast configuration information through two sub-modes of unicast information and multicast information. The sending mode corresponding to the fifth mode is to send multicast configuration information through two sub-modes of multicast information and broadcast information. The sending mode corresponding to the sixth mode is to send multicast configuration information through two sub-modes of unicast information and broadcast information. The sending mode corresponding to the seventh mode is to send multicast configuration information through three sub-modes of unicast information, multicast information and broadcast information. In addition, it should be understood that the target sending mode is at least one of the sending modes corresponding to the first to seventh modes respectively.

[0166] By adopting the above method, the terminal device can flexibly determine the method to be adopted for obtaining the multicast configuration information based on the identification of the multicast service, the probability of each acquisition method, the level information of the terminal device, the indication information of the target acquisition method, the information for indicating that the data of the multicast service is to be sent, or at least one of the signal quality information, instead of adopting a fixed method to obtain the configuration information of different multicast services.

[0167] It should be understood that in the above process, the network device can determine the target sending mode according to the first information, and send the multicast configuration information through the target sending mode, wherein the target sending mode includes at least one sending mode corresponding to the target acquisition mode.

[0168] Optionally, in the above process, the multicast service may be a multicast service that the terminal device is about to perform, or a multicast service that the terminal device is interested in or is performing.

[0169] Optionally, before step S102 or after step S101, the terminal device determines that multicast configuration information needs to be obtained, and the determination method includes:

[0170] Method 1: The terminal device is interested in the multicast service, but does not have the corresponding multicast configuration information. In this case, the terminal device determines that it needs to obtain the multicast configuration information.

[0171] Method 2: The terminal device is interested in the multicast service, but the multicast configuration information corresponding to the multicast service is incomplete. At this time, the terminal device determines that it needs to obtain the multicast configuration information.

[0172] The information about the data of the multicast service to be sent is used to indicate the arrival information of the multicast service (or the information to be sent).

[0173] Exemplarily, the information used to indicate the arrival of the multicast service may be carried in a paging message. For example, the paging message may carry the identifier of the multicast service or the group identifier (used to page a group of terminal devices) to notify the start of the multicast service. For another example, the paging message may carry indication information to instruct the terminal device to obtain the multicast configuration information of the multicast service, and the indication information may be 1 bit. For another example, the paging message may carry the identifier of the terminal device to page the corresponding terminal device. The reason for the paging at this time may be the arrival of an uplink service or a downlink service. As long as the terminal device receives the paging message, it will obtain the corresponding configuration and thus be prepared to receive the service.

[0174] There are multiple ways to determine the target acquisition method based on the first information, which are described below based on the different contents included in the first information.

[0175] Method 1

[0176] When the first information includes an identifier of a multicast service, the terminal device may determine the target acquisition method corresponding to the identifier based on the correspondence between at least one multicast service identifier and at least one method for obtaining multicast configuration information (hereinafter referred to as the first correspondence).

[0177] Similarly, the network device may determine the target sending mode corresponding to the identifier according to the correspondence between the identifier of at least one multicast service and the sending mode of at least one multicast configuration information.

[0178] It should be understood that the multicast service identifier here can be an MBMS service identifier (MBMS service ID), a TMGI, a G-RNTI, a multicast service session identifier, a PDU session identifier used to transmit the multicast service, and / or other identification information used to indicate the multicast service. The multicast service identifier can be obtained by the terminal device from the message used to indicate the arrival of the multicast service.

[0179] For example, the terminal device may receive a paging message from the network device. The paging message may carry TMGI1 as an identifier of the multicast service, indicating that the multicast service identified as TMGI1 has arrived.

[0180] Exemplarily, the first correspondence may be sent by the network device to the terminal device, or the first correspondence may be preconfigured in the terminal device, or may be stored in the SIM card of the first terminal device. Exemplarily, the first correspondence may be transmitted through a broadcast message (such as system information or a broadcast message carried on the MCCH), a paging message or a non-access stratum (NAS) message. The broadcast message may be carried on the system information or the MCCH (such as the SC-MCCH); the paging message may be carried on the PDSCH used for paging. Information and / or messages including but not limited to paging messages may be transmitted on the PDSCH used for paging, and the PDSCH used for paging may be indicated by the DCI.

[0181] The first corresponding relationship includes the mapping relationship table between the multicast configuration information acquisition method and the TMGI shown in Table 1.

[0182] TMGI list How to obtain TMGI1 First method TMGI2 Second method TMGI3 The third way TMGI4 Fourth method TMGI5 Fifth method TMGI6 Sixth Method TMGI7 Seventh method TMGI8 First method and second method

[0183] Table 1

[0184] As shown in Table 1, if the terminal device is interested in a multicast service, it may determine that the first mode is the mode for obtaining the multicast configuration information according to the TMGI of the multicast service of interest and the first corresponding relationship.

[0185] It should be understood that in this application, services can also be divided into enhanced mode services (or enhanced multicast mode) and normal mode services (or normal broadcast / multicast mode) according to the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information of the service. Among them, when it is determined based on the identifier of the multicast service that the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information is the above-mentioned first method, fourth method, sixth method or seventh method (or the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the sixth method or the seventh method, or the first method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method or the seventh method, or the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method or the seventh method), the service to which the multicast configuration information belongs is an enhanced mode service. When it is determined based on the identifier of the multicast service that the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information is the above-mentioned second method or third method (or the second method, the third method or the fifth method, or the fifth method), the service to which the multicast configuration information belongs is a normal mode service.

[0186] In addition, the first correspondence may further include multicast configuration information corresponding to the acquisition method. For example, when the acquisition method includes acquiring through broadcast information, the first correspondence may further include multicast configuration information acquired through broadcast information. A description of the multicast configuration information may be found in the following description and will not be elaborated on here.

[0187] As shown in Table 2, enhanced mode services and normal mode services can be distinguished based on service functions, service registration methods, service notification methods, possible service types, and other dimensions. It should be noted that Table 2 is only an example, and this document does not prescribe the division between enhanced mode and normal mode services. In implementation, operators or content providers classify different multicast services into attribution modes (i.e., enhanced mode services or normal mode services) based on their own policies, service characteristics, and provided functions.

[0188]

[0189] Table 2

[0190] In addition, the first corresponding relationship may also be determined in a pre-configuration manner.

[0191] Method 2

[0192] When the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier of the multicast service is determined based on the identifier of the multicast service and includes any two or more of the first to seventh methods mentioned above, at this time, the terminal device needs to determine an acquisition method (target acquisition method) based on the probabilities corresponding to different acquisition methods, the level information of the terminal device, or at least one of the signal quality information, and acquire the multicast configuration information according to the target acquisition method. At this time, the service to which the multicast configuration information belongs can also be called a mixed mode service. Among them, the terminal device can determine an acquisition method according to the probability corresponding to different acquisition methods, the level information of the terminal device, or the signal quality information according to the protocol preset, pre-configured, or indicated by the network device through system information or a broadcast message carried on the MCCH, for example, the network device instructs the terminal device to determine the acquisition method of the multicast configuration information according to the probability of the acquisition method.

[0193] For example, if the multicast service identifier is TMGI 8, then according to Table 1, the acquisition method corresponding to TMGI 8 determined by the terminal device includes a first method and a second method. The terminal device can determine the acquisition method for the multicast configuration information of the service to which TMGI 8 belongs based on at least one of the probability corresponding to the first method and the probability corresponding to the second method, the terminal device's level information, or the signal quality information. The following examples illustrate various acquisition methods:

[0194] (1) The terminal device determines the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information based on the probabilities corresponding to different acquisition methods.

[0195] Optionally, when it is determined based on the identifier of the multicast service that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier of the multicast service includes an eighth method and a ninth method, wherein the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first to seventh methods described above, and the eighth method and the ninth method are different, then the terminal device may select one of the eighth method and the ninth method as the method for acquiring the multicast configuration information based on the probabilities of the eighth method and the ninth method, respectively. It should be understood that in this case, the first information may include the service identifier of the multicast service and the probabilities corresponding to the eighth method and the ninth method.

[0196] It should be understood that at this time, the network device can determine that the sending method corresponding to the identifier of the multicast service includes the sending methods corresponding to the above eighth method and ninth method respectively based on the identifier of the multicast service. For the network device, there is no need to determine the final sending method based on probability, but to send the multicast configuration information of the multicast service respectively through the sending method corresponding to the eighth method and the sending method corresponding to the ninth method, wherein the multicast configuration information sent through the eighth method and the respective configuration information sent through the ninth method can carry the same TMGI.

[0197] For example, the network device may configure the probability of each of the first to seventh methods. For example, if the probability factors of the eighth and ninth methods are 0.6 and 0.4, respectively, the terminal device may select the eighth method as the method for obtaining multicast configuration information with a probability of 60%, and select the ninth method as the method for obtaining multicast configuration information with a probability of 40%. In addition, the probability of each of the first to seventh methods may also be set through pre-configuration.

[0198] Another example is that the network device can configure the probability, for example, configuring the probability of the eighth method to be 0.6, and the terminal device randomly selects a value between 0 and 1. If the selected value is greater than 0.6, the terminal device selects the ninth method as the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information. Otherwise, if the selected value is not greater than 0.6, the terminal device selects the eighth method as the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information. Alternatively, the network device can also configure the probabilities of the eighth and ninth methods separately, for example, the probability of the eighth method is 0.6 and the probability of the ninth method is 0.4.

[0199] When sending multicast configuration information, the network device may send the same multicast configuration information using both the eighth and ninth modes. The terminal device may then select one of the eighth and ninth modes as the target mode based on probability and receive the multicast configuration information using the target mode. Because the multicast configuration information sent by the network device using both the eighth and ninth modes corresponds to the same TMGI, the terminal device receives the same multicast service configuration regardless of which mode is used.

[0200] One advantage of this implementation method is that when the eighth method and the ninth method respectively include a method of obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving unicast information and a method of not including obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving unicast information, the network device allows some terminal devices to obtain configuration through broadcast / multicast through configuration probability, and allows some terminal devices to enter a connected state to obtain configuration, thereby avoiding access delays and signaling overhead caused by a large number of terminal devices initiating random access.

[0201] Optionally, the above eighth method may be one of the methods for obtaining the multicast configuration information corresponding to the enhanced mode service, for example, one of the first, fourth, sixth or seventh methods (or the first, second, third, fourth, sixth or seventh methods, or the first, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh methods, or the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh methods); the ninth method may be one of the methods for obtaining the multicast configuration information corresponding to the normal mode service, for example, one of the second or third methods (or the second, third or fifth methods, or the fifth method).

[0202] (2) The terminal device determines how to obtain the multicast configuration information based on its own level information.

[0203] Optionally, when it is determined based on the multicast service identifier that the corresponding acquisition method for the multicast service identifier includes the eighth and ninth methods described above, the terminal device may select one of the eighth and ninth methods as the method for acquiring the multicast configuration information based on its own level information. It should be understood that in this case, the first information may include the service identifier of the multicast service and the level information of the terminal device.

[0204] It should be understood that at this time, the network device can determine, based on the multicast service identifier, that the transmission mode corresponding to the multicast service identifier includes the transmission modes corresponding to the eighth and ninth modes described above. The network device can select, based on the terminal device's level information, one of the transmission modes corresponding to the eighth and ninth modes as the transmission mode for the multicast configuration information. It should be understood that at this time, the first information may include the service identifier of the multicast service and the level information of the terminal device. In addition, this application does not exclude the possibility that the network device sends the same multicast configuration information using the eighth and ninth modes, respectively.

[0205] The level information of the terminal device may include allocation and retention priority (ARP) and / or access class (AC). Exemplarily, when the terminal device has higher level information, the terminal device may select the eighth method as the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information. At this time, the eighth method may include one of the first method, the fourth method, the sixth method, or the seventh method (or the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the sixth method, or the seventh method, or the first method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, or the seventh method, or the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, or the seventh method), or in other words, the eighth method at this time includes one of the methods for obtaining the multicast configuration information corresponding to the enhanced mode service. Conversely, when the terminal device has lower level information, the terminal device may select the ninth method as the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information. At this time, the ninth method, for example, includes one of the second method or the third method (or the second method, the third method, the fifth method, or the fifth method), or in other words, the ninth method at this time includes one of the methods for obtaining the multicast configuration information corresponding to the normal mode service.

