A communication method and device

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for solving the problem of low accuracy in reporting multicast capabilities of terminal devices. The method comprises: determining capability information and sending it to an access network device, wherein the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to a frequency band and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to a component carrier. By indicating the capability of multicast services at the frequency band level or the component carrier level through the capability information, the accuracy of multicast capability reporting can be improved, so that the access network device can provide multicast services and / or unicast services based on the refined capability information.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application. The application number of the original application is 202210952975.9, and the original application date is August 9, 2022. The entire contents of the original application are incorporated into this application by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0003] Multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) or multicast broadcast service (MBS) is mainly applicable to services for multiple user equipment (UE), such as live broadcast, scheduled program broadcast, etc.

[0004] In long term evolution (LTE), access network equipment can obtain UE capability information through a capability query process, and the UE capability information includes MBMS capability information.

[0005] The MBMS capability information currently designed by LTE is at the UE level, which only supports reporting the maximum bandwidth for MBS. However, this method cannot accurately report the multicast capability of the UE. Therefore, how to achieve accurate reporting of the multicast capability of the UE still needs further research. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for solving the problem of low accuracy in reporting multicast capability of terminal equipment.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be performed by a first communication device, which can 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 components for implementing the functions of the terminal device. In the following introduction, the first communication device is taken as an example of a terminal device.

[0008] The method includes: the terminal device determines capability information and sends it to the access network device, wherein the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the component carrier (CC).

[0009] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may indicate the multicast capability at the frequency band (or band) level and / or CC level through capability information, thereby improving the accuracy of multicast capability reporting, so that the access network device can obtain refined capability information. In a possible implementation, the access network device may provide multicast services and / or unicast services according to the refined capability information, for example, the communication parameters of the multicast services and / or unicast services may be configured or selected according to the refined capability information.

[0010] In one possible design, the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the component carrier CC, including: the capability information includes frequency band combination information, and the frequency band combination information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the component carrier CC. In this way, the terminal device can report the multicast capability at the band level or CC level under the frequency band combination, thereby improving the accuracy of multicast capability reporting.

[0011] In one possible design, the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the component carrier CC, including: the capability information includes a first frequency band combination list and an identifier of a first feature set combination; wherein the first frequency band combination list includes first frequency band information, the first frequency band information includes identifiers of N frequency bands supporting the reception of multicast services, N is an integer greater than 0; the first feature set combination includes at least one first parameter set corresponding to the first frequency band combination list, any first parameter set indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N frequency bands respectively, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each of the N frequency bands.

[0012] In the above method, by listing the identifiers of N frequency bands supporting the reception of multicast services in the frequency band combination list, and indicating the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to these N frequency bands under the frequency band combination in the feature set combination, the accuracy of the multicast capability can be improved, which helps the access network equipment to schedule multicast services and / or unicast services for terminal devices.

[0013] In one possible design, the first frequency band combination list also includes second frequency band information, and the second frequency band information includes identifiers of M frequency bands supporting unicast services, where M is an integer greater than 0; any first parameter set also indicates the capabilities of receiving unicast services corresponding to the M frequency bands, or any first parameter set also indicates the capabilities of receiving communication services corresponding to the M frequency bands, where the communication services include unicast services and multicast services. Through the above design, the ability to receive unicast services on the M frequency bands under the frequency band combination can be reported, which helps the access network device to obtain refined terminal device capabilities, thereby helping the access network device to better provide multicast services and / or unicast services to the terminal devices.

[0014] In one possible design, the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the component carrier CC, including: the capability information includes a second frequency band combination list and an identifier of a second feature set combination; wherein the second frequency band combination list includes identifiers of N frequency bands supporting the reception of multicast services, and N is an integer greater than 0; the second feature set combination includes Q1 group of parameters corresponding to the second frequency band combination list, wherein each group of parameters includes Q2 second parameter sets, and any second parameter set indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N frequency bands respectively, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each frequency band in the N frequency bands, Q1 is an integer greater than 0, and Q2 is an integer greater than 0.

[0015] The above design improves the accuracy of multicast capability reporting by extending the frequency band combination list (i.e., the second frequency band combination list) to indicate the N frequency bands that support receiving multicast services, and indicates the multicast capabilities corresponding to the N frequency bands in the feature set combination, so that the access network device can obtain refined capability information. A possible implementation helps the access network device to schedule multicast services or unicast services for terminal devices. In addition, the multicast capability and unicast capability corresponding to the N frequency bands are distinguished, so that the unicast capability and the multicast capability can indicate the communication capability of the terminal device under the frequency band combination in a combined manner. Compared with indicating all multicast capabilities and / or unicast capabilities supported under the frequency band combination in sequence in an exhaustive manner, unnecessary capability information reporting can be reduced, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0016] In one possible design, the capability information also includes a third frequency band combination list, wherein the third frequency band combination list includes identifiers of M frequency bands supporting reception of unicast services, and M is an integer greater than 0; the second feature set combination also includes Q2 third parameter sets corresponding to the third frequency band combination list, and any third parameter set indicates the capability of receiving unicast services corresponding to the M frequency bands respectively; wherein the i-th second parameter set in the Q2 second parameter sets corresponds to the i-th first parameter set in any group of parameters in the Q1 group of parameters, wherein i is an integer greater than 0 and not greater than Q2.

[0017] The above design distinguishes the multicast capability and unicast capability corresponding to the N frequency bands, so that the unicast capability and the multicast capability can be combined to indicate the communication capability of the terminal device under the frequency band combination, which can reduce the signaling overhead compared with the exhaustive method. In addition, for the indication of the unicast capability part, the existing mechanism can be reused to the greatest extent, reducing the changes to the protocol.

[0018] In one possible design, the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the component carrier CC, including: the capability information includes a second frequency band combination list and identifiers of Q1 third feature set combinations; wherein the second frequency band combination list includes identifiers of N frequency bands supporting the reception of multicast services, and N is an integer greater than 0; any third feature set combination includes Q2 fourth parameter sets, and any fourth parameter set indicates the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N frequency bands, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each frequency band in the N frequency bands, Q1 is an integer greater than 0, and Q2 is an integer greater than 0.

[0019] The above design, by extending the frequency band combination list (i.e., the second frequency band combination list) to indicate the N frequency bands supporting the reception of multicast services, and by extending the feature set combinations corresponding to the N frequency bands receiving multicast services (i.e., Q1 third feature set combinations), improves the accuracy of multicast capability reporting, so that the access network device can obtain refined capability information. A possible implementation helps the access network device schedule multicast services or unicast services for terminal devices.

[0020] In addition, the multicast capability and unicast capability corresponding to the N frequency bands are distinguished, so that the unicast capability and the multicast capability can indicate the communication capability of the terminal device under the frequency band combination in a combined manner. Compared with indicating all multicast capabilities and / or unicast capabilities supported under the frequency band combination in sequence in an exhaustive manner, unnecessary capability information reporting can be reduced, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0021] In one possible design, the capability information also includes a list of third frequency band combinations and an identifier of a fourth feature set combination, wherein the third frequency band combination includes identifiers of M frequency bands supporting reception of unicast services, where M is an integer greater than 0; and the fourth feature set combination includes Q2 fifth parameter sets, and any fifth parameter set indicates the capability of receiving unicast services corresponding to the M frequency bands respectively.

[0022] The above design can reduce the signaling overhead of capability reporting by combining the identifier of the fourth feature set combination and the identifier of the third feature set combination, and for the indication of the unicast capability part, the existing mechanism can be reused to the greatest extent, with relatively small changes to the protocol.

[0023] In one possible design, the capability information includes an identifier of a fourth frequency band combination list and a fifth feature set combination; wherein the fourth frequency band combination list includes identifiers of X frequency bands supported by the terminal device, where X is an integer greater than 0; the fifth feature set combination includes at least one sixth parameter set, and any sixth parameter set indicates communication parameters corresponding to the X frequency bands, respectively, wherein the X frequency bands include N frequency bands that support receiving multicast services, and the communication parameters corresponding to any frequency band among the N frequency bands indicate the ability of the frequency band to receive multicast services, and / or the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the frequency band, wherein, if the CC supports receiving multicast services, the communication capability corresponding to the CC is the ability of the CC to receive multicast services, and N is an integer greater than 0 and not greater than X.

[0024] Through the above design, the ability to receive multicast services is indicated by the communication parameters corresponding to the feature set index, which can reduce the signaling overhead of capability reporting, and for the indication of the unicast capability part, the existing mechanism can be reused to the greatest extent, with relatively small changes to the protocol.

[0025] In one possible design, any sixth parameter set indicates communication parameters corresponding to X frequency bands, including: any sixth parameter set includes indexes of communication parameters corresponding to X frequency bands, and the index of the communication parameters of any frequency band among the X frequency bands satisfies: if the frequency band supports receiving multicast services, the index of the communication parameter corresponding to the frequency band belongs to the first index set; if the frequency band does not support receiving multicast services, the index of the communication parameter corresponding to the frequency band belongs to the second index set.

[0026] The above design divides the index set so that the access network equipment can determine whether the frequency band supports receiving multicast services according to the index corresponding to the frequency band. Compared with the method of displaying a mark indicating whether the reception of multicast services is supported in the communication parameters corresponding to the frequency band, it can reduce the signaling overhead and the complexity of the protocol, and can also improve compatibility with older versions of the protocol.

[0027] In one possible design, the communication parameters corresponding to any frequency band among N frequency bands indicate the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the frequency band, including: the communication parameters corresponding to any frequency band among N frequency bands include the index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the frequency band, and the index of the communication capability corresponding to any CC on the frequency band satisfies: if the CC supports receiving multicast services, the index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC belongs to the third index set; if the CC does not support receiving multicast services, the index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC belongs to the fourth index set.

[0028] The above design divides the index set so that the access network device can determine whether the CC supports receiving multicast services according to the index corresponding to the CC. Compared with the method of displaying a mark indicating the reception of multicast services in the communication parameters corresponding to the CC, it can reduce signaling overhead and reduce the complexity of the protocol, and can also improve compatibility with devices supporting old versions of the protocol.

[0029] In one possible design, the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band includes at least one of the following: the frequency band supports receiving multicast services, or communication parameters for receiving multicast services on the frequency band.

[0030] In one possible design, the CC's corresponding capability for receiving multicast services includes: the CC supports receiving multicast services, and / or receiving communication information for receiving multicast services on the CC; wherein the communication information is communication parameters for receiving multicast services on the CC, or the communication information is a capability value of the CC, and the capability value is determined based on the communication parameters for receiving multicast services on the CC.

[0031] In one possible design, the communication parameters for receiving the multicast service include a highest modulation order supported when receiving the multicast service.

[0032] In one possible design, the communication parameters for receiving multicast services also include: whether to support simultaneous reception of unicast services and multicast services in a synchronous manner, and / or whether to support simultaneous reception of unicast services and multicast services in an asynchronous manner.

[0033] In one possible design, the method further includes: sending indication information to the access network device, the indication information indicating the modulation order of the multicast service that the terminal device is receiving or expecting to receive. Through this design, the access network device can obtain relevant information about the multicast service that the terminal device is receiving or expecting to receive based on the indication information, so as to better schedule the multicast service and / or unicast service of the terminal device.

[0034] In one possible design, before sending indication information to the access network device, the method also includes: receiving fourth information from the access network device, wherein the fourth information is used to indicate information on reporting multicast services received on a different public land mobile network (PLMN) or a different operator or across base stations or non-service cells or at different frequencies.

[0035] In one possible design, before sending the indication information to the access network device, the method further includes:

[0036] It is determined that the indication information needs to be reported when any of the following conditions is met:

[0037] The PLMN in the TMGI of the received multicast service is inconsistent with the PLMN included in the system information block (SIB) 1 of the serving cell of the access network device;

[0038] The PLMN included in the SIB1 of the cell receiving the multicast service is inconsistent with the PLMN included in the SIB1 of the serving cell of the access network device.

[0039] In one possible design, the fourth information includes one or more PLMN information, and before sending the indication information to the access network device, the method further includes:

[0040] It is determined that the indication information needs to be reported when any of the following conditions is met:

[0041] The PLMN in the TMGI of the received multicast service is different from the one or more PLMNs;

[0042] The PLMN included in the SIB1 of the cell receiving the multicast service is different from the one or more PLMNs.

[0043] In one possible design, before sending the indication information to the access network device, the method further includes:

[0044] It is determined that the indication information needs to be reported when one or more of the following conditions are met:

[0045] The frequency for receiving the multicast service does not belong to the frequency included in SIB 21 of the serving cell of the access network device;

[0046] The frequency for receiving the multicast service is different from the frequency list included in the user service description (USD).