[0206] (3) The terminal device determines how to obtain the multicast configuration information based on the signal quality information

[0207] Optionally, when it is determined based on the multicast service identifier that the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information includes the eighth and ninth methods described above, the terminal device may select one of the eighth and ninth methods as the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information based on the signal quality information. It should be understood that in this case, the first information may include the service identifier and signal quality information of the multicast service.

[0208] It should be understood that at this time, the network device can determine, based on the multicast service identifier, that the transmission mode corresponding to the multicast service identifier includes the transmission modes corresponding to the eighth and ninth modes described above. The network device can select, based on the signal quality information, one of the transmission modes corresponding to the eighth and ninth modes as the transmission mode for the multicast configuration information. It should be understood that at this time, the first information may include the service identifier of the multicast service and the level information of the terminal device. In addition, this application does not exclude the possibility that the network device sends the same multicast configuration information using the eighth and ninth modes, respectively.

[0209] Among them, signal quality information, such as the reference signal received power (RSRP) measured by the terminal device, is used to characterize the signal quality. Signal quality information includes at least one of the following: RSRP, (Reference Signal Receiving Quality, RSRQ), (Received Signal Strength Indicator, RSSI), (Channel Quality Information, CQI)

[0210] For example, the terminal device may compare the RSRP obtained by measurement with the RSRP threshold. If the RSRP obtained by detection is less than (or less than or equal to) the RSRP threshold, the terminal device may select the eighth method as the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information. At this time, the eighth method may include one of the first method, the fourth method, the sixth method, or the seventh method (or the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the sixth method, or the seventh method, or the first method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, or the seventh method, or the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, or the seventh method). Conversely, if the RSRP obtained by detection is greater than or equal to (or greater than) the RSRP threshold, the terminal device may select the ninth method as the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information. At this time, the ninth method may include one of the second method or the third method (or the second method, the third method, the fifth method, or the fifth method).

[0211] Similarly, when the terminal device determines that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier includes the above eighth method, ninth method and tenth method (or the eighth method, ninth method, tenth method and more acquisition methods) based on the identifier of the multicast service, the terminal device may determine the acquisition method of the multicast configuration information based on the probability of each acquisition method, the level information of the terminal device or at least one of the signal quality information. At this time, the first information may include the identifier of the multicast service, and the probability of each acquisition method, the level information of the terminal device or at least one of the signal quality information. Among them, the tenth method (or the tenth method and more acquisition methods) is one of the first to seventh methods, and the eighth method, the ninth method and the tenth method (or the eighth method, the ninth method, the tenth method and more acquisition methods) are all different.

[0212] Method 3

[0213] Similar to Method 1, the terminal device may determine the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information based on the terminal device's level information and / or the signal quality information detected by the terminal device, based on the correspondence between the level information and the acquisition method, and / or based on the correspondence between the signal quality information and the acquisition method. The specific implementation of Method 3 can be found in the description of Method 1 above and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0214] Method 4

[0215] When the first information includes indication information of a method for obtaining the multicast configuration information, the terminal device determines the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information according to the indication information.

[0216] The information indicating the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information may be used to indicate one or more of the methods one to seven.

[0217] If the information indicating the method for obtaining multicast configuration information indicates one of Methods 1 to 7, the indicated method is the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information. If the information indicating the method for obtaining multicast configuration information indicates at least two of Methods 1 to 7, the terminal device may determine the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information based on at least one of the probability, level information, or signal quality information. The specific method can refer to the description of Method 2.

[0218] Exemplarily, the terminal device may receive third information from the network device, and the third information includes indication information of the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information. In this case, the first information includes indication information of the target acquisition method (or it is understood that the indication information of the target acquisition method included in the first information is obtained by receiving the third information). In addition, the third information may also include identification information of the multicast service, which is used to indicate the multicast service corresponding to the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information (or it is understood that the identification information of the multicast service included in the first information is obtained by receiving the third information). The third information can be sent to the terminal device via unicast information, multicast information or broadcast information. Among them, the method for sending unicast information, multicast information or broadcast information can refer to the description in the aforementioned part of this application.

[0219] In a possible example, when the third information is carried on the PDSCH used for paging (on the resources indicated by the DCI that schedules the paging message), the third information may indicate that the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information is the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information corresponding to the enhanced mode service, for example, including the first method, the fourth method, the sixth method or the seventh method; when the third information is carried on the MCCH, the third information may indicate that the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information is the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information corresponding to the normal mode service, for example, including the second method or the third method.

[0220] Another possible example is that the third information is carried in the first DCI, and the first DCI is used to schedule a paging message (therefore, DCI can also be called scheduling information). The paging message can be used to indicate the arrival of the multicast service. Therefore, the first DCI can be used to indicate the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information of the multicast service, thereby improving the efficiency of obtaining the multicast configuration information. Alternatively, the third information can be carried by the paging message, so that the paging message can indicate the arrival of the multicast service and simultaneously indicate the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information.

[0221] Optionally, 3 bits in the first DCI can be used as the indication information to correspond to enhanced mode services, normal mode services and mixed mode services respectively, or multiple bits can be used to correspond to multiple methods of obtaining multicast configuration information respectively. The specific corresponding order is not limited. When a bit is set to "1", it indicates that the corresponding method of obtaining multicast configuration information is adopted. Alternatively, 2 bits can be used as the indication information, for example, 11 corresponds to enhanced mode services, 01 identifies mixed mode services, and 00 represents normal mode services. After determining that the multicast service corresponds to one of the enhanced mode services, normal mode services or mixed mode services, the method of obtaining the multicast configuration information can be determined according to the method of obtaining the multicast configuration information under the mode. For example, the multicast service is an enhanced mode service, and the method of obtaining the enhanced mode service includes the first method, the fourth method, the sixth method or the seventh method. The terminal device can select one method from them as the method of obtaining the multicast configuration information. The selection method can refer to the description in this application.

[0222] In addition, for the network device, the target acquisition method indication information in the first information is the target sending method indication information. For example, the indication information may come from the AMF or other core network device or other non-core network device, and is used to indicate the target sending method. The description of the target sending method indication information can refer to the description of the target acquisition method indication information.

[0223] Method 5

[0224] The terminal device determines a method for acquiring the multicast configuration information of the multicast service based on the information indicating that the multicast service data is to be sent. In other words, the terminal device determines a method for acquiring the multicast configuration information of the multicast service based on the information for scheduling the multicast service data to be sent.

[0225] Exemplarily, the terminal device may receive a first DCI from the network device, where the first DCI may be used to schedule a paging message, and the information indicating that data for the multicast service is to be sent may be included in the paging message.

[0226] Optionally, the terminal device may determine the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information corresponding to the time-frequency resource (which may be referred to as the first time-frequency resource) carrying the first DCI based on the second corresponding relationship. The second corresponding relationship is the corresponding relationship between at least one time-frequency resource and the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information. The second corresponding relationship may be expressed as a mapping relationship table between time-frequency resources and the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information. The relationship between the time-frequency resources and the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information in the second corresponding relationship may be one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one or many-to-many. Therefore, when the terminal device receives the first DCI, it may determine the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information based on the second corresponding relationship. In addition, when there are multiple acquisition methods determined based on the second corresponding relationship and the time-frequency resources of the first DCI, the terminal device may determine the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information from multiple acquisition methods based on at least one of the probability, level information or signal quality information. The specific method may refer to the description in the above-mentioned method 2.

[0227] For example, different acquisition methods correspond to different paging occasions (PO). Among them, the terminal device attempts to receive the paging message at a specific PO in the time domain, and does not need to monitor the paging message at other time domain locations to achieve energy saving. Therefore, the network device needs to send the DCI for scheduling the paging message at the time domain location where the PO is located, so that the terminal device can receive the paging message. In addition, the network device can also send the configuration of the paging message to the terminal device to indicate parameters such as the paging occasion of the paging message. In this example, the network device can set different configuration parameters of the paging message for different acquisition methods. When a paging message is sent using a PO indicated by a certain parameter, the terminal device can determine the acquisition method corresponding to the PO based on the second corresponding relationship.

[0228] The configuration of a paging message may include a paging frame (PF) and paging occasion related configuration. A paging frame is a radio frame that contains one or more paging occasions. In NR, the SFN frame number of the PF is obtained by the following formula:

[0229] (SFN+PF_offset)mod T=(T div N)*(UE_ID mod N).

[0230] The paging occasion is a subframe that can be used to transmit the P-RNTI scrambled PDCCH and carry the paging message. The i_s of PO is obtained by the following formula:

[0231] i_s=floor(UE_ID / N)mod Ns.

[0232] i_s is the number of the PO corresponding to a PF, that is, i_s of a terminal device indicates that the terminal device wants to receive the paging message in the i_s+1th PO in the PF.

[0233] The paging frame and paging occasion can be derived from the following parameters:

[0234] T: Represents the DRX cycle, also known as the paging cycle. nB: Values ​​include 4T, 2T, T, T / 2, T / 4, T / 8, T / 16, or T / 32, indicating a higher-layer configuration parameter. N: Values ​​include min(T, nB) and represent the number of paging frames in a paging cycle. Ns: Values ​​include max(1, nB / T) and represent the number of paging subframes in a paging frame. UE_ID: Values ​​are IMSI mod 1024. mod represents the remainder operation.

[0235] Optionally, the terminal device may determine the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information corresponding to the RNTI used to scramble the first DCI based on the third correspondence. The third correspondence is a correspondence between at least one RNTI and at least one method for obtaining multicast configuration information. The third correspondence may be expressed as a mapping relationship table between RNTI and the method for obtaining multicast configuration information. The relationship between RNTI and the method for obtaining multicast configuration information in the third correspondence may be one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one or many-to-many. Therefore, when the terminal device receives the first DCI, it may determine the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information based on the third correspondence. In addition, when there are multiple methods for obtaining the multicast configuration information determined based on the third correspondence and the RNTI for scrambling the first DCI, the terminal device may determine the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information from multiple methods for obtaining the multicast configuration information based on at least one of the probability, level information or signal quality information. The specific method may refer to the description in the above-mentioned method 2.

[0236] In addition, for the network device, the information in the first information used to indicate that the data of the multicast service is to be sent can be used to indicate to the network device that the multicast service is to be sent. The information for indicating that the data of the multicast service is to be sent can come from the AMF or other core network devices or other non-core network network devices, and the information can also be used to determine the target sending method. For example, the transmission resources (such as interfaces, etc.) of the information for indicating that the data of the multicast service is to be sent correspond to the target sending method, or the transmission timing of the information for indicating that the data of the multicast service is to be sent corresponds to the target sending method. In addition, the network device can also receive information for displaying the target sending method from the AMF or other core network devices or other non-core network network devices.

[0237] It should be understood that the network device may determine the method for sending the multicast configuration information with reference to Method 1, Method 2, or Method 3. The level information and / or channel quality information of the terminal device may be determined according to existing methods, such as being reported by the terminal device or sent by the core network device to the network device. This application does not specifically limit the method by which the network device determines the level information and / or channel quality information of the terminal device.

[0238] It should be understood that the probability and terminal device level information, etc., which are parameters used by the terminal device to determine how to obtain multicast configuration information, can also be indicated by the core network device to the network device. For example, the network device can determine the probability and level information through pre-configuration (or other means), and then send these parameters to the terminal device through system information, paging messages, etc.

[0239] The network device can also indicate the sending method of the multicast configuration information to the terminal device through method four and / or method five. The sending method corresponds to the acquisition method. For example, if the sending method is sending through unicast information, the corresponding acquisition method is obtaining through unicast information.

[0240] The multicast configuration information in the embodiment of the present application is described in detail below.