[0047] In one possible design, the fourth information includes one or more frequency point information, and before sending the indication information to the access network device, the method further includes:

[0048] It is determined that the indication information needs to be reported when the following condition is met: the frequency of the received multicast service is different from the one or more frequency points.

[0049] In one possible design, before sending the indication information to the access network device, the method also includes: receiving SIB 21 from the access network device.

[0050] In one possible design, the indication information also indicates that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive at least one of the following information of a multicast service: frequency information, temporary mobile group identity (TMGI), and subcarrier spacing (SCS).

[0051] In one possible design, before determining the capability information, the method further includes: receiving capability reporting indication information from the access network device, the capability reporting indication information indicating the terminal device to report the capability of receiving multicast services. With this design, the terminal device can report the multicast capability according to the indication of the access network device, which can avoid unnecessary capability information reporting by the terminal device. In addition, the access network device can flexibly regulate the terminal device to report the capability of receiving multicast services through the indication information.

[0052] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be performed by a second communication device, which can be a communication device or a communication device that can support the communication device to implement the functions required by 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 of a network device.

[0053] The method comprises: receiving capability information from a terminal device, the capability information indicating the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to a frequency band and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to a CC; and determining the capability of the terminal device according to the capability information.

[0054] In one possible design, the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the component carrier CC, including: the capability information includes frequency band combination information, and the frequency band combination information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the component carrier CC. In this way, the terminal device can report the multicast capability at the band level or CC level under the frequency band combination, thereby improving the accuracy of multicast capability reporting.

[0055] In one possible design, the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the component carrier CC, including: the capability information includes a first frequency band combination list and an identifier of a first feature set combination; wherein the first frequency band combination list includes first frequency band information, the first frequency band information includes identifiers of N frequency bands supporting the reception of multicast services, N is an integer greater than 0; the first feature set combination includes at least one first parameter set corresponding to the first frequency band combination list, any first parameter set indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N frequency bands respectively, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each of the N frequency bands.

[0056] In one possible design, the first frequency band combination list also includes second frequency band information, and the second frequency band information includes identifiers of M frequency bands supporting unicast services, where M is an integer greater than 0; any first parameter set also indicates the capabilities of receiving unicast services corresponding to the M frequency bands, or any first parameter set also indicates the capabilities of receiving communication services corresponding to the M frequency bands, where the communication services include unicast services and multicast services. Through the above design, the capabilities of receiving unicast services on the M frequency bands under the frequency band combination can be reported, which helps the access network device to accurately understand the capabilities of the terminal device, thereby helping the access network device to schedule multicast services or unicast services for the terminal device.

[0057] In one possible design, the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the component carrier CC, including: the capability information includes a second frequency band combination list and an identifier of a second feature set combination; wherein the second frequency band combination list includes identifiers of N frequency bands supporting the reception of multicast services, and N is an integer greater than 0; the second feature set combination includes Q1 group of parameters corresponding to the second frequency band combination list, wherein each group of parameters includes Q2 second parameter sets, and any second parameter set indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N frequency bands respectively, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each frequency band in the N frequency bands, Q1 is an integer greater than 0, and Q2 is an integer greater than 0.

[0058] In one possible design, the capability information also includes a third frequency band combination list, wherein the third frequency band combination list includes identifiers of M frequency bands supporting reception of unicast services, and M is an integer greater than 0; the second feature set combination also includes Q2 third parameter sets corresponding to the third frequency band combination list, and any third parameter set indicates the capability of receiving unicast services corresponding to the M frequency bands respectively; wherein the i-th second parameter set in the Q2 second parameter sets corresponds to the i-th first parameter set in any group of parameters in the Q1 group of parameters, wherein i is an integer greater than 0 and not greater than Q2.

[0059] The above design distinguishes the multicast capability and unicast capability corresponding to the N frequency bands, so that the unicast capability and the multicast capability can indicate the communication capability of the terminal device under the frequency band combination in a combined manner, which can reduce the signaling overhead compared to the exhaustive method. In addition, for the unicast capability part, the existing mechanism can be reused to the greatest extent, and the modification of the protocol is relatively small.

[0060] In one possible design, the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the component carrier CC, including: the capability information includes a second frequency band combination list and identifiers of Q1 third feature set combinations; wherein the second frequency band combination list includes identifiers of N frequency bands supporting the reception of multicast services, and N is an integer greater than 0; any third feature set combination includes Q2 fourth parameter sets, and any fourth parameter set indicates the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N frequency bands, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each frequency band in the N frequency bands, Q1 is an integer greater than 0, and Q2 is an integer greater than 0.

[0061] In one possible design, the capability information also includes a list of third frequency band combinations and an identifier of a fourth feature set combination, wherein the third frequency band combination includes identifiers of M frequency bands supporting reception of unicast services, where M is an integer greater than 0; and the fourth feature set combination includes Q2 fifth parameter sets, and any fifth parameter set indicates the capability of receiving unicast services corresponding to the M frequency bands respectively.

[0062] In one possible design, the capability information includes an identifier of a fourth frequency band combination list and a fifth feature set combination; wherein the fourth frequency band combination list includes identifiers of X frequency bands supported by the terminal device, where X is an integer greater than 0; the fifth feature set combination includes at least one sixth parameter set, and any sixth parameter set indicates communication parameters corresponding to the X frequency bands, respectively, wherein the X frequency bands include N frequency bands that support receiving multicast services, and the communication parameters corresponding to any frequency band among the N frequency bands indicate the ability of the frequency band to receive multicast services, and / or the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the frequency band, wherein, if the CC supports receiving multicast services, the communication capability corresponding to the CC is the ability of the CC to receive multicast services, and N is an integer greater than 0 and not greater than X.

[0063] In one possible design, any sixth parameter set indicates communication parameters corresponding to X frequency bands, including: any sixth parameter set includes indexes of communication parameters corresponding to X frequency bands, and the index of the communication parameters of any frequency band among the X frequency bands satisfies: if the frequency band supports receiving multicast services, the index of the communication parameter corresponding to the frequency band belongs to the first index set; if the frequency band does not support receiving multicast services, the index of the communication parameter corresponding to the frequency band belongs to the second index set.

[0064] The above design divides the index set so that the access network device can determine whether the frequency band supports receiving multicast services according to the index corresponding to the frequency band. Compared with the method of displaying a mark indicating the reception of multicast services in the communication parameters corresponding to the frequency band, it can reduce signaling overhead and reduce the complexity of the protocol, and can also improve compatibility with older versions of the protocol.

[0065] In one possible design, the communication parameters corresponding to any frequency band among N frequency bands indicate the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the frequency band, including: the communication parameters corresponding to any frequency band among N frequency bands include the index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the frequency band, and the index of the communication capability corresponding to any CC on the frequency band satisfies: if the CC supports receiving multicast services, the index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC belongs to the third index set; if the CC does not support receiving multicast services, the index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC belongs to the fourth index set.

[0066] The above design divides the index set so that the access network device can determine whether the CC supports receiving multicast services according to the index corresponding to the CC. Compared with the method of displaying a mark indicating the reception of multicast services in the communication parameters corresponding to the CC, it can reduce signaling overhead and reduce the complexity of the protocol, and can also improve compatibility with older versions of the protocol.

[0067] In one possible design, the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band includes at least one of the following: the frequency band supports receiving multicast services, or communication parameters for receiving multicast services on the frequency band.

[0068] In one possible design, the CC's corresponding capability for receiving multicast services includes: the CC supports receiving multicast services, and / or receiving communication information for receiving multicast services on the CC; wherein the communication information is communication parameters for receiving multicast services on the CC, or the communication information is a capability value of the CC, and the capability value is determined based on the communication parameters for receiving multicast services on the CC.

[0069] In one possible design, the communication parameters for receiving the multicast service include a highest modulation order supported when receiving the multicast service.

[0070] In one possible design, the communication parameters for receiving multicast services also include: whether to support simultaneous reception of unicast services and multicast services in a synchronous manner, and / or whether to support simultaneous reception of unicast services and multicast services in an asynchronous manner.

[0071] In one possible design, the method also includes: receiving indication information from a terminal device, the indication information including a modulation order of a multicast service that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive.

[0072] In one possible design, before receiving the indication information from the terminal device, the method also includes: sending fourth information to the terminal device, wherein the fourth information is used to indicate the reporting of a multicast service received by a different PLMN or a different operator or across base stations or non-service cells or at a different frequency.

[0073] In one possible design, before receiving indication information from the terminal device, the method also includes: sending SIB 21 to the terminal device.

[0074] In a possible design, the method further includes: determining communication parameters for communicating with the terminal device according to the indication information. The above design helps the access network device to schedule unicast services for the terminal device.

[0075] In one possible design, before receiving capability information from the terminal device, the method further includes: sending capability reporting indication information to the terminal device, the capability reporting indication information instructing the terminal device to report the capability of receiving multicast services. Through the above, the terminal device can report the multicast capability under the instruction of the access network device, thereby avoiding unnecessary reporting of the multicast capability.

[0076] In one possible design, the access network device may send multicast services to the terminal device based on the capability information.

[0077] In one possible design, after receiving the capability information, the access network device may configure the MBS radio bearer (MBS radio bearer, MRB) of the multicast service according to the capability information, such as configuring the MRB through a radio resource control (radioresource control, RRC) configuration message. The access network device sends the multicast service after configuring the MRB.

[0078] In one possible design, the access network device may also receive indication information, which indicates information about the multicast service that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive, such as one or more of a session ID, a subcarrier spacing (SCS) used, a bandwidth (Bandwidth, BW), a frequency, etc. The access network device may send a unicast service to the terminal device based on the capability information and indication information reported by the terminal device.

[0079] 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.

[0080] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the execution subject of the method may be a terminal device, or a chip or circuit or other components used to implement the functions of the terminal device. The method includes: determining first information and second information, wherein the first information indicates that the terminal device is interested in a multicast service, and the second information indicates the multicast service that the terminal device is interested in; sending the first information and the second information, wherein the first information is sent before security activation, and the second information is sent after security activation.

[0081] In the embodiment of the present application, by indicating to the access network device that the terminal device is interested in the multicast service before security activation, the access network device can configure resources for the multicast service, such as common frequency resources (CFR), for the terminal device, so that there is no need to reconfigure according to the multicast service after configuring the resources for the unicast service, for example, there is no need to configure the bandwidth of the initial BWP to the bandwidth of the CFR according to the multicast service after configuring the initial bandwidth part (initial BWP). In this way, the signaling overhead can be reduced, which helps to ensure the continuity of the multicast service. In addition, sending the relevant information of the multicast service of interest to the terminal device after security activation can avoid transmitting the specific information of the MBS in an unsafe environment, thereby improving the security of communications.

[0082] In one possible design, the terminal device may send the first information before security activation and send the second information after security activation when at least one of the following conditions is met:

[0083] The cell / access network device to which the terminal device accesses is providing multicast services;

[0084] The cell / access network equipment to which the terminal device accesses will provide multicast services;

[0085] The cell / access network equipment to which the terminal device accesses supports the provision of multicast services;

[0086] The terminal device is receiving or expecting to receive a multicast service in the cell / access network device currently accessed;

[0087] The multicast service that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive is currently provided / will be provided / supported by the cell / access network device currently accessed;

[0088] The cell currently accessed by the terminal device broadcasts the SIB for providing multicast service information;

[0089] The cell currently accessed by the terminal device broadcasts a first SIB, which carries multicast control configuration information (MCCH);

[0090] The bandwidth of the CFR of the multicast service provided by the cell currently accessed by the terminal device is different from the bandwidth of the initial BWP configured by the system message;

[0091] The bandwidth of the CFR of the multicast service provided by the cell currently accessed by the terminal device is greater than the bandwidth of the initial BWP configured by the system message;

[0092] The terminal device receives third information from the access network device, and the third information instructs the terminal device to send the first information before security activation and send the second information after security activation. Optionally, the third information is carried in a broadcast message.

[0093] In one possible design, the second information includes a multicast service identifier or a multicast service identifier or an Internet Protocol (IP) group address. In the above design, by indicating the multicast service of interest to the terminal device after security activation, it is possible to avoid transmitting specific information of the MBS in an unsecure environment, thereby improving communication security.

[0094] In one possible design, the first information is a frequency list of interest and / or a priority of a multicast service. In the above design, the first information is implicitly indicated by the frequency list of interest and / or the priority of a multicast service, which can save signaling overhead.

[0095] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, and the execution subject of the method can be an access network device, or a chip or a circuit. The method includes: receiving first information and second information, wherein the first information indicates that the terminal device is interested in a multicast service, and the second information indicates the multicast service that the terminal device is interested in, and the first information is received before security activation, and the second information is received after security activation; after receiving the first information, configuring an initial BWP for the terminal device based on the first information, for example, configuring the bandwidth of the initial BWP to the bandwidth of the CFR.

[0096] In one possible design, the second information includes a multicast service identifier or a multicast service identifier or an IP group address. In the above design, by indicating the multicast service of interest to the terminal device after security activation, it is possible to avoid transmitting specific information of the MBS in an unsafe environment, thereby improving communication security.

[0097] In one possible design, the access network device sends a third information to the terminal device, and the third information instructs the terminal device to send the first information before security activation and send the second information after security activation. Optionally, the third information is carried in a broadcast message.

[0098] In one possible design, the first information is a frequency list of interest and / or a priority of a multicast service. In the above design, the first information is implicitly indicated by the frequency list of interest and / or the priority of a multicast service, which can save signaling overhead.

[0099] The beneficial effects of the method shown in the fourth aspect and its possible design can refer to the beneficial effects in the third aspect and its possible design.

[0100] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, and the execution subject of the method can be an access network device, or a chip or a circuit. The method includes: the first access network device indicates a corresponding relationship to the second access network device, and the corresponding relationship is a one-to-one correspondence between one or more PLMN index values ​​and one or more PLMN values; the first access network device receives indication information from a terminal device, and the indication information indicates that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive information about a multicast service, and the indication information includes at least one PLMN index value, and the at least one PLMN index value belongs to the one or more PLMN index values; the first access network sends the indication information to the second access network device.

[0101] In one possible design, the indication information indicates that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive at least one of the following information about a multicast service: frequency information, TMGI, SCS, or modulation order.

[0102] In one possible design, the first access network device indicates the corresponding relationship to the second access network device, including:

[0103] The first access network device sends the PLMN identification information in SIB1 to the second access network device, where the PLMN identification information indicates the corresponding relationship.

[0104] In one possible design, the first access network device indicates the corresponding relationship to the second access network device, including:

[0105] The first access network device sends an Xn interface establishment message or an NG-RAN node configuration update message to the second access network device, where the Xn interface establishment message or the NG-RAN node configuration update message includes information of at least one cell, and the information of the first cell in the at least one cell indicates at least one PLMN of the first cell and a PLMN index value corresponding to each PLMN.

[0106] In one possible design, the first access network device indicates the corresponding relationship to the second access network device, including:

[0107] The first access network device sends an Xn interface establishment message or an NG-RAN node configuration update message to the second access network device, where the Xn interface establishment message or the NG-RAN node configuration update message includes information of at least one cell, and the information of the nth cell in the at least one cell indicates at least one PLMN and an offset of the nth cell, where the offset is the total number of PLMNs from the first cell to the n-1th cell in the at least one cell, and n is an integer greater than 0.

[0108] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the execution subject of the method may be an access network device, or a chip or a circuit. The method comprises: the second access network device obtains a corresponding relationship from the first access network device, the corresponding relationship being a one-to-one corresponding relationship between one or more PLMN index values ​​and one or more PLMN values; the second access network device receives indication information from the first access network device, the indication information indicates that the terminal device is receiving or expecting to receive information about a multicast service, the indication information includes at least one PLMN index value; the second access network determines the PLMN value corresponding to the at least one PLMN index value according to the corresponding relationship.

[0109] In one possible design, the indication information indicates that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive at least one of the following information about a multicast service: frequency information, TMGI, SCS, or modulation order.

[0110] In one possible design, the second access network device obtains the corresponding relationship from the first access network device, including:

[0111] The second access network device receives the PLMN identification information in the SIB1 sent by the first access network device, where the PLMN identification information indicates the corresponding relationship.

[0112] In one possible design, the second access network device obtains the corresponding relationship from the first access network device, including:

[0113] The second access network device receives an Xn interface establishment message or an NG-RAN node configuration update message sent by the first access network device, where the Xn interface establishment message or the NG-RAN node configuration update message includes information of at least one cell, and the information of the first cell in the at least one cell indicates at least one PLMN value of the first cell and a PLMN index value corresponding to each PLMN.

[0114] In one possible design, the second access network device obtains the corresponding relationship from the first access network device, including:

[0115] The second access network device receives an Xn interface establishment message or an NG-RAN node configuration update message sent by the first access network device, where the Xn interface establishment message or the NG-RAN node configuration update message includes information of at least one cell, and the information of the nth cell in the at least one cell indicates at least one PLMN value and an offset of the nth cell, where the offset is the total number of PLMNs from the first cell to the n-1th cell in the at least one cell, and n is an integer greater than 0.

[0116] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the execution subject of the method may be an access network device, or a chip or a circuit. The method comprises: a first access network device receives first indication information from a terminal device, the first indication information indicates that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive information about a multicast service, and the first indication information includes at least one PLMN index value; the first access network device sends second indication information to a second access network device, and the PLMN information in the second indication information is a PLMN value corresponding to the at least one PLMN index value.

[0117] In one possible design, the first indication information indicates that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive at least one of the following information about a multicast service: frequency information, TMGI, SCS, or modulation order.

[0118] In one possible design, the second indication information is obtained by replacing the at least one PLMN index value in the first indication information with a PLMN value corresponding to the at least one PLMN index value.

[0119] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, and the execution subject of the method can be a terminal device, or a chip or a circuit. The method includes: the terminal device receives service information from the access network device, the service information includes a first TMGI, and the first TMGI includes a first PLMN index value; the terminal device sends indication information to the access network device, the indication information indicates that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive information about a multicast service, the indication information includes a second TMGI, and the second TMGI includes a PLMN value corresponding to the first PLMN index value, wherein the service identifier (service ID) in the first TMGI and the second TMGI is the same.

[0120] In one possible design, the indication information indicates that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive at least one of the following information about a multicast service: frequency information, TMGI, SCS, or modulation order.

[0121] In one possible design, the second TMGI is the TMGI carried by the application layer message received by the terminal device.

[0122] In another possible design, the second TMG is generated by the terminal device according to the first TMGI and the PLMN value corresponding to the first PLMN index value.

[0123] In a ninth aspect, the present application further provides a communication device, which has the function of implementing any of the methods provided in the first aspect, the third aspect, or the eighth aspect. The communication device can be implemented by hardware, or can be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0124] In one possible design, the communication device includes: a processor, the processor is configured to support the communication device to perform the corresponding functions of the terminal device in the method shown above. The communication device may also include a memory, which may be coupled to the processor and stores the necessary program instructions and data of the communication device. Optionally, the communication device also includes an interface circuit, which is used to support communication between the communication device and a device such as an access network device.

[0125] In one possible design, the communication device includes corresponding functional modules, which are respectively used to implement the steps in the above method. The functions can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0126] In one possible design, the structure of the communication device includes a processing module and a communication module, which can perform corresponding functions in the above method examples. For details, please refer to the description of the method provided in the first aspect or the third aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0127] In a tenth aspect, the present application further provides a communication device, which has the function of implementing any of the methods provided in the second aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect, or the seventh aspect. The communication device can be implemented by hardware, or can be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0128] In one possible design, the communication device includes: a processor, the processor is configured to support the communication device to perform the corresponding functions of the access network device in the method shown above. The communication device may also include a memory, which may be coupled to the processor and stores the necessary program instructions and data of the communication device. Optionally, the communication device also includes an interface circuit, which is used to support communication between the communication device and a terminal device or other device.

[0129] In one possible design, the communication device includes corresponding functional modules, which are respectively used to implement the steps in the above method. The functions can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0130] In one possible design, the structure of the communication device includes a processing module and a communication module, which can perform corresponding functions in the above method examples. For details, please refer to the description of the method provided in the second aspect or the fourth aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0131] In the eleventh aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit being used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, the processor being used to implement the methods in the aforementioned first aspect, third aspect, eighth aspect and any possible design through logic circuits or execution code instructions.

[0132] In the twelfth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit being used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, the processor being used to implement the methods in the aforementioned second aspect or fourth aspect or fifth aspect or sixth aspect or seventh aspect and any possible design through logic circuits or execution code instructions.

[0133] In the thirteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, in which a computer program or instruction is stored. When the computer program or instruction is executed by a processor, the method in any one of the first to eighth aspects and any possible design is implemented.

[0134] In a fourteenth aspect, a computer program product storing instructions is provided, which, when executed by a processor, implements the method in any one of the first to eighth aspects and any possible design.

[0135] In a fifteenth aspect, a chip system is provided, the chip system includes a processor and may also include a memory, for implementing any of the first to eighth aspects and any possible design methods. The chip system may be composed of a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0136] In the sixteenth aspect, a communication system is provided, wherein the system includes the device described in the first aspect (such as a terminal device) and the device described in the second aspect (such as an access network device). Alternatively, the system includes the device described in the third aspect (such as a terminal device) and the device described in the fourth aspect (such as an access network device). Alternatively, the system includes the device described in the fifth aspect (such as a first access network device) and the device described in the sixth aspect (such as a second access network device). Alternatively, the system includes the device described in the seventh aspect (such as a first access network device) and a second access network device. Alternatively, the system includes the device described in the eighth aspect (such as a terminal device) and an access network device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0137] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a multicast service according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0138] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a multicast scenario in an embodiment of the present application;

[0139] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a characteristic set combination of an embodiment of the present application;

[0140] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of capability information in an embodiment of the present application;

[0141] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0142] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0143] Figure 7 A flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0144] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a process of sending a multicast service according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0145] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of capability information in an embodiment of the present application;

[0146] Fig.10 A flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0147] Fig.11 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0148] Fig.12 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0149] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present application more clear, the present application will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The specific operation method in the method embodiment can also be applied to the device embodiment or the system embodiment.

[0150] Below, some terms in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0151] 1) MBS: MBS is a service that is transmitted to multiple terminal devices at the same time, such as live broadcast service, public safety service, batch software update service, etc. Multicast service may include one or more of multicast services such as multicast and broadcast. Multicast service may also be called multicast service, broadcast service, multicast / broadcast service, multicast / multicast service, multicast / broadcast service, etc. MBS comes from the data server. First, the data server sends the MBS data to the core network device, and then the core network device sends the MBS data to the access network device. Finally, the access network device sends the MBS data to at least one terminal device that receives the MBS. When the core network device sends the MBS data to the access network device, the MBS data is transmitted through a common transmission channel, namely the MBS session. When the access network device sends to the terminal device, there are two transmission modes: the first one can use the point-to-multipoint (PTM) transmission mode; the second one can use the point-to-point (PTP) transmission mode. Such as Figure 1 shown.

[0152] In the embodiment of the present application, MBS may also be referred to as "MBS service", "MBS broadcast service", "MBS session", "MBS broadcast service", "MBS service" and so on.

[0153] For a terminal device, it supports receiving MBS services from one access network device and receiving unicast services from another access network device, such as Figure 2 Alternatively, the MBS service and the unicast service may be received from one access network device.

[0154] It should be noted that MBS is only an exemplary name for multicast services. The naming of multicast services may be different under different communication standards. For example, in long term evolution (LTE), multicast services can be called multimedia broadcast multicast services (MBMS), and in new radio (NR), multicast services can be called MBS. In future communication development, multicast services may also be named other names. This application does not make specific limitations and they are uniformly referred to as multicast services below.

[0155] 2) Receive only mode (ROM) mode refers to: a mode that allows terminal devices to only receive multicast broadcast services without accessing and registering with the public land mobile network (PLMN) that provides multicast broadcast services.

[0156] 3) Terminal device capability reporting

[0157] The network device obtains the capability information of the terminal device through the capability query process. During the capability query process, the network device sends indication information to the terminal device, and the indication information is used to indicate the capability parameters that the terminal device needs to report. The terminal device uploads the corresponding capability information according to the indication of the indication information.

[0158] At present, there are terminal devices with multi-radio access technology (RAT) capabilities. Multi-RAT capability refers to the ability of terminal devices to work in multiple RATs at the same time. A typical representative of multi-RAT capability is the evolved universal land-based radio access and new radio dual connectivity mode (E-UTRA-NR dual connectivity, EN-DC). EN-DC is a way for LTE and NR to work together as a dual connectivity mode, and LTE is the main node, that is, a terminal device is connected to the LTE network device and the NR network device at the same time, and is provided with services by these two network devices at the same time. Multi-RAT capability is also requested as a capability type when requesting capability.

[0159] Terminal device capability structure in NR: Due to different hardware or software versions, different terminal devices have different capabilities supported within a RAT. In order for the network to better provide services to terminal devices, the network needs to know the capabilities of the terminal devices so as to configure the appropriate working mode for the terminal devices.