[0241] For enhanced mode services, the multicast configuration information may include the G-RNTI associated with the multicast service, the identifier of the multicast service, the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer configuration parameters, the radio link control (RLC) layer configuration parameters, the logical channel (LCH) set corresponding to the identifier of the multicast service, the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) configuration, the PDCP status report configuration, the bandwidth part (BWP) configuration or at least one of the dual active protocol stack (DAPS) configuration.

[0242] Among them, the PDCP layer configuration parameters include at least one of the PDCP sequence number length, encryption parameters, or header compression parameters. The RLC layer configuration parameters may include parameters such as the RLC sequence number length or the RLC mode. The RLC mode may be an acknowledge mode (AM) mode, an unacknowledge mode (UM) mode, or a transparent mode (TM) mode. The logical channel set corresponding to the multicast service identifier may include a logical channel number list, which may include a correspondence between one or more multicast services and logical channel sets, and the one or more logical channels corresponding to each multicast service identifier. The specific implementation method is not specifically required here. The DAPS configuration is introduced for mobility enhancement. By enabling this mechanism, the terminal device can ensure 0 millisecond (ms) interruption during handover and ensure service transmission performance. Specifically, when the terminal device is handover, it keeps the protocol stacks of the source base station and the target base station activated at the same time. In other words, for a period of time, the terminal device maintains connections with the source base station and the target base station at the same time. After switching to the target base station, it disconnects from the source base station. In this way, during the handover process, data can be kept uninterrupted and 0ms interruption can be achieved.

[0243] For example, if the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information corresponding to the enhanced mode service includes the first method, the terminal device can obtain at least one of the G-RNTI associated with the multicast service, the identifier of the multicast service, the PDCP layer configuration parameters, the RLC layer configuration parameters, the logical channel set corresponding to the identifier of the multicast service, the PUCCH configuration, the PDCP status report configuration, the BWP configuration, or the DAPS configuration through unicast information. It should be understood that under this first method, the unicast information carrying the multicast configuration information needs to be obtained in the connected state.

[0244] It should be understood that for enhanced mode services, the network device can send part or all of the multicast configuration information to the terminal device through unicast information or multicast information. The unicast information here is such as RRC signaling, information carried by the PDSCH scheduled by the unicast DCI, and the multicast information is such as information carried by the PDSCH scheduled by the multicast DCI.

[0245] For normal mode services, the multicast configuration information may include at least one of PDCP layer configuration parameters, RLC layer configuration parameters, or G-RNTI configuration. For example, if the multicast configuration information acquisition method corresponding to the enhanced mode service includes the first method, the terminal device may acquire at least one of the PDCP layer configuration parameters, RLC layer configuration parameters, or G-RNTI configuration through the multicast information.

[0246] The following describes the processes for obtaining multicast configuration information according to the first to seventh methods above.

[0247] 1. For the first method:

[0248] When the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information determined by the terminal device includes obtaining the multicast configuration information through unicast information (i.e., the first method), the terminal device may determine its own RRC connection state before obtaining the multicast configuration information, and determine the process of obtaining the multicast configuration information based on its own RRC connection state, specifically:

[0249] If the terminal device is in a connected state, it can wait for dedicated signaling from the network device and receive the dedicated signaling to obtain multicast configuration information. Alternatively, the terminal device can send a request to obtain multicast configuration information to the network device. Upon receiving the request, the network device sends the multicast configuration information to the terminal device. The configuration request is carried in an RRC message or MAC CE and is identified by one or more bits. The correspondence between each bit and the method for obtaining multicast configuration information is not specifically limited.

[0250] If the terminal device is in an idle state or an inactive state, in one possible implementation, after the terminal device enters a connected state, the network device sends multicast configuration information to the terminal device through RRC signaling. The RRC signaling may be an RRC reconfiguration message or other RRC message. In another possible implementation, the terminal device may obtain the multicast configuration information during the process of entering the connected state.

[0251] Regarding the way in which a terminal device obtains multicast configuration information when entering a connected state, in one example, when the terminal device determines to perform random access through four-step random access, the terminal device may carry the UEID in Msg3, and the network device may obtain the access reason based on the association between the pre-stored UE ID and the access reason. When the number of terminal devices with multicast access reaches a certain number, for the terminal devices that subsequently access, the network device may directly send the multicast configuration information, or send an indication information to the terminal device, instructing the terminal device to read the multicast configuration information carried in the system information, wherein the indication information may include a 1-bit enable indication, or include identification information of the multicast service, and the indication information may be sent via Msg4 or via DCI. In another example, when the terminal device determines to perform random access through two-step random access, the two-step random access includes sending MsgA and receiving MsgB, wherein MsgA can carry UE ID, which is used for the network device to know that the terminal device needs multicast configuration information according to the UE ID, and then the network device can send indication information to the terminal device or directly send multicast configuration information. The indication information or multicast configuration information here can be carried in the MsgB message or the DCI or other dedicated message that schedules MsgB. The content of the indication information can refer to the description of the indication information in the four steps. The dedicated message here can be an RRC message, a media access control (MAC) control element (CE), etc. The method for the terminal device to determine whether to perform random access through four-step or two-step random access includes: the terminal device determines according to a preset RSRP threshold. For example, when the RSRP threshold measured by the terminal device is greater than the preset RSRP threshold, it is determined to perform random access through two-step random access; conversely, when the RSRP threshold measured by the terminal device is less than or equal to the preset RSRP threshold, it is determined to perform random access through four-step random access.

[0252] 2. For the second method:

[0253] When the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information determined by the terminal device includes obtaining the multicast configuration information through multicast information, the terminal device may read the multicast information to obtain the multicast configuration information. For example, the terminal device may read the multicast information sent through the multicast control channel MCCH to obtain the multicast configuration information carried in the multicast information; or the terminal device may use the DCI scrambled by the group radio network temporary identifier G-RNTI to obtain the multicast configuration information carried on the scheduled resources indicated by the DCI.

[0254] Optionally, the terminal device reads the multicast information including: starting to read the multicast information in the same multicast configuration information change period or the same frame or the same subframe or the same time slot or the same sub-time slot where the indication information of the target acquisition method is located, or the terminal device receives the indication information of the target acquisition method and immediately reads the multicast information.

[0255] 3. For the third method:

[0256] When the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information determined by the terminal device includes obtaining the multicast configuration information through broadcast information, the terminal device may read the broadcast information to receive the multicast configuration information sent through the broadcast information.

[0257] Optionally, the terminal device reads the broadcast information including: starting to read the broadcast information in the same multicast configuration information change period or the same frame or the same subframe or the same time slot or the same sub-time slot where the indication information of the target acquisition method is located, or the terminal device receives the indication information of the target acquisition method and immediately reads the broadcast information.

[0258] 4. Regarding the fourth method:

[0259] When the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information determined by the terminal device includes obtaining the multicast configuration information through two sub-methods, namely, multicast information and unicast information (i.e., the fourth method), the terminal device can obtain the complete multicast configuration information through the multicast information and unicast information, respectively. Specifically, when the terminal device obtains a portion of the multicast configuration information through multicast, the terminal device also needs to obtain a portion of the multicast configuration information through unicast information. The complete multicast configuration information can be obtained based on the sum of the two portions of the multicast configuration information.

[0260] When obtaining a portion of the multicast configuration information corresponding to the unicast information, the terminal needs to determine its own RRC connection status, and then the terminal device determines the process of obtaining this portion of the multicast configuration information based on its own RRC connection status. The specific process can refer to the aforementioned description of receiving multicast configuration information through unicast information. In one example, the terminal device can obtain the first multicast configuration information (including the first identifier and / or the first multicast service identifier) ​​through multicast information (or unicast information), and obtain the second multicast configuration information (including the first identifier and / or the first multicast service identifier) ​​through unicast information (or multicast information), and then determine, based on the first identifier and / or the first multicast service identifier, that the sum of the multicast configuration information respectively carried by the first multicast configuration information and the second multicast configuration information includes the complete multicast configuration information corresponding to the first multicast service identifier.

[0261] In another example, the terminal device can obtain the first multicast configuration information (including the first multicast service identifier, the number of segments - or the number of sub-modes, and the first identifier) ​​through multicast information (or unicast information), where the first identifier is used to indicate which part of the complete multicast configuration information the first multicast configuration information is, or the configuration information corresponding to which sub-mode, and obtain the second multicast configuration information (including the first multicast service identifier and the first identifier) ​​through unicast information (or multicast information), but the values ​​of the first identifiers in the first multicast configuration information and the second multicast configuration information may be different. For example, when obtaining multicast configuration information through the fourth method, there are two sub-methods (obtaining multicast configuration information through unicast information and multicast information respectively). When the terminal device receives the first multicast configuration information carried by the multicast information, the multicast information can indicate the identifier of the multicast service, the number of segments (in this example, indicating that the complete multicast configuration information is divided into two segments) and the first identifier. At this time, the first identifier can indicate which segment of the multicast configuration information divided into multiple segments the multicast configuration information carried in the multicast information belongs to (in this example, for example, indicating that the segment of multicast configuration information is the first segment of multicast configuration information). The terminal device can then obtain the multicast configuration information of other segments through unicast information.

[0262] 5. Regarding the fifth method:

[0263] Optionally, when the terminal device determines that the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information includes obtaining the multicast configuration information through broadcast information and multicast information, the terminal device can obtain the complete multicast configuration information through the broadcast information and the multicast information respectively. Among them, when the terminal device obtains a part of the multicast configuration information through broadcast, the terminal device also needs to obtain a part of the multicast configuration information through multicast information, and the complete multicast configuration information can be obtained based on the sum of the two parts of the multicast configuration information. For example, the terminal device can obtain the first multicast configuration information (including the first identifier and the first multicast service identifier) ​​through broadcast information, and obtain the second multicast configuration information (including the first identifier and the first multicast service identifier) ​​through multicast information, and then determine, based on the first identifier and the first multicast service identifier, that the sum of the multicast configuration information respectively carried by the first multicast configuration information and the second multicast configuration information includes the complete multicast configuration information corresponding to the first multicast service identifier.

[0264] In another example, the terminal device can obtain the first multicast configuration information (including the first multicast service identifier, the number of segments - or the number of sub-modes, and the first identifier) ​​through broadcast information (or multicast information), where the first identifier is used to indicate which part of the complete multicast configuration information the first multicast configuration information is, or the multicast configuration information corresponding to which sub-mode, and obtain the second multicast configuration information (including the first multicast service identifier and the first identifier) ​​through multicast information (or broadcast information), but the first identifier values ​​in the first multicast configuration information and the second multicast configuration information are different. For example, when obtaining multicast configuration information through the fifth method, there are two sub-methods (i.e., obtaining multicast configuration information through two sub-methods of multicast information and broadcast information). When the terminal device receives the first multicast configuration information carried by the broadcast information, the broadcast information can indicate the identifier of the multicast service, the number of segments (in this example, indicating that the complete multicast configuration information is divided into two segments) and the first identifier. At this time, the first identifier can indicate which segment of the multicast configuration information divided into multiple segments the multicast configuration information carried in the broadcast information belongs to (in this example, for example, indicating that the segment of the multicast configuration information is the first segment of the multicast configuration information). The terminal device can then obtain the second segment of the multicast configuration information through the multicast information.

[0265] 6. Regarding the sixth method:

[0266] When the terminal device determines that the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information includes obtaining the multicast configuration information through broadcast information and unicast information, the terminal device may obtain the complete multicast configuration information through the broadcast information and the unicast information respectively. Specifically, when the terminal device obtains part of the multicast configuration information through broadcast, the terminal device also needs to obtain part of the multicast configuration information through unicast information. The complete multicast configuration information can be obtained based on the sum of the two parts of the multicast configuration information.

[0267] When obtaining a portion of the multicast configuration information corresponding to the unicast information, the terminal device needs to determine its own RRC connection status, and then the terminal device determines the process of obtaining this portion of the multicast configuration information based on its own RRC connection status. The specific process can refer to the aforementioned description of receiving the multicast configuration information through unicast information. For example, the terminal device can obtain the first multicast configuration information (including the first identifier and the first multicast service identifier) ​​through the broadcast information, and obtain the second multicast configuration information (including the first identifier and the first multicast service identifier) ​​through the unicast information, and then determine, based on the first identifier and the first multicast service identifier, that the sum of the multicast configuration information respectively carried by the first multicast configuration information and the second multicast configuration information includes the complete multicast configuration information corresponding to the first multicast service identifier.