[0160] The capability structure of NR terminal equipment includes band combination information (Band Combination Lists) and frequency band information.

[0161] The band combination information includes band lists and feature set combinations.

[0162] Band Lists include the frequency band combinations supported by the terminal device and indicate which frequency bands are included in the frequency band combination, such as band1+band2+band3. Of course, even if only one band is supported, it is reported through this structure.

[0163] Feature Sets Combinations represent the capabilities supported by the terminal device on the band combination. FeatureSets Combinations is a collection of multiple Feature Sets Combinations, where each FeatureSets Combination is a matrix element containing multiple feature set indexes (featuresetIDs), and each featuresetID is associated with a band. For example, Figure 3 As shown, it is a FeatureSetsCombination associated with the band combination including band A, band B and band C, wherein each row corresponds to the uplink and downlink featuresetID used by band A, B and C respectively. Different rows represent different featureset combinations supported by the UE in this band combination. Taking the first row as an example, the matrix elements of the different feature sets supported by the UE in the combination of band A, band B and band C are (0,0), (2,4) and (1,2) respectively. It can be understood that for the matrix element (0,0), it means that the uplink feature set index and the downlink feature set index used on band A are both 0; for the matrix element (2,4), it means that the uplink feature set index used on band B is 2 and the downlink feature set index is 4, and so on.

[0164] FeaturesetID corresponds to a set of communication parameters, which are used to indicate the capabilities supported by the terminal device on this band, such as the number of carriers, carrier bandwidth, and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capabilities. The communication parameters corresponding to featuresetID may include the capabilities supported by the terminal device on the entire band, and the capabilities supported on each CC of the band (featureset perCC).

[0165] The frequency band information may include frequency band lists (Band Lists). Band Lists include bands supported by the terminal device and capabilities supported by the terminal device on each band.

[0166] For example, the capability structure of the terminal device may be as follows: Figure 4 shown.

[0167] It should be understood that the capability structure of the terminal device may also include other information not shown, such as capability information at the terminal device level, etc., which is not specifically limited here.

[0168] 4) Terminal device capability query process

[0169] Unicast communication is performed between the network device and the terminal device, so the network device usually obtains the capabilities of the terminal device through the capability query process so that the network device can send and receive data in a unicast manner according to the capabilities of the terminal device. During the capability query process, the network device can send capability query information to the terminal device to request the capabilities of the terminal device.

[0170] The capability query information usually includes a cell, which includes multiple fields for indicating the capabilities of the terminal device to be requested. The cell of the capability query information sent by the network device can be a filter function, such as: UE-Capability Request Filter Common. The filter function is used to request the capabilities of the filtered terminal device. The capabilities of the filtered terminal device refer to the capabilities of the terminal device that meet the requirements of the network device. Therefore, through the filter function, the network device can obtain the capabilities of the terminal device reported by the terminal device it indicates.

[0171] 5) Terminal equipment, including equipment that provides voice and / or data connectivity to users, specifically, including equipment that provides voice to users, or including equipment that provides data connectivity to users, or including equipment that provides voice and data connectivity to users. For example, it may include a handheld device with wireless connection function, or a processing device connected to a wireless modem. The terminal equipment can communicate with the core network via the radio access network (RAN), exchange voice or data with the RAN, or exchange voice and data with the RAN. The terminal device may include UE, wireless terminal device, mobile terminal device, device-to-device (D2D) terminal device, vehicle to everything (V2X) terminal device, machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC) terminal device, Internet of Things (IoT) terminal device, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, remote station, access point (AP), remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, user agent, or user equipment, etc. For example, it may include a mobile phone (or "cellular" phone), a computer with a mobile terminal device, a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, or computer-built-in mobile device, etc. For example, personal communication service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDA), and other devices. It also includes limited devices, such as devices with low power consumption, or devices with limited storage capacity, or devices with limited computing power, etc. For example, it includes information sensing devices such as barcodes, radio frequency identification (RFID), sensors, global positioning systems (GPS), laser scanners, etc.

[0172] As an example but not limitation, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may also be a wearable device. Wearable devices may also be referred to as wearable smart devices or smart wearable devices, etc., which are a general term for the application of wearable technology to intelligently design and develop wearable devices for daily wear, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing and shoes. A wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothes or accessories. Wearable devices are not only hardware devices, but also powerful functions achieved through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Broadly speaking, wearable smart devices include full-featured, large-size, and independent of smartphones to achieve complete or partial functions, such as smart watches or smart glasses, etc., as well as those that only focus on a certain type of application function and need to be used in conjunction with other devices such as smartphones, such as various types of smart bracelets, smart helmets, and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0173] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may also include a relay. Alternatively, it can be understood that anything that can communicate data with the base station can be regarded as a terminal device.

[0174] In the embodiment of the present application, the device for realizing the function of the terminal device can be a terminal device, or a device applied to the terminal device that can support the terminal device to realize the function, such as a component or assembly with a communication function, or a chip system, which can be installed in the terminal device. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices. In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is described by taking the device for realizing the function of the terminal as an example, which is a terminal device.

[0175] 6) Network equipment, for example, including access network (AN) equipment, such as a base station (e.g., access point), may refer to a device in the access network that communicates with a terminal device through one or more cells at an air interface. The network equipment may include an evolved base station (NodeB or eNB or e-NodeB, evolutionary Node B) in an LTE system or an advanced long term evolution (LTE-A), or may also include a next generation node B (next generation node B, gNB) in a fifth generation mobile communication technology (the 5th generation, 5G) NR system (also referred to as an NR system) or may also include a centralized unit (CU) and / or a distributed unit (DU) in a cloud radio access network (Cloud RAN) system, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For example, the network equipment may be a CU in a Cloud RAN system, or a DU, or a combination of a CU and a DU.

[0176] The network equipment may also include core network equipment, such as access and mobility management function (AMF), etc. Since the embodiments of the present application mainly involve access network, the network equipment mentioned in the following text refers to access network equipment unless otherwise specified.

[0177] In the embodiment of the present application, the device for realizing the function of the network device may be a network device, or may be a device capable of supporting the network device to realize the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the network device. In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is described by taking the device for realizing the function of the network device as an example that the network device is used as the device.

[0178] In the embodiments of the present application, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "plurality" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0179] Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects. For example, the first parameter and the second parameter are only used to distinguish different parameters, and do not indicate the difference in the content, value, priority or importance of the two parameters.

[0180] The foregoing introduces some terminology concepts involved in the embodiments of the present application. The following introduces the technical features involved in the embodiments of the present application.

[0181] In a mobile communication system, the communication between the terminal device and the network device is carried out on the band. Different terminal devices may support different frequency bands or different frequency band combinations, and the terminal devices may have different baseband capabilities on different frequency bands or frequency band combinations. Baseband capabilities may include: carrier bandwidth, number of carriers, number of supported channel state indicator (CSI) processes, number of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) layers, etc. The terminal device needs to report the supported frequency bands or frequency band combinations, as well as baseband capability information to the network device. The network device configures service resources based on the capabilities of the terminal device.

[0182] In one scenario, the terminal device can support receiving broadcast-multicast services while performing unicast operations. In this case, the unicast and broadcast-multicast services share the baseband capability of the terminal device. Therefore, it is necessary for the terminal device to report its ability to receive multicast broadcasts while performing unicast operations to the network device, so that the network device can configure the multicast broadcast service according to the capability information reported by the terminal device. Currently, in LTE, the way for the terminal device to report the ability to receive multicast broadcasts is to report mbms-MaxBW in the capability information, where mbms-MaxBW indicates the maximum bandwidth supported by MBS reception.

[0183] The multicast capability information currently designed by LTE is at the UE level, without distinguishing between bands and carriers, and only supports reporting the maximum bandwidth for MBS. The existing NR multicast service may only be supported on a certain band of the UE. If the multicast capability of LTE is reused, the multicast capability of the NR UE cannot be accurately reported.

[0184] Based on this, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method and device for solving the problem of low accuracy of multicast capability reporting of terminal devices. The method and the device are based on the same inventive concept. Since the principles of solving the problem by the method and the device are similar, the implementation of the device and the method can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0185] The communication method provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, for example, the Internet of Things (IoT), narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), long term evolution (LTE), fifth generation (5G) communication system, LTE and 5G hybrid architecture, 5G new radio (NR) system, 6G or new communication system emerging in future communication development, etc. The communication system described in this application can also be a machine to machine (M2M) network or other network.

[0186] See also Figure 5 As shown, a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application may include a terminal device, an access network device, and may also include a core network device. In the communication system, the terminal device may receive a multicast service from the access network device.

[0187] See also Figure 6 As shown, a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application may include a terminal device and two access network devices, namely, access network device 1 and access network device 2. In the communication system, the terminal device may receive a unicast service from access network device 1 and a multicast service from access network device 2, and the two services may share the baseband capability of the terminal device.

[0188] Optionally, the access network device 1 and the access network device 2 may be connected to different core network devices. For example, the communication system may further include a core network device 1 and a core network device 2, wherein the access network device 1 is connected to the core network device 1, and the access network device 2 is connected to the core network device 2. Figure 6 shown.

[0189] Alternatively, access network device 1 and access network device 2 may also be connected to the same core network device. For example, the communication system includes core network device 3, and access network device 1 and access network device 2 are both connected to core network device 3.

[0190] The network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. A person of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that with the evolution of the network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0191] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0192] like Figure 7 The figure is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0193] S801, the terminal device determines capability information.

[0194] The capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the band and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC. Exemplarily, the multicast services may include groupcast services, broadcast services, and the like.

[0195] The capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the band, which can be understood as including the capability of receiving multicast services at the band level (per band). The capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC, which can be understood as including the capability of receiving multicast services at the CC level (per CC).

[0196] In the embodiment of the present application, the "ability to receive multicast services" can also be replaced by "ability to receive MBS services", "MBS capability", "multicast capability", "broadcast capability", "ROM capability", or "free to air (FTA) capability", etc. The embodiment of the present application takes the "ability to receive multicast services" as an example for explanation.

[0197] The specific manner in which the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the band and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC will be described in detail below.

[0198] It should be noted that step S801 may be an optional step, that is, the terminal device may not reflect the process of determining capability information.

[0199] S802: The terminal device sends capability information to the access network device. Correspondingly, the access network device receives the capability information from the terminal device.

[0200] Optionally, before step S802 or before step S801, the access network device may send capability reporting indication information to the terminal device, where the capability reporting indication information instructs the terminal device to report a capability of receiving a multicast service.

[0201] Specifically, the capability reporting indication information instructs the terminal device to report the capability of receiving multicast services. Specifically including: the capability reporting indication information instructs the terminal device to report the capabilities corresponding to all bands supporting multicast services or the capabilities corresponding to all bands supporting multicast services contained in the current or specified PLMN. For example, the capability reporting indication information can be one or more bits indicating whether to report. Alternatively, the capability reporting indication information can indicate whether to report by whether it carries one or more bits. Alternatively, the field in the capability reporting indication information indicates whether to report by true / false.

[0202] Alternatively, the capability reporting indication information instructs the terminal device to report the capability of receiving multicast services. Specifically, the capability reporting indication information may carry the index or identifier of one or more bands, and the capability reporting indication information instructs the terminal device to report the capability of receiving multicast services of the one or more bands.

[0203] S803: The access network device determines the capability of the terminal device according to the capability information.

[0204] In one implementation, the access network device may send a multicast service to the terminal device according to the capability information.

[0205] For example, in Figure 5 In the communication system shown, the terminal device sends capability information to the access network device, and the access network device can send multicast services to the terminal device based on the capability information. Specifically, after the terminal device sends the capability information to the access network device, the access network device can configure the MRB of the multicast service based on the capability information, such as configuring the MRB through an RRC configuration message. After configuring the MRB, the access network device sends the multicast service, such as Figure 8 shown.

[0206] In another implementation, the access network device may send a unicast service to the terminal device according to the capability information.

[0207] For example, in Figure 6 In the communication system shown, the terminal device sends capability information to the access network device 1, and the access network device 1 can send a unicast service to the terminal device according to the capability information.

[0208] In a specific implementation, in addition to sending capability information to the access network device, the terminal device may also send indication information to the access network device, where the indication information indicates information about the multicast service that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive, such as session identifier, SCS used, BW, frequency, etc. The access network device may select a set of capability information sets supported by the terminal device based on the capability information and indication information reported by the terminal device, thereby sending unicast services to the terminal device without affecting the terminal device's reception of multicast services.

[0209] Optionally, the terminal device may also send indication information to the access network device, where the indication information may indicate the modulation order of the multicast service being received or expected to be received, for example, the modulation order of the multicast service being received or expected to be received may be indicated by an MBS interest indication (MII), etc. Optionally, the indication information may also indicate at least one of the following information that the terminal device is receiving or expecting to receive the multicast service: frequency information (such as bandwidth and / or frequency point, etc.), TMGI, SCS.

[0210] This application does not limit the name (or type) of the indication information, and MII may be replaced with other information indicating services of interest to the UE, such as user assistance information (UAI), etc. For ease of description, the following description is made by taking MII as an example.

[0211] It should be noted that the triggering method, sending method and content of MII do not depend on Figure 8 If the triggering mode, sending mode and content of the MII are implemented separately, the information indicated by the MII may include the content indicated by the above indication information, or may not include the content indicated by the above indication information, or may include part of the information in the above indication information.

[0212] In one implementation, the terminal device may obtain the modulation order of the multicast service being received or expected to be received from the multicast transmission logical channel (MTCH) configuration information. Optionally, in this implementation, before the terminal device sends the indication information, it may receive system information from the access network device, the system information including MCCH configuration information. And receive MCCH according to the MCCH configuration information, the MCCH including MTCH configuration information.

[0213] In another implementation, the terminal device may also obtain the modulation order of the multicast service being received or expected to be received from downlink control information (DCI). Specifically, the terminal device may report the obtained modulation order in real time, or may obtain it n times and report the maximum modulation order.

[0214] Furthermore, after the terminal device reports the modulation order of the multicast service being received or expected to be received, the modulation order can also be updated. For example, after obtaining the updated modulation order of the multicast service being received or expected to be received from the DCI, it is updated to the access network device.

[0215] For example, in Figure 6 In the communication system shown, the terminal device sends capability information to the access network device 1, and the terminal device can send MII to the access network device 1, where the MII indicates information about multicast services that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive from the access network device 2. The access network device 1 can send unicast services to the terminal device based on the capability information and MII reported by the terminal device.

[0216] In LTE, the terminal device triggers the terminal device to report MII (that is, the above-mentioned indication information) by receiving the mbms-ROM-ServiceIndicatio in SIB2 of the primary cell / primary serving cell (Pcell), but in NR or future communications, there may be no such information, which makes it impossible to trigger the terminal device to report MII. Based on this, the present application provides three methods for triggering the terminal device to report MII.

[0217] The first method is: the access network device sends fourth information to the terminal device to indicate whether to report MII. The fourth information can be used to indicate reporting of inter-PLMN or inter-operator or inter-base station or non-serving cell or inter-frequency received multicast services.

[0218] In this method, after receiving the fourth information, the terminal device can determine whether to report the MII. Four determination methods are described below. It should be understood that the four methods can be implemented separately or in combination of any two, three or four.

[0219] Determination method 1: When the terminal device meets any of the following conditions, it is determined that MII needs to be reported:

[0220] Case 1: The PLMN in the TMGI of the received multicast service is inconsistent with the PLMN information included in the SIB1 of the serving cell of the access network device.

[0221] Case 2: The PLMN included in the SIB1 of the cell receiving the multicast service is inconsistent with the PLMN included in the SIB1 of the serving cell of the access network device.

[0222] The “different” in determination method 1 can be understood as the PLMN in the TMGI (or SIB1) of the received multicast service and the PLMN included in the SIB1 of the serving cell of the access network device have at least different parts.

[0223] In this implementation manner, the fourth information may be 1 or more bits.

[0224] Determination method 2: When the terminal device meets any of the following conditions, it is determined that MII needs to be reported:

[0225] Case 3: the fourth information includes one or more PLMNs, and the PLMN in the TMGI of the received multicast service is different from the one or more PLMNs.

[0226] Case 4: the fourth information includes one or more PLMNs, and the PLMN included in the SIB1 of the cell receiving the multicast service is different from the one or more PLMNs.

[0227] The “different” in determination method 2 may be understood as the PLMN in the TMGI (or SIB1) of the received multicast service having at least a different part from any PLMN in the one or more PLMNs.

[0228] Determination method 3: The terminal device may determine that the MII needs to be reported when one or more of the following conditions are met:

[0229] Case 5: The frequency for receiving the multicast service does not belong to the frequency included in the SIB 21 of the serving cell of the access network device.

[0230] Case 6: The frequency for receiving the multicast service is different from the frequency list included in the USD.

[0231] Determination method 4: The terminal device can determine that MII needs to be reported when the following conditions are met:

[0232] Case 7: The indication information includes one or more frequency information, and the frequency of the received multicast service is different from the one or more frequency information.

[0233] In the above four determination methods, the access network device can Figure 6In the illustrated scenario, the access network device 1 may receive a multicast service from the access network device 2 .

[0234] The second method is: the protocol may stipulate that the serving cell of the access network device must send SIB21 to trigger the terminal device to report MII. The access network device may be Figure 6 Access network device 1 in the illustrated scenario.

[0235] The third method is that the terminal device can determine that the MII needs to be reported.

[0236] For example, the terminal device may determine to report a multicast service received in an inter-PLMN or inter-operator when inter-PLMN or inter-operator conditions are met.

[0237] For details, please refer to the above-mentioned determination method 1 or determination method 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0238] For another example, the terminal device may determine to report a multicast service received at a different frequency when the different frequencies are met.

[0239] For details, please refer to the above-mentioned determination method 3 or determination method 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0240] The above describes three methods for triggering the terminal device to report MII. The following describes the content of MII reported by the terminal device in combination with the above three methods.

[0241] Based on the first method mentioned above, the terminal device can determine the need to report MII based on the fourth information, and determine the frequency information (such as frequency point and / or bandwidth, etc.) / TMGI / SCS / modulation order, etc. included in the MII based on the fourth information.

[0242] Based on the third method mentioned above, the terminal device can determine the need to report MII according to different operators / different PLMNs / different frequencies / non-service cells, and determine the frequency information (such as frequency and / or bandwidth, etc.) / TMGI / SCS / modulation order, etc. included in the MII according to the operator / PLMN / frequency.

[0243] Based on the second method mentioned above, the terminal device can determine the need to report MII according to SIB21, and determine the frequency information (such as frequency and / or bandwidth, etc.) / TMGI / SCS / modulation order, etc. included in the MII based on operator / PLMN / frequency.

[0244] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may indicate the multicast capability at the frequency band (or band) level and / or CC level through capability information, thereby improving the accuracy of multicast capability reporting, so that the access network device can obtain refined capability information. In a possible implementation, the access network device may provide multicast services and / or unicast services according to the refined capability information, for example, the communication parameters of the multicast services and / or unicast services may be configured or selected according to the refined capability information.

[0245] The following introduces the manner in which the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the band and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC in conjunction with the structure of the capability information.

[0246] In an exemplary description, the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the band and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC may be indicated by the frequency band combination information in the capability information, or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the band may be indicated by the frequency band information in the capability information. The following will respectively introduce examples of indicating the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the band and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC by frequency band combination information, and examples of indicating the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the band by frequency band information.

[0247] The ability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the band and / or the ability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC indicated by the band combination information can be implemented in the following four ways:

[0248] Method 1: According to the terminology 3) above, the capability information includes Band Combination Lists, which include Band Lists and Feature Sets Combinations. In this method, the bands that support receiving multicast services can be listed in the Band Lists in the Band Combination Lists, and the capability of receiving multicast services on the bands that support receiving multicast services can be indicated by the Feature Sets Combination corresponding to the Band List.

[0249] Example 1, the capability information includes an identifier of a first frequency band combination list and a first feature set combination. The first frequency band combination list includes first frequency band information, and the first frequency band information includes identifiers of N bands supporting reception of multicast services, where N is an integer greater than 0. The first feature set combination includes at least one first parameter set corresponding to the first frequency band combination list, and any first parameter set indicates the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N bands respectively, and / or the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each of the N bands. Exemplarily, N can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and so on. In one implementation, the network device may indicate the number N of frequency bands supporting multicast services reported by the terminal device, or may also indicate the maximum number of frequency bands supporting multicast services reported by the terminal device.

[0250] Optionally, the first frequency band combination list may also include second frequency band information, the second frequency band information includes the identifiers of M bands supporting unicast services, M is an integer greater than 0; any first parameter set also indicates the capabilities of the M bands respectively corresponding to receiving unicast services, or, any first parameter set also indicates the capabilities of the M bands respectively corresponding to receiving communication services, and the communication services include unicast services and multicast services.

[0251] In this example 1, the first frequency band combination list lists the identifiers of M bands that the terminal device supports unicast services and the identifiers of N bands that support multicast services. Here, the bands are distinguished according to the communication services supported on the bands. If the terminal device supports receiving multicast services on a band, the identifier of the band is included in the first frequency band information. If the terminal device supports receiving unicast services on a band, the identifier of the band is included in the second frequency band information. If a band supports receiving both multicast services and unicast services, the identifier of the band is included in the first frequency band information and the second frequency band information, that is, the identifier of the band appears twice in the first frequency band combination list.

[0252] As an example, in this method, the structure of the capability information may be: the capability information includes an identifier of a first frequency band combination list and a first feature set combination. The first frequency band combination list includes identifiers of N bands that support receiving multicast services and identifiers of M bands that support receiving unicast services, wherein if a band supports receiving multicast services and unicast services, the identifier of the band appears twice in the first frequency band combination list. The first feature set combination includes a matrix element of multiple feature set indexes (featuresetID), and each feature set index is associated with a band. Among them, each row of feature set indexes can be considered as a first parameter set, and each row of feature set indexes, i.e., the first parameter set, represents the feature set combination supported by the terminal device on this band combination. Each row of feature set indexes of the first feature set combination, i.e., each first parameter set, may include feature set indexes corresponding to the above-mentioned N bands, and may also include feature set indexes corresponding to the above-mentioned M bands.

[0253] The feature set index corresponding to each band in the N bands corresponds to a set of communication parameters, which are used to indicate the ability of the terminal device to receive multicast services on this band. The feature set index corresponding to each band in the M bands corresponds to a set of communication parameters, which are used to indicate the ability of the terminal device to receive unicast services on this band, or to indicate the ability of the terminal device to receive communication services on this band, which communication services include unicast services and multicast services, and may also include other services, which are not specifically limited here.

[0254] Optionally, the feature set index corresponding to the M bands may include two parts, namely an uplink feature set index and a downlink feature set index. The uplink feature set index may correspond to a set of communication parameters, wherein the set of communication parameters may include band-level communication parameters and CC-level communication parameters. In the set of communication parameters, the band-level communication parameters are used to indicate the ability to perform uplink transmission on the band. The CC-level communication parameters are used to indicate the ability to perform uplink transmission on the CC.

[0255] The downlink feature set index may correspond to a set of communication parameters, wherein the set of communication parameters may include band-level communication parameters and CC-level communication parameters. In the set of communication parameters, the band-level communication parameters are used to indicate the ability to receive unicast services on the band. The CC-level communication parameters are used to indicate the ability to receive unicast services on the band. Alternatively, in the set of communication parameters, the band-level communication parameters are used to indicate the ability to receive communication services on the band. The CC-level communication parameters are used to indicate the ability to receive communication services on the CC.

[0256] The feature set index corresponding to the N bands may include a downlink feature set index. The downlink feature set index may correspond to a set of communication parameters, wherein the set of communication parameters may include band-level communication parameters and CC-level communication parameters. In the set of communication parameters, the band-level communication parameters are used to indicate the ability to receive multicast services on the band. The CC-level communication parameters are used to indicate the ability to receive multicast services on the band.

[0257] For example, the band-level communication parameters included in the communication parameters corresponding to the uplink feature set indexes of M bands, the band-level communication parameters included in the communication parameters corresponding to the downlink feature set indexes of M bands, or the band-level communication parameters included in the communication parameters corresponding to the downlink feature set indexes of N bands may include at least one of the following types of communication parameters: SCS, BW, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) layers (MIMO layers), modulation order (Modulation Order), etc.

[0258] Optionally, the band-level communication parameters included in the communication parameters corresponding to the downlink feature set indexes of the N bands further include: a flag for supporting reception of multicast services.

[0259] The CC-level communication parameters included in the communication parameters corresponding to the uplink feature set indexes of M bands, the CC-level communication parameters included in the communication parameters corresponding to the downlink feature set indexes of M bands, or the CC-level communication parameters included in the communication parameters corresponding to the downlink feature set indexes of N bands may include at least one of the following types of communication parameters: SCS corresponding to CC, BW corresponding to CC, MIMO layers corresponding to CC, ModulationOrder corresponding to CC, etc.