[0268] In another example, the terminal device can obtain the first multicast configuration information (including the first multicast service identifier, the number of segments - or the number of sub-modes, and the first identifier) ​​through broadcast information (or unicast information), where the first identifier is used to indicate which part of the complete multicast configuration the first multicast configuration information is, or the multicast configuration information corresponding to which sub-mode, and obtain the second multicast configuration information (including the first multicast service identifier and the first identifier) ​​through unicast information (broadcast information), but the first identifier values ​​in the first multicast configuration information and the second multicast configuration information are different. For example, when obtaining multicast configuration information through the sixth method, there are two sub-methods (obtaining multicast configuration information through broadcast information and unicast information respectively). When the terminal device receives the first multicast configuration information carried by the broadcast information, the broadcast information can indicate the identifier of the multicast service, the number of segments (in this example, indicating that the complete multicast configuration information is divided into two segments) and the first identifier. At this time, the first identifier can indicate which segment of the multicast configuration information divided into multiple segments the multicast configuration information carried in the broadcast information belongs to (in this example, for example, indicating that the segment of the multicast configuration information is the first segment of the multicast configuration information). The terminal device can then obtain the second segment of the multicast configuration information through the unicast information.

[0269] 7. Regarding the seventh method:

[0270] When the terminal device determines that the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information includes obtaining the multicast configuration information through three sub-methods: broadcast information, multicast information, and unicast information, the terminal device may obtain the complete multicast configuration information through the broadcast information, multicast information, and unicast information, respectively. Specifically, when the terminal device obtains a portion of the complete multicast configuration information through broadcast information and multicast, the terminal device also needs to obtain a portion of the multicast configuration information through unicast information. The complete multicast configuration information can be obtained based on the sum of the portions of the multicast configuration information.

[0271] When obtaining a portion of the multicast configuration information corresponding to the unicast information, the terminal needs to determine its own RRC connection status, and then the terminal device determines the process of obtaining this portion of the multicast configuration information based on its own RRC connection status. The specific process can refer to the aforementioned description of receiving multicast configuration information through unicast information. For example, the terminal device can obtain the first multicast configuration information (including the first identifier and the first multicast service identifier) ​​through multicast information, and obtain the second multicast configuration information (including the first identifier and the first multicast service identifier) ​​through broadcast information, and then obtain the third multicast configuration information (including the first identifier and the first multicast service identifier) ​​through unicast information, and then determine, based on the first identifier and the first multicast service identifier, that the sum of the multicast configuration information respectively carried by the first multicast configuration information, the second multicast configuration information, and the third multicast configuration information is the complete multicast configuration information corresponding to the first multicast service identifier.

[0272] In another example, the terminal device can obtain the first multicast configuration information (including the first multicast service identifier, the number of segments - or the number of sub-modes, and the first identifier) ​​through broadcast information (or multicast information or unicast information), where the first identifier is used to indicate which part of the complete multicast configuration information the first multicast configuration information is, or which sub-mode it is, and obtain the second multicast configuration information (including the first multicast service identifier, the first identifier) ​​through multicast information (unicast information or broadcast information), and obtain the third multicast configuration information (including the first multicast service identifier, the first identifier) ​​through unicast information (or broadcast information or multicast information), but the values ​​of the first identifiers in the first multicast configuration information, the second multicast configuration information, and the third multicast configuration information are different. For example, when obtaining multicast configuration information through the seventh method, there are three sub-methods (obtaining multicast configuration information through broadcast information, multicast information and unicast information respectively). When the terminal device receives the first multicast configuration information carried by the broadcast information, the broadcast information can indicate the identifier of the multicast service, the number of segments (in this example, indicating that the complete multicast configuration information is divided into three segments) and the first identifier. At this time, the first identifier can indicate which segment of the multicast configuration information divided into multiple segments the multicast configuration information carried in the broadcast information belongs to (in this example, for example, indicating that the segment of multicast configuration information is the first segment of multicast configuration information). The terminal device can then obtain the multicast configuration information of other segments through the two sub-methods of multicast information and broadcast information. When the multicast information carries the first multicast configuration information, the multicast information may indicate the identifier of the multicast service, the number of segments (in this example, indicating that the complete multicast configuration information is divided into three segments) and the first identifier. At this time, the first identifier may indicate which segment of the multicast configuration information divided into multiple segments the multicast configuration information carried in the broadcast information belongs to (in this example, for example, indicating that the segment of the multicast configuration information is the second segment of the multicast configuration information). The terminal device can then obtain the third segment of the multicast configuration information through the unicast information.

[0273] Optionally, each of the above fourth to seventh methods includes at least two sub-methods. For example, in the fourth method, it is necessary to obtain multicast configuration information by receiving unicast information and multicast information. Obtaining through unicast information and obtaining through multicast information are two sub-methods for obtaining multicast configuration information. When it is determined to adopt any one of the fourth to seventh methods based on the first information, in the implementation of S103, at least one configuration in the multicast configuration information is obtained according to the sub-method under each acquisition method, and the multicast configuration information obtained through each sub-method has at least one different item.

[0274] Exemplarily, each acquisition method includes at least one of unicast information acquisition, multicast information acquisition, and broadcast information acquisition. For example, a terminal device may acquire multicast configuration information through both unicast information and multicast information sub-methods, or through both multicast information and broadcast information sub-methods.

[0275] When the target acquisition method includes any one of the fourth to seventh methods above, each sub-method under each acquisition method needs to obtain a first identifier, or in other words, the configuration information obtained by each sub-method includes a first identifier, and the first identifier can correspond to the multicast service (or service of the multicast service), and is used to indicate that the configurations obtained by different sub-methods of the target acquisition method belong to the multicast configuration information of the same multicast service. The first identifiers of different multicast services can be the same or different. The first identifiers carried in the configuration information obtained by different sub-methods of the target acquisition method can be the same or different.

[0276] In the case where the first identifiers in the multicast configuration information obtained by different sub-methods of the target acquisition method are the same, the multicast configuration information carrying the same first identifier belongs to the multicast configuration information obtained through the target acquisition method. In the case where the first identifiers in the multicast configuration information obtained by different sub-methods of the target acquisition method are different, each first identifier can be associated with each other. For example, the multicast configuration information obtained by each sub-method includes segmentation information. The segmentation information and the first identifier in the multicast configuration information obtained by each sub-method can be used to determine which segment of the multicast configuration information is divided into multiple segments of the complete multicast configuration information, so that the terminal device can obtain other segments or multiple segments of multicast configuration information that have not been received.

[0277] When the first identifiers of different multicast services are the same, the terminal device can identify the multicast configuration information in combination with the identification information of the multicast service. The first identifier of the same multicast service can be 1 bit, that is, the bit is set to 1, indicating that the multicast configuration information is incomplete. For example, when the first identifier indicates that the multicast configuration information is incomplete, the terminal device can know that the multicast configuration information of the multicast service received in the broadcast is incomplete based on the identification information of the multicast service, and the terminal device needs to obtain the remaining multicast configuration information through other means.

[0278] If the first identifiers of different services are different, the network device may allocate a different first identifier to each service.

[0279] In addition, each sub-method under each acquisition method is used to obtain at least one of the G-RNTI associated with the multicast service, the identifier of the multicast service, the PDCP layer configuration parameters, the RLC layer configuration parameters, the logical channel set corresponding to the identifier of the multicast service, the PUCCH configuration, the PDCP status report configuration, the BWP configuration or the DAPS configuration.

[0280] For example, in the fifth mode, the first configuration obtained by the terminal device through unicast information includes a first identifier, and the second configuration obtained by the terminal device through broadcast information includes the first identifier. Since the first identifier in the first configuration and the second identifier in the second configuration are the same, the terminal device can know that the first configuration and the second configuration belong to the multicast configuration information of the same multicast service. The first configuration can be received by the terminal device through dedicated signaling after entering the connected state; the second configuration can be received by the terminal device through system information or a broadcast message carried by the MCCH channel in the idle state or inactive state. In addition, the first configuration may also include at least one of the PUCCH configuration, PDCP status report configuration, BWP configuration or DAPS configuration, and the second configuration may also include at least one of the logical channel sets corresponding to the G-RNTI associated with the multicast service, the identifier of the multicast service, the PDCP layer configuration parameters, the RLC layer configuration parameters or the identifier of the multicast service.

[0281] Exemplarily, after a multicast service configuration changes, the network device transmits information indicating a modification to the multicast configuration information (which may be referred to as information indicating a modification to the multicast configuration information, or second information) to notify the terminal device of the multicast service configuration change. It should be understood that the second information may indicate a modification to the configuration of one or more multicast services. For example, the second information may carry identifiers of the multicast services configured with the one or more modifications.

[0282] For example, the update indication may include 1 bit of indication information, that is, 1 bit is used to inform that the multicast configuration information has changed. Regardless of the mode of the multicast service, the terminal device must obtain the modified multicast configuration information according to the update indication. Alternatively, the update indication is indicated for each multicast mode (or the method of obtaining the multicast configuration information), that is, it indicates the modification of the multicast configuration information of the multicast service of the target multicast mode (or the method of obtaining the target multicast configuration information). At this time, the network device can indicate through multiple bits, for example, each bit corresponds to a multicast mode, or each bit can correspond to a method of obtaining the multicast configuration information, or multiple bits correspond to multiple multicast modes or methods of obtaining, without specific limitation. Figure 15 As shown, the update indication can indicate one of the first to seventh modes through each 7 bits.

[0283] The above update indication can be carried by a paging message or an MCCH change indication notification. Among them, if the update indication is carried by a paging message, it can be carried by the DCI indication used for scheduling paging or the PDSCH indicated by the paging DCI. In this case, the DCI used for scheduling paging is scrambled by the P-RNTI. If it is carried by an MCCH change notification, it can be indicated by the DCI for scheduling the MCCH change notification. In this case, the DCI is scrambled by the M-RNTI. The M-RNTI is the RNTI used to scramble the multicast MCCH change indication and may also have other names.

[0284] It should be understood that the terminal device can obtain the modified multicast configuration information according to the method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information. The specific method can refer to the description of the aforementioned method for obtaining the multicast configuration information. For example, the terminal device can determine the sending method of the modified multicast configuration information based on the fourth information, and the fourth information may include the first information. Or the terminal device can determine the sending method of the modified multicast configuration information based on the fifth information from the network device. The fifth information may indicate the sending method (or acquisition method) of the modified multicast configuration information. The specific method can refer to the aforementioned description of the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information by indicating the data to be sent for the multicast service or the third information. The terminal device obtains the fifth information from the network device, specifically, from the access network device (for example, carried in system information, RRC message, DCI or MAC CE).

[0285] It should be understood that the modified multicast configuration information obtained by the terminal device may include the modified complete multicast configuration information, or only include the modified unicast configuration information.

[0286] like Figure 16 As shown, in a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, a method for a terminal device to obtain multicast configuration information may include the following steps:

[0287] S201: A network device sends information indicating that data of a multicast service is to be sent.

[0288] The information indicating that data of the multicast service is to be sent may include information indicating the arrival of the multicast service, information indicating the start of the multicast service, or information indicating that the network side has data of the multicast service to be sent.

[0289] Accordingly, the terminal device receives information indicating the arrival of the multicast service, and thus learns that the multicast service has arrived (or is about to be sent).

[0290] The information indicating the arrival of the multicast service may be carried in a paging message.

[0291] If the terminal device is interested in this multicast service, it will determine whether it has multicast configuration information for receiving this multicast service. If not, it needs to obtain the multicast configuration information first. Otherwise, it can use the obtained unicast configuration to receive the multicast service.

[0292] Exemplarily, the network device may indicate the arrival of the multicast service in a paging message, or in other words, the paging message may carry information indicating the arrival of the multicast service.

[0293] S202: The network device sends the first correspondence relationship through a public channel.

[0294] Correspondingly, the terminal device can obtain the first corresponding relationship through the public channel.

[0295] The common channel here is, for example, a broadcast channel or a multicast control channel MCCH. It can be understood that the terminal device obtains the first corresponding relationship through the broadcast channel, that is, the first corresponding relationship is carried in the broadcast message at this time, and the terminal device obtains the first corresponding relationship through the multicast control channel MCCH, that is, the first corresponding relationship is carried in the RRC message corresponding to the MCCH at this time.

[0296] The first correspondence includes a correspondence between an identifier of at least one multicast service and a method for obtaining at least one multicast configuration information, wherein the identifier belongs to the identifier of the at least one multicast service, and the target acquisition method belongs to the method for obtaining the at least one multicast configuration information. The first correspondence can be one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many.

[0297] The first corresponding relationship is shown in Table 1.

[0298] It should be understood that the present application does not specifically limit the timing relationship between the above S201 and S202. S202 can be executed before S201, or after S201, or S201 and S202 can be executed simultaneously.

[0299] S203: The terminal device determines a method for acquiring the multicast configuration information according to the identifier of the multicast service and the first corresponding relationship.

[0300] The identifier of the multicast service here may carry the information indicating the arrival of the multicast service shown in S201. When the terminal device determines that it is interested in the multicast service, it may determine a method for obtaining the multicast configuration information of the multicast service according to the identifier.

[0301] Exemplarily, the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information determined by the terminal device in S203 may include at least one of the first to seventh methods described above. When the determined method for obtaining the multicast configuration information includes at least two of the first to seventh methods described above, the terminal device may determine an acquisition method based on the probabilities corresponding to the different acquisition methods, the level information of the terminal device, or at least one of the signal quality information, and use the acquisition method to obtain the multicast configuration information. When the determined method for obtaining the multicast configuration information includes one of the first to seventh methods described above, the terminal device may obtain the multicast configuration information according to the acquisition method.

[0302] S204: The terminal device obtains the multicast configuration information of the multicast service according to the multicast configuration information acquisition method.

[0303] Among them, if the method for obtaining multicast configuration information includes obtaining multicast configuration information of multicast services through unicast information, the terminal device can determine its own RRC connection status. If it is currently in RRC idle state or RRC inactive state, the terminal device can initiate random access to the network device and receive multicast configuration information of the multicast service after entering the RRC connection state or during the random access process.

[0304] If the multicast configuration information is obtained through broadcast information (or multicast information), the terminal device can receive the multicast configuration information through broadcast information. At this time, the multicast configuration information obtained by the terminal device may include at least one configuration of PDCP layer configuration parameters, RLC layer configuration parameters or G-RNTI.

[0305] If the multicast configuration information is obtained through unicast information and broadcast information (or multicast information), the terminal device may obtain the first identifier through the broadcast information (or multicast information), and obtain at least one of the LCH sets corresponding to the PDCP layer configuration parameters, RLC layer configuration parameters, or the identifier of the multicast service; in addition, the multicast configuration information obtained by the terminal device through unicast information may include the first identifier, and at least one of the PUCCH configuration, PDCP status report configuration, BWP configuration, or DAPS configuration. The first identifier is used to indicate that the multicast configuration information obtained through the broadcast information and the configuration obtained through the unicast information are for the same multicast service.

[0306] S205: The terminal device receives the multicast service according to the multicast configuration information of the multicast service.

[0307] S206: The terminal device receives information (such as the aforementioned second information) indicating modification of the multicast configuration information of the multicast service.

[0308] S207: The terminal device obtains the modified multicast configuration information of the multicast service.

[0309] The method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information may be indicated by the modified information indicating the multicast configuration information of the multicast service, or the method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information may continue to use the method determined in S203. In other words, the method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information may be the same as or different from the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information of the multicast service initially obtained by the terminal device.

[0310] S208: The terminal device obtains the modified multicast configuration information according to the method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information.

[0311] S209: The terminal device receives the modified multicast service according to the modified multicast configuration information.

[0312] It should be understood that the above Figure 16 The illustrated process is for an embodiment in which the first corresponding relationship is carried through a common channel, so as to achieve flexible acquisition of the multicast configuration information according to different acquisition methods.

[0313] Figure 17 As shown, Figure 16 The logic block diagram of the terminal device corresponding to the process shown in the figure. Figure 17 As shown, when in S203, the terminal device determines that the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information of the multicast service includes at least two of the first to seventh methods, it is necessary to further determine which of the at least two methods of obtaining the multicast configuration information is specifically used, and then obtain the multicast configuration information according to the corresponding method of obtaining. In addition, when in S204, the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information includes the method for obtaining unicast information, the terminal device can determine whether it is in an RRC connection state. If the terminal device is in the RRC connection state, it can wait for the multicast configuration information sent by the network device through unicast information. Otherwise, if the terminal device is not in the RRC connection state, it can initiate random access and obtain the multicast configuration information when entering the RRC connection state through random access or in the process of entering the RRC connection state.

[0314] like Figure 18 As shown, in another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, a method for a terminal device to obtain multicast configuration information may include the following steps:

[0315] S301: A network device sends information indicating the arrival of a multicast service.

[0316] It should be understood that the information used to indicate the arrival of a multicast service can also be replaced by information used to indicate that data of the multicast service is to be sent, information used to indicate the start of the multicast service, or information used to indicate that the network side has multicast service data to be sent, etc.

[0317] Accordingly, the terminal device receives information indicating the arrival of the multicast service, and thus learns that the multicast service has arrived (or is about to be sent).

[0318] If the terminal device is interested in this multicast service, it will determine whether it has multicast configuration information for receiving this multicast service. If not, it needs to obtain the multicast configuration information first. Otherwise, it can use the obtained unicast configuration to receive the multicast service.

[0319] Exemplarily, the network device may indicate the arrival of the multicast service in a paging message, or in other words, may carry information indicating the arrival of the multicast service in the paging message.

[0320] S302: The network device sends a first correspondence through a paging process.

[0321] Accordingly, the terminal device may receive the first corresponding relationship through a paging process.

[0322] The scheduling information may include the information in S301 for indicating the arrival of the multicast service. Therefore, the network device may send the first corresponding relationship to the terminal device when indicating the arrival of the multicast service.

[0323] The first correspondence can be carried in a paging message, or carried in downlink control information from a network device, or carried on resources indicated by downlink control information from a network device (such as at least one of the indicated PDSCH time domain, frequency domain, and spatial domain resources), wherein the downlink control information is used to schedule paging messages.

[0324] The first correspondence includes a correspondence between an identifier of at least one multicast service and a method for obtaining at least one multicast configuration information, wherein the identifier belongs to the identifier of the at least one multicast service, and the target acquisition method belongs to the method for obtaining the at least one multicast configuration information. An example of the first correspondence is shown in Table 1.

[0325] S303: The terminal device determines a method for acquiring the multicast configuration information according to the identifier of the multicast service and the first corresponding relationship.

[0326] The identifier of the multicast service here may carry the information indicating the arrival of the multicast service shown in S301. When the terminal device determines that it is interested in the multicast service, it may determine a method for obtaining the multicast configuration information of the multicast service according to the identifier.

[0327] Exemplarily, the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information determined by the terminal device in S303 may include at least one of the first to seventh methods described above. When the determined method for obtaining the multicast configuration information includes at least two of the first to seventh methods described above, the terminal device may determine an acquisition method based on the probabilities corresponding to the different acquisition methods, the level information of the terminal device, or at least one of the signal quality information, and use the acquisition method to obtain the multicast configuration information. When the determined method for obtaining the multicast configuration information includes one of the first to seventh methods described above, the terminal device may obtain the multicast configuration information according to the acquisition method.

[0328] S304: The terminal device obtains the multicast configuration information of the multicast service according to the multicast configuration information acquisition method.

[0329] Among them, if the method for obtaining multicast configuration information includes obtaining multicast configuration information of multicast services through unicast information, the terminal device can determine its own RRC connection status. If it is currently in RRC idle state or RRC inactive state, the terminal device can initiate random access to the network device and receive multicast configuration information of the multicast service after entering the RRC connection state or during the random access process.

[0330] If the multicast configuration information is obtained through broadcast information (or multicast information), the terminal device can receive the multicast configuration information through broadcast information. At this time, the multicast configuration information obtained by the terminal device may include at least one configuration of PDCP layer configuration parameters, RLC layer configuration parameters or G-RNTI.

[0331] If the multicast configuration information is obtained through unicast information and broadcast information (or multicast information), the terminal device may obtain the first identifier through the broadcast information (or multicast information), and obtain at least one of the LCH sets corresponding to the PDCP layer configuration parameters, RLC layer configuration parameters, or the identifier of the multicast service; in addition, the multicast configuration information obtained by the terminal device through unicast information may include the first identifier, and at least one of the PUCCH configuration, PDCP status report configuration, BWP configuration, or DAPS configuration. The first identifier is used to indicate that the multicast configuration information obtained through the broadcast information and the configuration obtained through the unicast information are for the same multicast service.

[0332] In addition, if the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information includes the fourth method, the sixth method or the seventh method, that is, the method in which the terminal device receives the multicast configuration information includes obtaining it through unicast information, and includes obtaining it through multicast information and / or broadcast information, then the RRC connection state when the terminal device obtains the multicast configuration information through multicast information and / or broadcast information can be an RRC connected state, an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state, and the terminal device needs to be in an RRC connected state when obtaining the multicast configuration information through unicast information.

[0333] S305: The terminal device receives the multicast service according to the multicast configuration information of the multicast service.

[0334] S306: The terminal device receives information (such as the aforementioned second information) indicating modification of the multicast configuration information of the multicast service.

[0335] S307: The terminal device obtains the modified multicast configuration information of the multicast service.

[0336] The method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information may be indicated by the modified information indicating the multicast configuration information of the multicast service, or the method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information may continue to use the method determined in S303. In other words, the method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information may be the same as or different from the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information of the multicast service initially obtained by the terminal device.

[0337] S308: The terminal device obtains the modified multicast configuration information according to the method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information.

[0338] S309: The terminal device receives the modified multicast service according to the modified multicast configuration information.

[0339] It should be understood that Figure 18 The illustrated process is for an embodiment in which the first corresponding relationship is carried by scheduling information (such as DCI) of a paging message, so as to achieve flexible acquisition of multicast configuration information according to different acquisition methods.

[0340] Figure 19 As shown, Figure 18 The logic diagram corresponding to the process shown in the figure is as follows. Figure 19As shown, when in S303, the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information of the multicast service determined by the terminal device includes at least two of the first to seventh methods, it is necessary to further determine which of the at least two methods of obtaining the multicast configuration information is specifically adopted, and then obtain the multicast configuration information according to the corresponding method of obtaining. In addition, when in S304, the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information includes obtaining through unicast information, and obtaining through multicast information and / or broadcast information, the terminal device can receive the multicast configuration information sent through multicast information and / or broadcast information (the RRC connection state when receiving the multicast configuration information sent through multicast information and / or broadcast information is not limited, and can be an RRC connected state, an RRC idle state, or an RRC inactive state), and receive the multicast configuration information sent through unicast information in the connected state. In addition, when the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information is obtaining through unicast information, the terminal device can receive the multicast configuration information sent through unicast information in the connected state. When receiving multicast configuration information sent via unicast information in the connected state, the terminal device can determine whether it is in the RRC connected state. If it is in the RRC connected state, it can wait for the multicast configuration information sent by the network device via unicast information. Otherwise, if the terminal device is not in the RRC connected state (in the RRC idle state or in the RRC inactive state), it can initiate random access and obtain the multicast configuration information when entering the RRC connected state through random access or in the process of entering the RRC connected state.

[0341] like Figure 20 As shown, in another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, a method for a terminal device to obtain multicast configuration information may include the following steps:

[0342] S401: The network device sends a paging message for indicating the arrival of a multicast service, and indicates a method for obtaining multicast configuration information of the multicast service through scheduling information (ie, first DCI) of the paging message.