[0260] Alternatively, the CC-level communication parameters included in the communication parameters corresponding to the downlink feature set index of the N bands may also be a capability value, and the capability value may be determined based on the above-mentioned SCS and other parameters. In one implementation, the capability value may be the weighted sum of SCS, BW, MIMO layers, and ModulationOrder. In another implementation, the capability value may be the product of SCS, BW, MIMO layers, and ModulationOrder. Of course, the capability value may also be determined based on other calculation methods, which are not specifically limited here.

[0261] Optionally, the CC-level communication parameters included in the communication parameters corresponding to the downlink feature set indexes of the N bands further include: a flag for supporting reception of multicast services.

[0262] The following is an illustration of Example 1 with reference to a specific example.

[0263] Assuming that the terminal device supports receiving unicast services on band A and band B, and supports receiving multicast services on band B and band C, the structure of the capability information may be as shown in Table 1.

[0264] Table 1

[0265]

[0266] Example 1 is explained in conjunction with the above Table 1, which is the band combination information in the capability information, namely, Band Combination Lists. Band list 1 is the first band combination list, through which the identifiers of N bands supporting multicast services and the identifiers of M bands supporting unicast services can be indicated. In Table 1, band B and band C supporting multicast services, band A and band B are taken as examples.

[0267] featureSetCombinationID 1 is the identifier of the first feature set combination, which includes at least one first parameter set corresponding to the first frequency band combination list, wherein each square bracket represents a first parameter set, indicating a capability supported by the terminal device on the band combination. The small brackets in the same square bracket identify the feature sets corresponding to the bands in the frequency band combination list in turn. For example, the first small bracket in each square bracket identifies the feature set corresponding to band A, the second small bracket identifies the feature set corresponding to band B, the third small bracket identifies the feature set for receiving multicast services corresponding to band B, and the fourth small bracket identifies the feature set for receiving multicast services corresponding to band C.

[0268] The elements included in each bracket are feature set indexes, where fsul represents the feature set corresponding to the uplink, fsdl represents the feature set corresponding to the downlink, and n1, n2, etc. are index values, i.e., fsul_n1 represents that the feature set corresponding to the uplink is the communication parameter corresponding to the index value n1, and fsdl_n1 represents that the feature set corresponding to the downlink is the communication parameter corresponding to the index value n1. The content indicated by each feature set index corresponds to the same structure. Taking fsdl_n1 as an example, as shown in Table 1, fsdl_n1 corresponds to: communication parameters at the band level, i.e., Per band parameters, and communication parameters at the CC level, i.e., Per CC parameters. Among them, Per CC parameters specifically include the feature set identifier corresponding to the CC, such as the feature set identifier fsdlperCC_n1 corresponding to CC1 and the feature set identifier fsdlperCC_n2 corresponding to CC2.

[0269] The feature set identifier corresponding to the CC may indicate the communication parameters corresponding to the CC, for example, the SCS, BW, MIMO layers, Modulation Order, etc. corresponding to the CC. For another example, it may be the capability value corresponding to the CC.

[0270] It should be understood that the structure of the content indicated by other feature set indexes included in the first feature set combination is similar to that of fsdl_n1. For details, please refer to the relevant description of fsdl_n1 above, and no further description will be given here.

[0271] In Example 1, one or more bits in the capability query can be used to trigger the terminal device to report the capability combination of band B and band C for receiving multicast services. Alternatively, one or more bits in the capability query can be used to trigger reporting the capability of band B to receive multicast services (wherein band B can be a band of the same PLMN or a band of another PLMN). Alternatively, the band filter list of MBS in the capability query can be included in band B and C to trigger the terminal device to report the capability combination of band B and C for receiving multicast services.

[0272] Example 2, the capability information includes an identifier of a second frequency band combination list and a second feature set combination; wherein the second frequency band combination list includes identifiers of N bands supporting reception of multicast services, N being an integer greater than 0; the second feature set combination includes Q1 group of parameters corresponding to the second frequency band combination list, wherein each group of parameters includes Q2 second parameter sets, any second parameter set indicates the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N bands respectively, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each of the N bands, Q1 being an integer greater than 0, and Q2 being an integer greater than 0.

[0273] Optionally, the capability information also includes a third frequency band combination list, wherein the third frequency band combination list includes identifiers of M bands supporting reception of unicast services, and M is an integer greater than 0; the second feature set combination also includes Q2 third parameter sets corresponding to the third frequency band combination list, and any third parameter set indicates the capabilities of receiving unicast services corresponding to the M bands respectively; wherein the i-th second parameter set in the Q2 second parameter sets corresponds to the i-th first parameter set in any group of parameters in the Q1 group of parameters, wherein i is an integer greater than 0 and not greater than Q2. It can be understood that the i-th second parameter set in the Q2 second parameter sets combined with the i-th first parameter set in any group of parameters in the Q1 group of parameters can represent the feature set combination supported by the terminal device on this band combination, and the band combination is the band combination obtained by combining the second frequency band combination list and the third frequency band combination list.

[0274] In this example 2, the second frequency band combination list lists the identifiers of N bands that the terminal device supports for receiving multicast services, and the third frequency band combination list lists the identifiers of M bands that the terminal device supports for receiving unicast services. The bands are distinguished here according to the communication services supported on the bands. If the terminal device supports receiving multicast services on a band, the identifier of the band is included in the second frequency band combination list, and if the terminal device supports receiving unicast services on a band, the identifier of the band is included in the third frequency band combination list. If a band supports both multicast and unicast services, the identifier of the band is included in the second frequency band combination list and the third frequency band combination list.

[0275] As an example, in this method, the structure of the capability information may be: the capability information includes the second frequency band combination list, the third frequency band combination list, and the identifier of the second feature set combination. The second frequency band combination list includes the identifiers of N bands that support receiving multicast services, and the third frequency band combination list includes the identifiers of M bands that support receiving unicast services. If a band supports receiving multicast services and unicast services, the identifier of the band is included in the second frequency band combination list and the third frequency band combination list.

[0276] The second feature set combination includes a first matrix and at least one extended matrix. The first matrix includes matrix elements of multiple feature set indexes (featuresetID), and each feature set index is associated with one of the M bands. Each row of feature set indexes can be considered as a third parameter set. Each row of feature set indexes in the first matrix, that is, each third parameter set, includes feature set indexes corresponding to the above-mentioned M bands. The feature set index corresponding to each band in the M bands corresponds to a set of communication parameters, which is used to indicate the ability of the terminal device to receive unicast services on this band, or to indicate the ability of the terminal device to receive communication services on this band, and the communication services include unicast services and multicast services.

[0277] Each extended matrix includes a plurality of matrix elements of feature set indexes (featuresetID), and each feature set index is associated with one of the N bands. Among them, each row of feature set indexes of each extended matrix can be considered as a second parameter set. Each row of feature set indexes of each extended matrix, i.e., each second parameter set, includes feature set indexes corresponding to the above-mentioned N bands. Among them, the feature set index corresponding to each band in the N bands corresponds to a set of communication parameters, which are used to indicate the ability of the terminal device to receive multicast services on this band.

[0278] The feature set index of the i-th row of the first matrix and the feature set index of the i-th row of an extended matrix can be combined, and the resulting feature set combination can represent the feature set combination supported by the terminal device on this band combination, that is, the band combination obtained by combining the second band combination list and the third band combination list.

[0279] For the explanation of the meaning of the feature set index corresponding to M bands and the meaning of the feature set index corresponding to N bands, please refer to the explanation of the feature set index corresponding to M bands and the feature set index corresponding to N bands in the above example 1, which will not be repeated here.

[0280] The following is an illustration of Example 2 with reference to a specific example.

[0281] Assuming that the terminal device supports receiving unicast services on band A and band B, and supports receiving multicast services on band B and band C, the structure of the capability information may be as shown in Table 2.

[0282] Table 2

[0283]

[0284]

[0285] Example 2 is explained in conjunction with the above Table 2. Table 2 is the band combination information in the capability information, namely, BandCombination Lists. Band list extend is the second band combination list, through which the identifiers of N bands supporting multicast services can be indicated. In Table 2, band B and band C supporting multicast services are taken as an example. Band list 1 is the third band combination list, through which the identifiers of M bands supporting unicast services can be indicated. In Table 2, band A and band B supporting unicast services are taken as an example.

[0286] featureSetCombinationID 1 is the identifier of the second feature set combination, and the second feature set combination includes Q2 third parameter sets corresponding to Band list 1. In Table 2, taking Q2=3 as an example, the second feature set combination includes the first matrix, and the first matrix includes Q2=3 third parameter sets corresponding to Band list 1, wherein each square bracket in the first matrix represents a third parameter set, and each small bracket in the same square bracket identifies the feature set corresponding to each band in Band list 1 in turn. For example, the first small bracket in each square bracket identifies the feature set corresponding to band A, and the second small bracket identifies the feature set corresponding to band B.

[0287] The second feature set combination also includes Q1 group parameters corresponding to Band list extend, wherein each group of parameters includes Q2 second parameter sets. Taking Q1=3 as an example in Table 2, the second feature set combination includes Q1=3 extension matrices, each extension matrix is ​​a group of parameters corresponding to Band list extend, wherein Q2=3 second parameter sets are included, wherein each square bracket in each extension matrix represents a second parameter set, and each small bracket in the same square bracket identifies the feature set of receiving multicast services corresponding to each band in Band listextend in turn. For example, the first small bracket in each square bracket identifies the feature set of receiving multicast services corresponding to band B, and the second small bracket identifies the feature set of receiving multicast services corresponding to band C.

[0288] The square brackets in the first matrix correspond to the square brackets in each extended matrix according to the rows they are in. For example, the first square bracket in the first row of the first matrix corresponds to the first square bracket in the first row of the extended matrix. The square brackets with corresponding relationships can be combined to indicate the feature set combination supported by the terminal device on this band combination, which is the band combination obtained by combining Band list extend and Band list 1.

[0289] In Table 2, the meanings of the brackets included in the square brackets, the elements included in the brackets, and the elements indicated by each element can be specifically referred to the relevant description in Table 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0290] In Table 2, the number of rows of the first matrix and the extended matrix are consistent. That is, the number of third parameter sets included in the first matrix is ​​the same as the number of second parameter sets included in the extended matrix.

[0291] In Example 2, the signaling overhead of capability reporting can be reduced by combining the first matrix and the extended matrix, and for the unicast capability part, the existing mechanism can be reused to the greatest extent, with minor changes to the protocol.

[0292] In Example 2, one or more bits in the capability query can be used to trigger the terminal device to report the capability combination of band B and band C for receiving multicast services. Alternatively, one or more bits in the capability query can be used to trigger reporting the capability of band B to receive multicast services (wherein band B can be a band of the same PLMN or a band of another PLMN). Alternatively, the band filter list of MBS in the capability query can be included in band B and C to trigger the terminal device to report the capability combination of band B and C for receiving multicast services.

[0293] Example 3, the capability information includes a second frequency band combination list and identifiers of Q1 third feature set combinations; wherein the second frequency band combination list includes identifiers of N bands supporting reception of multicast services, where N is an integer greater than 0; any third feature set combination includes Q2 fourth parameter sets, and any fourth parameter set indicates the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N bands respectively, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each of the N bands, where Q1 is an integer greater than 0, and Q2 is an integer greater than 0.

[0294] In an optional manner, the capability information may list identifiers of Q1 third feature set combinations, or the capability information may also include extended information, and the extended information may correspond to the identifiers of Q1 third feature set combinations.

[0295] Optionally, the capability information also includes a third frequency band combination list and an identifier of a fourth feature set combination, wherein the third frequency band combination includes identifiers of M bands supporting reception of unicast services, where M is an integer greater than 0; and the fourth feature set combination includes Q2 fifth parameter sets, and any fifth parameter set indicates the capabilities of receiving unicast services corresponding to the M bands respectively. The i-th fifth parameter set in the fourth feature set combination corresponds to each fourth parameter combination in the i-th third feature set combination, wherein i is an integer greater than 0 and not greater than Q2. It can be understood that the i-th fifth parameter set in the fourth feature set combination and any fourth parameter set combination in the i-th third feature set combination can represent the feature set combination supported by the terminal device on this band combination, and the band combination is the band combination obtained by combining the second frequency band combination list and the third frequency band combination list.

[0296] In this example 3, the second frequency band combination list lists the identifiers of N bands that the terminal device supports for receiving multicast services, and the third frequency band combination list lists the identifiers of M bands that the terminal device supports for receiving unicast services. The bands are distinguished here according to the communication services supported on the bands. If the terminal device supports receiving multicast services on a band, the identifier of the band is included in the second frequency band combination list, and if the terminal device supports receiving unicast services on a band, the identifier of the band is included in the third frequency band combination list. If a band supports both receiving multicast services and receiving unicast services, the identifier of the band is included in the second frequency band combination list and the third frequency band combination list.

[0297] As an example, in this method, the structure of the capability information may be: the capability information includes a second frequency band combination list, a third frequency band combination list, identifiers of Q1 third characteristic set combinations, and an identifier of a fourth characteristic set combination. The second frequency band combination list includes identifiers of N bands that support receiving multicast services, and the third frequency band combination list includes identifiers of M bands that support receiving unicast services. If a band supports receiving multicast services and unicast services, the identifier of the band is included in the second frequency band combination list and the third frequency band combination list.

[0298] Wherein, each third feature set combination contains a matrix element of multiple feature set indexes, and each feature set index is associated with one of the N bands. Wherein, each row of feature set indexes of each third feature set combination can be considered as a fifth parameter set. Each row of feature set indexes of each third feature set combination, that is, each fifth parameter set, includes feature set indexes corresponding to the above-mentioned N bands. Wherein, the feature set index corresponding to each band in the N bands corresponds to a set of communication parameters, which are used to indicate the ability of the terminal device to receive multicast services on this band.

[0299] The fourth feature set combination includes a matrix element of multiple feature set indexes, and each feature set index is associated with one of the M bands. Among them, each row of feature set indexes can be considered as a fourth parameter set. Each row of feature set indexes of the fourth feature set combination, that is, each fourth parameter set, includes feature set indexes corresponding to the above-mentioned M bands. Among them, the feature set index corresponding to each band in the M bands corresponds to a set of communication parameters, which is used to indicate the ability of the terminal device to receive unicast services on this band, or to indicate the ability of the terminal device to receive communication services on this band, and the communication services include unicast services and multicast services.

[0300] The combination of the i-th row of feature set index in the fourth feature set combination and any row of feature set index in the i-th third feature set combination can represent the feature set combination supported by the terminal device on this band combination, and the band combination is the band combination obtained by combining the second band combination list and the third band combination list.

[0301] For the explanation of the meaning of the feature set index corresponding to M bands and the meaning of the feature set index corresponding to N bands, please refer to the explanation of the feature set index corresponding to M bands and the feature set index corresponding to N bands in the above example 1, which will not be repeated here.

[0302] The following is an illustration of Example 3 with reference to a specific example.

[0303] Assuming that the terminal device supports receiving unicast services on band A and band B, and supports receiving multicast services on band B and band C, the structure of the capability information may be as shown in Table 3a.

[0304] Table 3a

[0305]

[0306]

[0307] The number of rows included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombinationID 1 can be understood as the number of parameter sets included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombinationID 1.

[0308] The number of rows included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 1 can be understood as the number of parameter sets included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 1.

[0309] The number of rows included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 2 can be understood as the number of parameter sets included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 1.

[0310] The number of rows included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 3 can be understood as the number of parameter sets included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 1.

[0311] Example 3 is explained in conjunction with the above Table 3a. Table 3a is the band combination information in the capability information, namely BandCombination Lists. Band list extend is the second band combination list, through which the identifiers of N bands supporting multicast services can be indicated. In Table 3a, band B and band C supporting multicast services are taken as an example. Band list 1 is the third band combination list, through which the identifiers of M bands supporting unicast services can be indicated. In Table 3a, band A and band B supporting unicast services are taken as an example.

[0312] featureSetCombinationID 1 is the identifier of the fourth feature set combination, and the fourth feature set combination includes Q2 third parameter sets corresponding to Band list 1. In Table 3a, taking Q2=3 as an example, the fourth feature set combination includes Q2=3 third parameter sets corresponding to Bandlist 1, where each square bracket represents a third parameter set, and each small bracket in the same square bracket identifies the feature set corresponding to each band in Band list 1 in turn. For example, the first small bracket in each square bracket identifies the feature set corresponding to band A, and the second small bracket identifies the feature set corresponding to band B.

[0313] featureSetCombination_extend ID list includes Q1=3 identifiers of third feature set combinations. Each third feature set combination includes Q2 second parameter sets. Taking Q1=3 as an example in Table 3a, each third feature set combination includes Q2=3 fourth parameter sets, wherein each square bracket in each third feature set combination represents a fourth parameter set, and each small bracket in the same square bracket identifies the feature set of receiving multicast services corresponding to each band in Band list extend in turn. For example, the first small bracket in each square bracket identifies the feature set of receiving multicast services corresponding to band B, and the second small bracket identifies the feature set of receiving multicast services corresponding to band C.

[0314] Among them, the first square bracket in the fourth feature set combination can be combined with the first third feature set, that is, every square bracket combination included in the third feature set combination corresponding to index 1 in featureSetCombination_extend ID list. The second square bracket in the fourth feature set combination can be combined with the second third feature set, that is, every square bracket combination included in the third feature set combination corresponding to index 2 in featureSetCombination_extend ID list. The third square bracket in the fourth feature set combination can be combined with the third third feature set, that is, every square bracket combination included in the third feature set combination corresponding to index 3 in featureSetCombination_extend ID list.

[0315] Taking the third feature set combination corresponding to index 1 in featureSetCombination_extend ID list as an example, the combination of the first square bracket in the fourth feature set combination and the first square bracket in the third feature set combination corresponding to index 1 in featureSetCombination_extend ID list indicates a feature set combination supported by the terminal device on this band combination, and the band combination is the band combination obtained by combining Band list extend and Band list 1. The combination of the first square bracket in the fourth feature set combination and the second square bracket in the third feature set combination corresponding to index 1 in featureSetCombination_extend ID list indicates a feature set combination supported by the terminal device on this band combination, and the band combination is the band combination obtained by combining Band list extend and Band list 1. And so on.

[0316] In Table 3a, the meanings of the brackets included in the square brackets, the elements included in the brackets, and the elements indicated by each element can be specifically referred to the relevant description in Table 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0317] As another example, in this method, the structure of the capability information may be: the capability information includes the identifiers of the second frequency band combination list, the third frequency band combination list, and the fourth feature set combination. The second frequency band combination list includes the identifiers of N bands that support receiving multicast services, and the third frequency band combination list includes the identifiers of M bands that support receiving unicast services. If a band supports receiving multicast services and unicast services, the identifier of the band is included in the second frequency band combination list and the third frequency band combination list.

[0318] The fourth feature set combination includes a matrix element of multiple feature set indexes, and each feature set index is associated with one of the M bands. Among them, each row of feature set indexes can be considered as a fourth parameter set. Each row of feature set indexes of the fourth feature set combination, that is, each fourth parameter set, includes feature set indexes corresponding to the above-mentioned M bands. Among them, the feature set index corresponding to each band in the M bands corresponds to a set of communication parameters, which is used to indicate the ability of the terminal device to receive unicast services on this band, or to indicate the ability of the terminal device to receive communication services on this band, and the communication services include unicast services and multicast services.

[0319] The fourth characteristic set combination may also indicate the third characteristic set combination corresponding to (or called by) each row of characteristic set index.

[0320] Wherein, each third feature set combination contains a matrix element of multiple feature set indexes, and each feature set index is associated with one of the N bands. Wherein, each row of feature set indexes of each third feature set combination can be considered as a fifth parameter set. Each row of feature set indexes of each third feature set combination, that is, each fifth parameter set, includes feature set indexes corresponding to the above-mentioned N bands. Wherein, the feature set index corresponding to each band in the N bands corresponds to a set of communication parameters, which are used to indicate the ability of the terminal device to receive multicast services on this band.

[0321] A row of feature set indexes combined with any row of feature set indexes in the corresponding third feature set combination can represent the feature set combination supported by the terminal device on this band combination, and the band combination is the band combination obtained by combining the second band combination list and the third band combination list.

[0322] For the explanation of the meaning of the feature set index corresponding to M bands and the meaning of the feature set index corresponding to N bands, please refer to the explanation of the feature set index corresponding to M bands and the feature set index corresponding to N bands in the above example 1, which will not be repeated here.

[0323] The following is an illustration of Example 3 with reference to a specific example.

[0324] Assuming that the terminal device supports receiving unicast services on band A and band B, and supports receiving multicast services on band B and band C, the structure of the capability information may be as shown in Table 3b.

[0325] Table 3b

[0326]

[0327] The number of rows included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombinationID 1 can be understood as the number of parameter sets included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombinationID 1.

[0328] The number of rows included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 1 can be understood as the number of parameter sets included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 1.

[0329] The number of rows included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 2 can be understood as the number of parameter sets included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 2.

[0330] The number of rows included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 3 can be understood as the number of parameter sets included in the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 3.

[0331] Example 3 is explained in conjunction with the above Table 3b. Table 3b is the band combination information in the capability information, namely BandCombination Lists. Band list extend is the second band combination list, through which the identifiers of N bands supporting multicast services can be indicated. In Table 3b, band B and band C supporting multicast services are taken as an example. Band list 1 is the third band combination list, through which the identifiers of M bands supporting unicast services can be indicated. In Table 3b, band A and band B supporting unicast services are taken as an example.

[0332] featureSetCombinationID 1 is the identifier of the fourth feature set combination, and the fourth feature set combination includes Q2 third parameter sets corresponding to Band list 1. In Table 3b, taking Q2=3 as an example, the fourth feature set combination includes Q2=3 third parameter sets corresponding to Bandlist 1, wherein each square bracket represents a third parameter set, and each small bracket in the same square bracket identifies the feature set corresponding to each band in Band list 1 in turn. For example, the first small bracket in each square bracket identifies the ability to receive unicast services corresponding to band A, and the second small bracket identifies the ability to receive unicast services corresponding to band B. For another example, the first small bracket in each square bracket identifies the ability to receive communication services corresponding to band A. Since the terminal device supports receiving unicast services on band A, the ability to receive communication services corresponding to band A may include the ability to receive unicast services; the second small bracket identifies the ability to receive communication services corresponding to band B. Since the terminal device supports receiving unicast services and multicast services on band B, the ability to receive communication services corresponding to band B may include the ability to receive unicast services and multicast services.

[0333] Each square bracket also includes the third feature set combination corresponding to the square bracket. For example, the first square bracket includes featureSetCombination_extend ID 1, indicating that the square bracket corresponds to the third feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 1. Each third feature set combination includes Q2=3 fourth parameter sets, wherein each square bracket in each third feature set combination represents a fourth parameter set, and each small bracket in the same square bracket identifies the feature set corresponding to each band in the Band list extend in turn. For example, the first small bracket in each square bracket identifies the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to band B, and the second small bracket identifies the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to band C.

[0334] Among them, the first square bracket in the fourth feature set combination can be combined with the first third feature set, that is, every square bracket combination included in the third feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 1. The second square bracket in the fourth feature set combination can be combined with the second third feature set, that is, every square bracket combination included in the third feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 2. The third square bracket in the fourth feature set combination can be combined with the third third feature set, that is, every square bracket combination included in the third feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 3.

[0335] Taking the third feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 1 as an example, the combination of the first square bracket in the fourth feature set combination and the first square bracket in the third feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 1 indicates a feature set combination supported by the terminal device on this band combination, and the band combination is the band combination obtained by combining Band list extend and Band list 1. The combination of the first square bracket in the fourth feature set combination and the second square bracket in the third feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombination_extend ID 1 indicates a feature set combination supported by the terminal device on this band combination, and the band combination is the band combination obtained by combining Band listextend and Band list1. And so on.

[0336] In Table 3b, the meanings of the brackets included in the square brackets, the elements included in the brackets, and the elements indicated by each element can be specifically referred to the relevant description in Table 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0337] In Example 3, by combining the identifier of the fourth feature set combination and the identifier of the third feature set combination, the signaling overhead of capability reporting can be reduced, and for the unicast capability part, the existing mechanism can be reused to the greatest extent, with relatively small changes to the protocol.

[0338] Example 4, the capability information includes a fourth frequency band combination list and an identifier of a fifth feature set combination; wherein the fourth frequency band combination list includes identifiers of X bands supported by the terminal device, where X is an integer greater than 0; the fifth feature set combination includes at least one sixth parameter set, and any sixth parameter set indicates communication parameters corresponding to the X bands, respectively, wherein the X bands include N bands that support receiving multicast services, and the communication parameters corresponding to any band among the N bands indicate the ability of the band to receive multicast services, and / or the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the band, wherein, if the CC supports receiving multicast services, the communication capability corresponding to the CC is the ability of the CC to receive multicast services, and N is an integer greater than 0 and not greater than X.