[0343] The paging message may include information indicating the arrival of a multicast service. It should be understood that the information indicating the arrival of a multicast service may also be replaced by information indicating that data for the multicast service is to be sent, information indicating the start of the multicast service, or information indicating that data for the multicast service is to be sent on the network side.

[0344] Accordingly, the terminal device receives the information indicating the arrival of the multicast service, and thus learns that the multicast service has arrived (or is about to be sent).

[0345] If the terminal device is interested in this multicast service, it will determine whether it has multicast configuration information for receiving this multicast service. If not, it needs to obtain the multicast configuration information first. Otherwise, it can use the obtained unicast configuration to receive the multicast service.

[0346] Exemplarily, the network device may indicate the arrival of the multicast service in a paging message, or in other words, may carry information indicating the arrival of the multicast service in the paging message.

[0347] In one implementation, the scheduling information may carry indication information of the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information, for example, 1 bit (or more) of indication information.

[0348] In another implementation, the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information may be determined based on the time-frequency resource that carries the scheduling information. For example, a terminal device may obtain a second correspondence between at least one time-frequency resource and a method for obtaining the multicast configuration information. When the scheduling information is carried by a first time-frequency resource, the terminal device may use the second correspondence to determine the target acquisition method corresponding to the first time-frequency resource.

[0349] S402: If the terminal device is interested in the multicast service, a method for acquiring the multicast configuration information is determined according to the scheduling information.

[0350] Among them, if the method for obtaining multicast configuration information includes obtaining multicast configuration information of multicast services through unicast information, the terminal device can determine its own RRC connection status. If it is currently in RRC idle state or RRC inactive state, the terminal device can initiate random access to the network device and receive multicast configuration information of the multicast service after entering the RRC connection state or during the random access process.

[0351] If the multicast configuration information is obtained through broadcast information (or multicast information), the terminal device can receive the multicast configuration information through broadcast information. At this time, the multicast configuration information obtained by the terminal device may include at least one configuration of PDCP layer configuration parameters, RLC layer configuration parameters or G-RNTI.

[0352] If the multicast configuration information is obtained through unicast information and broadcast information (or multicast information), the terminal device may obtain the first identifier through the broadcast information (or multicast information), and obtain at least one of the LCH sets corresponding to the PDCP layer configuration parameters, RLC layer configuration parameters, or the identifier of the multicast service; in addition, the multicast configuration information obtained by the terminal device through unicast information may include the first identifier, and at least one of the PUCCH configuration, PDCP status report configuration, BWP configuration, or DAPS configuration. The first identifier is used to indicate that the multicast configuration information obtained through the broadcast information and the configuration obtained through the unicast information are for the same multicast service.

[0353] In addition, if the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information includes the fourth method, the sixth method or the seventh method, that is, the method in which the terminal device receives the multicast configuration information includes obtaining it through unicast information, and includes obtaining it through multicast information and / or broadcast information, then the RRC connection state when the terminal device obtains the multicast configuration information through multicast information and / or broadcast information can be an RRC connected state, an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state, and the terminal device needs to be in an RRC connected state when obtaining the multicast configuration information through unicast information.

[0354] S403: The terminal device obtains the multicast configuration information according to the multicast configuration information obtaining method.

[0355] S404: The terminal device receives the multicast service according to the multicast configuration information of the multicast service.

[0356] Thereafter, acquisition of the modified multicast configuration information, for example, S206 - S208 or S306 - S308 may be performed.

[0357] It should be understood that Figure 20 The process shown is for an embodiment in which the information indicating the arrival of a multicast service is carried in a paging message, and the scheduling information of the paging message indicates the method for obtaining the multicast configuration information of the multicast service, so as to realize flexible acquisition of the multicast configuration information according to different acquisition methods.

[0358] The following describes the communication device used to implement the above method in the embodiment of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the above contents can be used in subsequent embodiments, and repeated contents will not be repeated.

[0359] Figure 21 Schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. For example, the communication device is Figure 21 The terminal device 2100 is shown.

[0360] The terminal device 2100 includes a processing module 2110 and a transceiver module 2120. Exemplarily, the terminal device 2100 may be a network device, or a chip used in a terminal device, or other combined devices, components, etc. having the above-mentioned terminal device functions. When the terminal device 2100 is a terminal device, the transceiver module 2120 may be a transceiver, which may include an antenna and a radio frequency circuit, etc., and the processing module 2110 may be a processor, such as a baseband processor, which may include one or more central processing units (CPUs). When the terminal device 2100 is a component having the above-mentioned terminal device functions, the transceiver module 2120 may be a radio frequency unit, and the processing module 2110 may be a processor, such as a baseband processor. When the terminal device 2100 is a chip system, the transceiver module 2120 may be the input and output interface of the chip (such as a baseband chip), and the processing module 2110 may be the processor of the chip system, which may include one or more central processing units. It should be understood that the processing module 2110 in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component, and the transceiver module 2120 can be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

[0361] For example, the processing module 2110 can be used to perform Figure 14 、 Figures 16 to 20 All operations except the transceiver operations performed by the terminal device in any of the illustrated embodiments, such as S101, S102, S203, S204, S207, S208, S303, S304, S307, S308, S402, and S403, and / or other processes for supporting the technology described herein, such as generating messages, information, and / or signaling sent by the transceiver module 2120, and processing messages, information, and / or signaling received by the transceiver module 2120. The transceiver module 2120 may be used to perform Figure 14 、 Figures 16 to 20 All receiving and sending operations performed by the terminal device in any of the illustrated embodiments, such as S104, S201, S202, S205, S206, S209, S301, S302, S305, S306, S309, S401 and S404, and / or other processes used to support the technology described herein.

[0362] In addition, the transceiver module 2120 can be a functional module that can perform both sending and receiving operations. For example, the transceiver module 2120 can be used to perform Figure 14 、 Figures 16 to 20In any of the embodiments shown, all sending operations and receiving operations performed by the terminal device, for example, when performing a sending operation, the transceiver module 2120 can be considered as a sending module, and when performing a receiving operation, the transceiver module 2120 can be considered as a receiving module; or, the transceiver module 2120 can also be two functional modules, and the transceiver module 2120 can be regarded as a general term for the two functional modules, which are a sending module and a receiving module, respectively. The sending module is used to complete the sending operation, for example, the sending module can be used to perform Figure 14 、 Figures 16 to 20 In any of the embodiments shown, the receiving module is used to perform all the sending operations performed by the terminal device, for example, the receiving module can be used to perform Figures 3 to 5 All receiving operations performed by the terminal device in any embodiment.

[0363] Specifically, the processing module 2110 can obtain first information and determine a target acquisition method based on the first information, wherein the target acquisition method is used to obtain multicast configuration information, and the multicast configuration information is used to receive a multicast service. The first information includes an identifier of the multicast service, probabilities corresponding to different acquisition methods, level information of the terminal device, indication information of the target acquisition method, information indicating that data for the multicast service is to be sent, or at least one of signal quality information. The transceiver module 2120 can obtain the multicast configuration information based on the acquisition method of the multicast configuration information, wherein the acquisition method of the multicast configuration information includes one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, or the seventh method.

[0364] The first method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving unicast information. The second method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving multicast information. The third method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving broadcast information. The fourth method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving both unicast information and multicast information. The fifth method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving both multicast information and broadcast information. The sixth method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving both unicast information and broadcast information. The seventh method includes obtaining multicast configuration information by receiving both unicast information and broadcast information.

[0365] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service and the level information. The processing module 2110 can determine that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, and the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method; and the target acquisition method can be determined from the eighth method and the ninth method according to the level information.

[0366] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service, a probability of an eighth method, and a probability of a ninth method. The processing module 2110 may determine that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, and the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method; and the target acquisition method may be determined from the eighth method and the ninth method based on the probability of the eighth method and the probability of the ninth method.

[0367] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier and signal quality information of the multicast service. The processing module 2110 may determine that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, and the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method; and, determine the target acquisition method from the eighth method and the ninth method based on the signal quality information.

[0368] In one possible design, the terminal device can obtain the target acquisition method corresponding to the identifier based on a first correspondence relationship, and the first correspondence relationship includes a correspondence between the identifier of at least one multicast service and the acquisition method of at least one multicast configuration information, the identifier belongs to the identifier of the at least one multicast service, and the target acquisition method belongs to the acquisition method of the at least one multicast configuration information.

[0369] In one possible design, the transceiver module 2120 may receive the first correspondence and / or the identifier of the multicast service from a network device.

[0370] In one possible design, the first correspondence may be carried by SIB, MCCH, PDSCH message for paging, or NAS message.

[0371] In one possible design, the transceiver module 2120 may receive third information from the network device, where the third information includes indication information of the target acquisition method.

[0372] In one possible design, the third information also indicates an identifier of the multicast service.

[0373] In one possible design, the third information is carried in first downlink control information from the network device, and the first downlink control information is used to schedule a paging message; or, the third information is carried in a paging message from the network device.

[0374] In one possible design, the first information includes the information for indicating that the data of the multicast service is to be sent. The processing module 2110 can determine the target acquisition method corresponding to the first time-frequency resource according to the second correspondence, and the first downlink control information is transmitted through the first time-frequency resource. The second correspondence is the correspondence between at least one time-frequency resource and the acquisition method of at least one multicast configuration information. The first time-frequency resource belongs to the at least one time-frequency resource, and the target acquisition method belongs to the acquisition method of the at least one multicast configuration information; or, determine the target acquisition method corresponding to the first RNTI according to the third correspondence, and the first RNTI is the RNTI used to scramble the first downlink control information. The third correspondence is the correspondence between at least one RNTI and the acquisition method of at least one multicast configuration information. The first RNTI belongs to the at least one RNTI, and the target acquisition method belongs to the acquisition method of the at least one multicast configuration information. The first downlink control information is used to schedule a paging message, and the paging message includes information for indicating that the data of the multicast service is to be sent.

[0375] In one possible design, when the target acquisition method includes the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method or the seventh method, at least one item of the configuration information obtained through the sub-method of the target acquisition method is different, and the configuration obtained by the sub-method of each acquisition method includes at least one of G-RNTI, multicast service identifier, PDCP layer configuration parameters, RLC layer configuration parameters, logical channel set corresponding to the multicast service identifier, first identifier, PUCCH configuration, PDCP status report configuration, BWP configuration or DAPS configuration. The first identifier is used to associate the multicast configuration information obtained by different sub-methods.

[0376] In one possible design, the configuration information obtained by each sub-method includes a first identifier.

[0377] In one possible design, the processing module 2110 may determine whether the terminal device is in an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state.

[0378] In one possible design, the transceiver module 2120 may also receive information indicating modification of the multicast configuration information, obtain the modified multicast configuration information of the multicast service, and receive the multicast service based on the modified multicast configuration information.

[0379] In one possible design, the processing module 2110 may determine a method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information based on fourth information or fifth information, where the fourth information includes the first information and the fifth information includes information from the network device.

[0380] Figure 22This is a schematic block diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. For example, the communication device is, for example, a network device 2200.

[0381] The network device 2200 may include a processing module 2210 and a transceiver module 2220. For example, the network device 2200 may be the network device shown, or it may be a chip used in a network device, or other combined device, component, etc. having the functions of the aforementioned network device. When the network device 2200 is a network device, the transceiver module 2220 may be a transceiver, which may include an antenna and a radio frequency circuit, etc., and the processing module 2210 may be a processor, which may include one or more CPUs. When the network device 2200 is a component having the functions of the aforementioned network device, the transceiver module 2220 may be a radio frequency unit, and the processing module 2210 may be a processor, such as a baseband processor. When the network device 2200 is a system-on-chip, the transceiver module 2220 may be the input / output interface of the chip (e.g., a baseband chip), and the processing module 2210 may be the processor of the system-on-chip, which may include one or more central processing units. It should be understood that the processing module 2210 in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a processor or processor-related circuit components, and the transceiver module 2220 may be implemented by a transceiver or transceiver-related circuit components.

[0382] For example, the processing module 2210 can be used to perform Figure 14 or Figures 16 to 20 All operations except the transceiver operations performed by the network device in any of the embodiments shown, such as executing S302, generating messages, information and / or signaling sent by the transceiver module 2220, and / or processing messages, information and / or signaling received by the transceiver module 2220, and / or other processes used to support the technology described herein. The transceiver module 2220 can be used to perform Figure 3 or Figures 5 to 22 All receiving operations performed by the network device in any of the embodiments shown, such as S101, S102, S201, S202, S301 and S401, and / or other processes used to support the technology described in this document, such as receiving CSI reports from terminal devices.

[0383] In addition, the transceiver module 2220 may be a functional module that can perform both sending and receiving operations. For example, the transceiver module 2220 may be used to perform Figure 3 or Figures 5 to 22In any embodiment shown, all sending operations and receiving operations performed by the network device, for example, when performing a sending operation, the transceiver module 2220 can be considered as a sending module, and when performing a receiving operation, the transceiver module 2220 can be considered as a receiving module; or, the transceiver module 2220 can also be two functional modules, and the transceiver module 2220 can be regarded as a general term for the two functional modules, which are a sending module and a receiving module respectively. The sending module is used to complete the sending operation, for example, the sending module can be used to perform Figure 3 or Figures 5 to 22 In any embodiment shown, the receiving module is used to perform all the sending operations performed by the network device, for example, the receiving module can be used to perform Figure 3 or Figures 5 to 7 In the illustrated embodiment, all receive operations are performed by the network device.

[0384] Specifically, processing module 2210 obtains first information and determines a target transmission mode based on the first information. Transceiver module 2220 transmits multicast configuration information using the target transmission mode. This multicast configuration information is used for receiving a multicast service on a terminal device. The first information includes at least one of an identifier for the multicast service, information about the terminal device's level, information indicating the target transmission mode, information indicating that data for the multicast service is to be sent, or signal quality information. The target transmission mode includes at least one of the first mode, the second mode, the third mode, the fourth mode, the fifth mode, the sixth mode, or the seventh mode.

[0385] The first mode includes sending multicast configuration information via unicast information. The second mode includes sending multicast configuration information via multicast information. The third mode includes sending multicast configuration information via broadcast information. The fourth mode includes sending multicast configuration information via two sub-modes: unicast information and multicast information. The fifth mode includes sending multicast configuration information via two sub-modes: multicast information and broadcast information. The sixth mode includes sending multicast configuration information via two sub-modes: unicast information and broadcast information. The seventh mode includes sending multicast configuration information via three sub-modes: unicast information, multicast information, and broadcast information.

[0386] In one possible design, the first information includes the identifier of the multicast service and the level information. The processing module 2210 can determine that the sending method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, and the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method; and, according to the level information, determine the target sending method from the eighth method and the ninth method.

[0387] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service and the signal quality information. The processing module 2210 may determine that the sending mode corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth mode and a ninth mode, and the eighth mode and the ninth mode are respectively one of the first mode, the second mode, the third mode, the fourth mode, the fifth mode, the sixth mode and the seventh mode, and the eighth mode is different from the ninth mode; and, determine the target sending mode from the eighth mode and the ninth mode according to the signal quality information.

[0388] In one possible design, the first information includes an identifier of the multicast service, and the processing module 2210 can obtain a target sending mode corresponding to the identifier based on a first correspondence relationship. The first correspondence relationship includes a correspondence between the identifier of at least one multicast service and the sending mode of at least one multicast configuration information. The identifier belongs to the identifier of the at least one multicast service, and the target sending mode belongs to the sending mode of the at least one multicast configuration information.

[0389] In one possible design, the transceiver module 2220 may send the first correspondence and / or the identifier of the multicast service.

[0390] In one possible design, the first corresponding relationship is carried by SIB, MCCH, PDSCH message or NAS message.

[0391] In one possible design, the transceiver module 2220 can also send a third information, which includes indication information of the target acquisition method, and the acquisition method corresponds to the sending method.

[0392] In one possible design, the third information also indicates an identifier of the multicast service.

[0393] In one possible design, the third information is carried in the first downlink control information, and the first downlink control information is used to schedule the paging message; or, the third information is carried in the paging message.

[0394] In one possible design, the processing module 2210 may determine the first downlink control information corresponding to the target sending mode according to the second corresponding relationship, and the transceiver module 2220 may send the first downlink control information through the first time-frequency resource, and the second corresponding relationship is the corresponding relationship between at least one time-frequency resource and the sending mode of at least one multicast configuration information, the first time-frequency resource belongs to the at least one time-frequency resource, and the target acquisition mode belongs to the sending mode of the at least one multicast configuration information; or, the processing module 2210 may send the first downlink control information encrypted by the first RNTI, and the third corresponding relationship is the corresponding relationship between at least one RNTI and the sending mode of at least one multicast configuration information, the first RNTI belongs to the at least one RNTI, and the target sending mode belongs to the sending mode of the at least one multicast configuration information. The first downlink control information is used to schedule a paging message, and the paging message includes information for indicating that data of the multicast service is to be sent.

[0395] In one possible design, when the target sending mode includes the fourth mode, the fifth mode, the sixth mode or the seventh mode, at least one item of the configuration information sent through the sub-mode of the target sending mode is different, wherein the configuration sent by the sub-mode of each sending mode includes at least one of G-RNTI, multicast service identifier, PDCP layer configuration parameter, RLC layer configuration parameter, logical channel set corresponding to the multicast service identifier, first identifier, PUCCH configuration, PDCP status report configuration, BWP configuration or DAPS configuration. The first identifier is used to associate the multicast configuration information sent by different sub-modes.

[0396] In one possible design, the multicast configuration information sent by each sub-mode includes the first identifier.

[0397] In one possible design, the transceiver module 2220 may send information indicating the modification of the multicast configuration information, and send the modified multicast configuration information of the multicast service.

[0398] In one possible design, the processing module 2210 may determine the sending method of the modified multicast configuration information based on the fourth information or the fifth information, where the fourth information includes the first information.

[0399] In one possible design, the transceiver module 2220 may send fifth information, which is used to indicate a method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information.

[0400] The present application also provides a communication device, which can be a terminal device or a circuit, and can be used to execute the actions executed by the terminal device in the above method embodiment.

[0401] When the communication device is a terminal device, Figure 23 The following is a simplified schematic diagram of the terminal device. Figure 23 In this article, the terminal device is a mobile phone. Figure 23 As shown, the terminal device includes a processor, a memory, a radio frequency circuit, an antenna, and input and output devices. The processor is mainly used to process communication protocols and communication data, as well as to control the terminal device, execute software programs, process software program data, etc. The memory is mainly used to store software programs and data. The radio frequency circuit is mainly used to convert baseband signals into radio frequency signals and process radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly used to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input and output devices, such as touch screens, displays, keyboards, etc., are mainly used to receive data input by users and output data to users. It should be noted that some types of terminal devices may not have input and output devices.

[0402] When data needs to be sent, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be sent and outputs the baseband signal to the RF circuit. The RF circuit performs RF processing on the baseband signal and then transmits the RF signal to the outside in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the terminal device, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna, converts the RF signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor. The processor converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data. For the sake of explanation, Figure 23 Only one memory and processor are shown. In actual terminal device products, one or more processors and one or more memories may exist. Memory may also be referred to as a storage medium or storage device. The memory may be provided independently of the processor or integrated with the processor, and this is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0403] In the embodiment of the present application, the antenna and radio frequency circuit with transceiver functions can be regarded as the transceiver unit of the terminal device (the transceiver unit can be a functional unit that can realize the sending function and the receiving function; or the transceiver unit can also include two functional units, namely a receiving unit that can realize the receiving function and a sending unit that can realize the sending function), and the processor with processing function can be regarded as the processing unit of the terminal device. Figure 23As shown, the terminal device includes a transceiver unit 2310 and a processing unit 2320. The transceiver unit may also be referred to as a transceiver, transceiver, or transceiver device. The processing unit may also be referred to as a processor, processing board, processing module, or processing device. Optionally, the device in the transceiver unit 2310 that implements the receiving function may be considered a receiving unit, and the device in the transceiver unit 2310 that implements the transmitting function may be considered a transmitting unit. That is, the transceiver unit 2310 includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The transceiver unit may also be referred to as a transceiver, transceiver, or transceiver circuit. The receiving unit may also be referred to as a receiver, receiver, or receiving circuit. The transmitting unit may also be referred to as a transmitter, transmitter, or transmitting circuit.

[0404] It should be understood that the transceiver unit 2310 is used to perform the sending and receiving operations of the terminal device in the above method embodiment, and the processing unit 2320 is used to perform other operations except the sending and receiving operations on the terminal device in the above method embodiment.

[0405] For example, in one implementation, the processing unit 2320 may be configured to execute Figure 14 、 Figures 16 to 20 All operations except the transceiver operations performed by the terminal device in any of the embodiments shown, such as S101, S102, S203, S204, S207, S208, S303, S304, S307, S308, S402 and S403, and / or other processes for supporting the technology described herein, such as generating messages, information and / or signaling sent by the transceiver unit 2310, and processing messages, information and / or signaling received by the transceiver unit 2310. The transceiver unit 2310 can be used to perform Figure 14 、 Figures 16 to 20 All receiving and sending operations performed by the terminal device in any of the illustrated embodiments, such as S104, S201, S202, S205, S206, S209, S301, S302, S305, S306, S309, S401 and S404, and / or other processes used to support the technology described herein.

[0406] Illustratively, the processing unit 2320 may perform actions similar to those performed by the processing module 2110, or in other words, the processing module 2320 includes the processing module 2110. The transceiver unit 2310 may perform actions similar to those performed by the transceiver module 2120, or in other words, the transceiver unit 2310 includes the transceiver module 2120.

[0407] When the communication device is a chip-type device or circuit, the device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit, wherein the transceiver unit may be an input / output circuit and / or a communication interface; and the processing unit may be an integrated processor, microprocessor, or integrated circuit.

[0408] When the device in the embodiment of the present application is a network device, the device can be as follows Figure 24 As shown. The device may include one or more radio frequency units, such as a remote radio unit (RRU) 2410 and one or more baseband units (BBU) (also called digital units, DU) 2420. The RRU 2410 may be called a transceiver module, which may include a transmitting module and a receiving module, or the transceiver module may be a module that can realize the sending and receiving functions. The transceiver module may be connected to Figure 22 The RRU 2410 corresponds to the transceiver module 2220 in the base station, that is, the transceiver module performs the actions performed by the transceiver module 2220. Optionally, the transceiver module can also be called a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver, etc., and can include at least one antenna 2411 and a radio frequency unit 2412. The RRU 2410 is mainly used for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals and converting radio frequency signals into baseband signals. The BBU 2410 is mainly used for baseband processing and controlling the base station. The RRU 2410 and BBU 2420 can be physically located together or physically separated, i.e., a distributed base station.

[0409] The BBU 2420 is the control center of the base station, which can also be called a processing module. Figure 22 The processing module 2210 in the embodiment corresponds to the baseband processing module 2210, which is mainly used to perform baseband processing functions such as channel coding, multiplexing, modulation, and spread spectrum. In addition, the processing module can execute the actions performed by the processing module 2210. For example, the BBU (processing module) can be used to control the base station to execute the operation process of the network device in the above method embodiment.

[0410] In one example, the BBU 2420 can be composed of one or more single boards, and multiple single boards can jointly support a wireless access network with a single access standard (such as an LTE network), or can separately support wireless access networks with different access standards (such as an LTE network, a 5G network, or other networks). The BBU 2420 also includes a memory 2421 and a processor 2422. The memory 2421 is used to store necessary instructions and data. The processor 2422 is used to control the base station to perform necessary actions, such as controlling the base station to execute the operation process of the network device in the above method embodiment. The memory 2421 and the processor 2422 can serve one or more single boards. That is, a memory and a processor can be set separately on each single board. Alternatively, multiple single boards can share the same memory and processor. In addition, necessary circuits can also be set on each single board.

[0411] The embodiment of the present application provides a communication system. The communication system may include the above Figures 1 to 3 The terminal device involved in the embodiment shown, and Figures 1 to 3 The network device involved in the embodiment shown. Optionally, the terminal device and the network device in the communication system can execute Figures 3 to 5 Any of the communication methods shown in .

[0412] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the process related to the terminal device or network device in any of the embodiments shown in the above method embodiments.

[0413] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, which is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the process related to the terminal device or network device in any of the embodiments shown in the above method embodiments.

[0414] The present application also provides a chip or chip system, which may include a processor that can be used to call programs or instructions in a memory to execute the processes related to terminal devices or network devices in any of the above method embodiments. The chip system may include the chip and may also include other components such as a memory or a transceiver.

[0415] The present application also provides a circuit that can be coupled to a memory and can be used to execute the processes related to the terminal device or network device in any of the above method embodiments. The chip system may include the chip and other components such as a memory or a transceiver.

[0416] It should be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be a CPU, or may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc.

[0417] It should also be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0418] It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) is integrated into the processor.

[0419] It should be noted that the memory described herein is intended to include, but not be limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0420] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0421] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the modules and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0422] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and modules described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0423] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed communication methods and devices can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the modules is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple modules or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0424] The modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as modules may or may not be physical modules, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network elements. Some or all of these elements may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0425] In addition, each functional module in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing module, or each module may exist physically separately, or two or more modules may be integrated into one module.

[0426] If this function is implemented in the form of a software function module and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that makes the contribution, or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method of each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable media may include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), universal serial bus flash disk, mobile hard disk, or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer.

[0427] The above is only a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the embodiments of the present application, and all such changes or substitutions should be included in the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is applicable to a terminal device and includes: Obtaining first information; determining a target acquisition mode based on the first information, the target acquisition mode being used to acquire multicast configuration information, the multicast configuration information being used to instruct the terminal device to receive a multicast service, the first information including at least one of an identifier of the multicast service, probabilities corresponding to different acquisition modes, level information of the terminal device, information indicating that data for the multicast service is to be sent, or signal quality information, the level information of the terminal device including an allocation retention priority and / or an access level; or, the first information including an identifier of the multicast service and information indicating the target acquisition mode; Acquire the multicast configuration information according to the target acquisition method; The target acquisition method includes one of the following methods: The first method is to obtain the information by receiving unicast information; or The second method is to obtain by receiving multicast information; or The third method is to obtain it by receiving broadcast information; or The fourth method is to obtain the information by receiving unicast information and multicast information; or The fifth method is to obtain the information by receiving multicast information and broadcast information; or The sixth method is to obtain the information by receiving unicast information and broadcast information; or The seventh method is to obtain it by receiving unicast information, multicast information and broadcast information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information includes the identifier and the level information, and determining the target acquisition method according to the first information includes: Determining that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, where the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method; The target acquisition method is determined from the eighth method and the ninth method according to the level information.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information includes the identifier, the probability of the eighth method, and the probability of the ninth method. Determining the target acquisition method according to the first information includes: Determining that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, where the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method; The target acquisition method is determined from the eighth method and the ninth method according to the probability of the eighth method and the probability of the ninth method.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information includes the identifier and the signal quality information, and determining the target acquisition method according to the first information includes: Determining that the acquisition method corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth method and a ninth method, where the eighth method and the ninth method are respectively one of the first method, the second method, the third method, the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, and the seventh method, and the eighth method is different from the ninth method; The target acquisition method is determined from the eighth method and the ninth method according to the signal quality information.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information includes the identifier, and determining the target acquisition method according to the first information includes: The target acquisition method corresponding to the identifier is obtained according to a first correspondence relationship, wherein the first correspondence relationship includes a correspondence between an identifier of at least one multicast service and an acquisition method of at least one multicast configuration information, the identifier belongs to the identifier of the at least one multicast service, and the target acquisition method belongs to the acquisition method of the at least one multicast configuration information.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein The method further comprises: The first correspondence and / or the identifier is received from a network device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein The first corresponding relationship is carried in a system information block SIB, a multicast control channel MCCH, a physical downlink shared channel PDSCH for paging, or a non-access stratum NAS message.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein The method further comprises: receiving third information from a network device, where the third information indicates the indication information and includes the identifier; The third information is carried in first downlink control information from the network device, and the first downlink control information is used to schedule a paging message; or the third information is carried in a paging message from the network device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information includes information indicating that data of the multicast service is to be sent, and determining the target acquisition method according to the first information includes: The target acquisition method corresponding to the first time-frequency resource is determined according to the second corresponding relationship, the first downlink control information is transmitted through the first time-frequency resource, the second corresponding relationship is a corresponding relationship between at least one time-frequency resource and an acquisition method of at least one multicast configuration information, the first time-frequency resource belongs to the at least one time-frequency resource, and the target acquisition method belongs to the acquisition method of the at least one multicast configuration information; or Determining, according to a third correspondence, the target acquisition method corresponding to the first wireless network temporary identifier, where the first wireless network temporary identifier is a wireless network temporary identifier used to scramble the first downlink control information; the third correspondence is a correspondence between at least one wireless network temporary identifier and a method for acquiring at least one multicast configuration information; the first wireless network temporary identifier belongs to the at least one wireless network temporary identifier, and the target acquisition method belongs to a method for acquiring the at least one multicast configuration information; The first downlink control information is used to schedule a paging message, and the paging message includes information indicating that data of the multicast service is to be sent.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: When the target acquisition method includes the fourth method, the fifth method, the sixth method, or the seventh method, at least one item of the configuration information acquired through different sub-methods of the target acquisition method is different; The configuration information obtained by the sub-mode of the target acquisition mode includes at least one of the following: A group-radio network temporary identifier G-RNTI associated with the multicast service; the said identification; Packet Data Convergence Protocol PDCP layer configuration parameters; Radio link control RLC layer configuration parameters; The logical channel set corresponding to the identifier; a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to associate configuration information respectively obtained by different sub-methods of the target acquisition method; Physical uplink control channel PUCCH configuration; PDCP status report configuration; Partial bandwidth BWP configuration; Dual-active protocol stack (DAPS) configuration.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein The configuration information acquired by different sub-methods of the target acquisition method all includes the first identifier.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or 11, wherein: The method further comprises: The terminal device is determined to be in a radio resource control RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or 11, wherein: The method further comprises: receiving information indicating modification of the multicast configuration information; Obtaining modified multicast configuration information of the multicast service; The multicast service is received according to the modified multicast configuration information.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein The method further comprises: determining a method for acquiring the modified multicast configuration information according to the fourth information or the fifth information; The fourth information includes the first information; The fifth information includes information from the network device.

15. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is applicable to a network device, including: Obtaining first information; determining a target sending mode according to the first information; sending multicast configuration information in a targeted sending mode, the multicast configuration information being used to instruct a terminal device to receive a multicast service, the first information including at least one of an identifier of the multicast service, level information of the terminal device, information indicating that data of the multicast service is to be sent, or signal quality information, the level information of the terminal device including an allocation retention priority and / or an access level; or, the first information including an identifier of the multicast service and information indicating the target sending mode; The target sending mode includes at least one of the following modes: The first method is to send information via unicast; or The second method is to send information through multicast; or The third method is to send it through broadcast information; or, The fourth method is to send the information via unicast information and multicast information; or The fifth method is to send the information through two sub-methods: multicast information and broadcast information; or The sixth mode is to send the information via unicast information and broadcast information; or The seventh method is to send information through three sub-methods: unicast information, multicast information and broadcast information.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein The first information includes the identifier and the level information, and determining the target sending mode according to the first information includes: Determining that the sending mode corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth mode and a ninth mode, where the eighth mode and the ninth mode are respectively one of the first mode, the second mode, the third mode, the fourth mode, the fifth mode, the sixth mode, and the seventh mode, and the eighth mode is different from the ninth mode; The target transmission method is determined from the eighth method and the ninth method according to the level information.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein The first information includes the identifier and the signal quality information, and determining the target sending mode according to the first information includes: Determining that the sending mode corresponding to the identifier includes an eighth mode and a ninth mode, where the eighth mode and the ninth mode are respectively one of the first mode, the second mode, the third mode, the fourth mode, the fifth mode, the sixth mode, and the seventh mode, and the eighth mode is different from the ninth mode; The target transmission mode is determined from the eighth mode and the ninth mode according to the signal quality information.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein The first information includes the identifier, and determining the target sending mode according to the first information includes: The target sending mode corresponding to the identifier is obtained according to a first correspondence relationship, wherein the first correspondence relationship includes a correspondence between an identifier of at least one multicast service and a sending mode of at least one multicast configuration information, the identifier belongs to the identifier of the at least one multicast service, and the target sending mode belongs to the sending mode of the at least one multicast configuration information.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein The method further comprises: Send the first correspondence and / or the identifier.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein The first corresponding relationship is carried in the SIB, MCCH, PDSCH for paging, or NAS message.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein The method further comprises: sending third information, where the third information indicates the indication information and includes the identifier; The third information is carried in the first downlink control information, and the first downlink control information is used to schedule a paging message; or the third information is carried in the paging message.

22. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein: The first information includes the information indicating that data of the multicast service is to be sent, and the method further includes: Determine a first time-frequency resource corresponding to the target sending mode according to a second corresponding relationship, and send the first downlink control information through the first time-frequency resource, wherein the second corresponding relationship is a corresponding relationship between at least one time-frequency resource and at least one sending mode of multicast configuration information, the first time-frequency resource belongs to the at least one time-frequency resource, and the target sending mode belongs to the sending mode of the at least one multicast configuration information; or, Determining, according to a third correspondence, a first wireless network temporary identifier corresponding to the target sending mode, and sending first downlink control information scrambled by the first wireless network temporary identifier, wherein the third correspondence is a correspondence between at least one wireless network temporary identifier and a sending mode of at least one multicast configuration information, the first wireless network temporary identifier belongs to the at least one wireless network temporary identifier, and the target sending mode belongs to the sending mode of the at least one multicast configuration information; The first downlink control information is used to schedule a paging message, and the paging message includes information indicating that data of the multicast service is to be sent.

23. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein: When the target sending mode includes the fourth mode, the fifth mode, the sixth mode, or the seventh mode, at least one item of the configuration information sent through different sub-modes of the target sending mode is different; The configuration information sent through the sub-mode of the target sending mode includes at least one of the following: G-RNTI; the said identification; PDCP layer configuration parameters; RLC layer configuration parameters; The logical channel set corresponding to the identifier; a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to associate multicast configuration information respectively sent by different sub-modes of the target sending mode; PUCCH configuration; PDCP status report configuration; BWP configuration; DAPS configuration.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein The configuration information sent by the sub-mode of the target sending mode all includes the first identifier.

25. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 21 or 24, wherein: The method further comprises: Sending information indicating modification of the multicast configuration information; The modified multicast configuration information of the multicast service is sent.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein: The method further comprises: determining a sending method of the modified multicast configuration information according to the fourth information; The fourth information includes the first information.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein: The method further comprises: Send fifth information, where the fifth information is used to indicate a method for obtaining the modified multicast configuration information.

28. A communication device, characterized in that: include: a memory for storing instructions; A processor, configured to call and execute the instructions from the memory, so that the communication device performs the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

29. A communication device, characterized in that: include: a memory for storing instructions; A processor, configured to call and execute the instructions from the memory, so that the communication device performs the method according to any one of claims 15 to 27.

30. A communication system, characterized in that: Comprising a communication device as claimed in claim 28 or 29.

31. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions, and when the instructions are called and executed on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 27.

32. A computer program product, characterized in that When the computer program product is run on a computer, the computer is caused to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 27.

33. A circuit, characterized in that The circuit is coupled to a memory, and is configured to read and execute a program stored in the memory to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 27.

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