[0339] In this example 4, the fourth frequency band combination list lists the identifiers of the X bands supported by the terminal device. Whether or not multicast is supported is not distinguished here. As long as the terminal device supports communication on a band, the identifier of the band is included in the fourth frequency band combination list. If a band supports both receiving multicast services and receiving unicast services, the identifier of the band appears once in the fourth frequency band combination list.

[0340] As an example, in this method, the structure of the capability information may be: the capability information includes the identifier of the fourth frequency band combination list and the fifth feature set combination. The fourth frequency band combination list includes the identifiers of the X bands supported by the terminal device, wherein if a band supports receiving multicast services and unicast services, the identifier of the band appears once in the fourth frequency band combination list. The fifth feature set combination includes a matrix element of multiple feature set indexes (featuresetID), and each feature set index is associated with a band. Among them, each row of feature set indexes can be regarded as a sixth parameter set, and each row of feature set indexes, i.e., each sixth parameter set, represents the feature set combination supported by the terminal device on this band combination. Each row of feature set indexes of the fifth feature set combination, i.e., each sixth parameter set, may include the feature set indexes corresponding to the above-mentioned X bands.

[0341] Among them, the feature set index corresponding to each band in the X bands corresponds to a set of communication parameters, which are used to indicate the ability of the terminal device to communicate on this band. Optionally, the feature set index corresponding to the X bands may include two parts, namely an uplink feature set index and a downlink feature set index. Among them, the uplink feature set index may correspond to a set of communication parameters, wherein the group of communication parameters may include band-level communication parameters and CC-level communication parameters. In the group of communication parameters, the band-level communication parameters are used to indicate the ability to perform uplink transmission on the band. The CC-level communication parameters are used to indicate the ability to perform uplink transmission on the band.

[0342] The downlink feature set index may correspond to a set of communication parameters, wherein the set of communication parameters may include band-level communication parameters and CC-level communication parameters. In the set of communication parameters, the band-level communication parameters are used to indicate the ability to receive communication services on the band. The CC-level communication parameters are used to indicate the ability to receive communication services on the CC.

[0343] In an exemplary description, if the terminal device does not support uplink transmission on a band, the uplink feature set index corresponding to the band may be a first feature set index, and the first feature set index indicates non-support.

[0344] If the terminal device supports receiving multicast services on a band, the communication parameters corresponding to the downlink feature set index corresponding to the band can indicate the ability of the terminal device to receive multicast services on the band, and may specifically include at least one of the following: communication parameters for receiving multicast services at the band level and communication parameters for receiving multicast services at the CC level.

[0345] The communication parameters for receiving multicast services at the band level may include at least one of the following types of communication parameters: a flag for supporting receiving multicast services, SCS, BW, MIMO layers, ModulationOrder, and the like.

[0346] The communication parameters for receiving multicast services at the CC level may include at least one of the following types of communication parameters: a flag for supporting receiving multicast services, SCS, BW, MIMO layers, ModulationOrder, and the like.

[0347] The following is an illustration of Example 4 with reference to a specific example.

[0348] Assuming that the terminal device supports receiving unicast services on band A and band B, and supports receiving multicast services on band B and band C, the structure of the capability information may be as shown in Table 4.

[0349] Table 4

[0350]

[0351] Example 4 is explained in conjunction with the above Table 4, which is the band combination information in the capability information, namely, BandCombination Lists. Band list 1 is the fourth band combination list, and the fourth band combination list can indicate the identifiers of the X bands supported by the terminal device. It should be noted that here in Band list 1, it is not distinguished whether the band supports multicast services.

[0352] featureSetCombinationID 1 is the identifier of the fifth feature set combination, and the fifth feature set combination includes at least one sixth parameter set corresponding to Band list 1. Each square bracket represents a sixth parameter set, indicating a capability supported by the terminal device on the band combination. The small brackets in the same square bracket identify the feature sets corresponding to each band in the band combination list in turn. For example, the first small bracket in each square bracket identifies the feature set corresponding to band A, the second small bracket identifies the feature set corresponding to band B, and the third small bracket identifies the feature set corresponding to band C.

[0353] The elements included in each parenthesis are feature set indexes, where fsul indicates the feature set corresponding to the uplink, fsdl indicates the feature set corresponding to the downlink, and n1, n2, etc. are index values, i.e., fsul_n1 indicates that the feature set corresponding to the uplink is the communication parameter corresponding to the index value n1, and fsdl_n1 indicates that the feature set corresponding to the downlink is the communication parameter corresponding to the index value n1. The content indicated by each feature set index corresponds to the same structure.

[0354] Taking fsdl_n1 as an example, as shown in Table 1, fsdl_n1 corresponds to: band-level communication parameters, i.e., Per band parameters, and CC-level communication parameters, i.e., Per CC parameters. Among them, Per CC parameters specifically include the feature set identifier corresponding to CC, such as the feature set identifier fsdlperCC_n1 corresponding to CC1 and the feature set identifier fsdlperCC_n2 corresponding to CC2. If the band supports receiving multicast services, the Per band parameters may include the communication parameters for receiving multicast services.

[0355] The feature set identifier corresponding to the CC may indicate the communication parameters corresponding to the CC, such as SCS, BW, MIMO layers, ModulationOrder, etc. corresponding to the CC. If the CC supports receiving multicast services, the communication parameters indicated by the feature set identifier corresponding to the CC may include the communication parameters for receiving multicast services.

[0356] In Example 4, the communication parameter corresponding to the feature set index indicates the ability to receive multicast services, which can reduce the signaling overhead of capability reporting, and for the unicast capability part, the existing mechanism can be reused to the greatest extent, with minor changes to the protocol.

[0357] In addition, by carrying the communication parameters of the CC corresponding to the received multicast service in the CC-level communication parameters, it is possible to implement refined CC-level capability design within the band, improve the accuracy of capability reporting, and make relatively small changes to the protocol.

[0358] The foregoing article introduces four examples of method one. Based on any of the above examples, in an exemplary description, the downlink feature set index can be divided according to the supported communication services. For example, the first index set is used to support the band for receiving multicast services. The second index set is used for the band that does not support receiving multicast services. In an example description, the first index set may include feature set indexes in a first index range, such as feature set indexes in the range of 201 to 300. The second index set may include feature set indexes in a second index range, such as feature set indexes in the range of 101 to 200.

[0359] Then the index of the communication parameters of any band among the X bands, specifically the downlink feature set index, satisfies: if the band supports receiving multicast services, the index of the communication parameters corresponding to the band, namely the downlink feature set index, belongs to the first index set; if the band does not support receiving multicast services, the index of the communication parameters corresponding to the band, namely the downlink feature set index, belongs to the second index set. Accordingly, after receiving the capability information reported by the terminal device, the access network device can determine whether the band supports receiving multicast services according to the set to which the downlink feature set index of the band belongs. Specifically, if the downlink feature set index of the band belongs to the first index set, it can be determined that the band supports receiving multicast services; if the downlink feature set index of the band belongs to the second index set, it can be determined that the band does not support receiving multicast services.

[0360] In a possible implementation, the communication parameter corresponding to any band among the X bands indicates the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the band, which is implemented in the following manner: the communication parameter corresponding to any band among the X bands includes an index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the band.

[0361] In an exemplary description, the index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC can also be divided according to the supported communication services, for example, the third index set is used for CCs that support receiving multicast services. The fourth index set is used for CCs that do not support receiving multicast services. In an exemplary description, the third index set may include indexes in a third range. The fourth index set may include indexes in a fourth range.

[0362] Then the index of the communication capability corresponding to any CC of any band among the X bands satisfies: if the CC supports receiving multicast services, the index of the communication parameter corresponding to the CC belongs to the third index set; if the CC does not support receiving multicast services, the index of the communication parameter corresponding to the CC belongs to the fourth index set. Accordingly, after receiving the capability information reported by the terminal device, the access network device can determine whether the CC supports receiving multicast services according to the set to which the index corresponding to the CC belongs. Specifically, if the index of the CC belongs to the third index set, it can be determined that the CC supports receiving multicast services; if the index of the CC belongs to the fourth index set, it can be determined that the CC does not support receiving multicast services.

[0363] Method 2: According to the term introduction 3) above, the capability information includes frequency band information, namely, Band Lists. In this method, the bands supporting the reception of multicast services can be listed in Band Lists, and the capability of receiving multicast services on the bands supporting the reception of multicast services can be indicated in the communication parameters corresponding to the bands. For example, the communication parameters corresponding to the bands can include: a flag supporting the reception of multicast services, a modulation order for receiving multicast services, an SCS for receiving multicast services, a BW, etc. Exemplarily, the capability information can be as shown in Table 5.

[0364] Table 5

[0365]

[0366] Method 2 is explained in conjunction with the above Table 5, which is the frequency band information in the capability information, namely, Band List. BandList may include the bands of X supported by the terminal device, and the communication parameters corresponding to each band, wherein if the band supports receiving multicast services, the communication parameters corresponding to the band include a flag supporting receiving multicast services, a modulation order for receiving multicast services, an SCS for receiving multicast services, a BW, etc.

[0367] Through the second method, the ability to receive multicast services at the band level can be indicated, and the protocol changes are relatively minor.

[0368] It should be noted that the above-mentioned method 1 and method 2 can be implemented separately or in combination as a solution. For example, the band supporting the reception of multicast services can be indicated by method 2, and part of the communication parameters for receiving multicast services on the band can also be indicated, and another part of the communication parameters for receiving multicast services on the band can be indicated by any example in method 1. For example, if band A supports the reception of multicast services, the communication parameters corresponding to bandA in the Band List may include: a mark supporting the reception of multicast services, and may also include the modulation order for receiving multicast services on band A. And featureSetCombination is used to indicate other communication parameters for receiving multicast services on band A, for example, SCS, BW, etc. for receiving multicast services on band A, and for another example, other communication parameters for receiving multicast services at the CC level on band A.

[0369] The specific method of indicating other communication parameters for receiving multicast services on band A through featureSetCombination can be found in the above examples 1 to 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0370] The above describes the manner in which the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to a band and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to a CC.

[0371] Optionally, in addition to the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the band and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC, the capability information may also indicate multicast modulation information corresponding to at least one band, wherein the multicast modulation information is the highest modulation order supported when receiving multicast services. In one implementation, the multicast modulation information corresponding to the band may be indicated in the communication parameters corresponding to the band in the Band List.

[0372] In an exemplary description, if the highest modulation order supported when receiving multicast services on the band is a modulation order supported by all terminal devices, or is a modulation order required by the terminal devices, the highest modulation order supported when receiving multicast services on the band may not be reported in the capability information.

[0373] As can be seen from the foregoing, the capability information may include band-level multicast modulation information, for example, the communication parameters corresponding to the band in the BandList include the multicast modulation information corresponding to the band. The capability information may also include CC-level multicast modulation information, for example, the CC-level communication parameters indicated by the Feature Sets Combination include CC-level multicast modulation information. Fig. 9 As shown, Fig. 9The "multicast modulation order" shown indicates the highest modulation order supported when receiving multicast services.

[0374] In an exemplary description, the CC-level multicast modulation information does not actually constrain the maximum order used on the CC, and the access network device can determine the peak rate at which the terminal device receives the multicast service on the CC based on the CC-level multicast modulation information. Under this peak rate constraint, the terminal device can use a modulation order higher than this modulation order, such as modulation order 1. It should be understood that the premise of using the modulation order 1 is that the corresponding band supports the modulation order 1. For example, the modulation order supported by the terminal device on CC1 is 64 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The modulation order supported by the band corresponding to CC1 is 256QAM. The terminal device can use 256QAM on CC1 as long as the peak block length of 256QAM is scheduled to be less than or equal to the peak block length of 64QAM.

[0375] Currently, capability information is designed based on the structure of carrier aggregation (dual connectivity, CA). The existing CA has the following requirements:

[0376] When CA is deployed frame timing and SFN are aligned across cells that can be aggregated (synchronous CA), or an offset in multiples of slots between the PCell / PSCell and an SCell is configured to the UE (asynchronous CA).

[0377] The terminal device can use CA technology only when the cells are all frame-aligned (asynchronous CA allows the deviation between cells to be no more than half a frame). For scenarios where the terminal device receives unicast services and multicast services at the same time, the unicast services and multicast services may be received from different access network devices, and even the two access network devices may not belong to the same PLMN / operator. Therefore, for the access network devices, it is impossible to determine whether the access network devices are frame-aligned, so the access network devices may exceed the capabilities of the terminal device when scheduling multicast services and / or unicast services.

[0378] In a possible implementation, the capability information sent by the terminal device (which may be the capability information after the multicast enhancements mentioned above or the unicast capability of the prior art) may also indicate whether different capability combinations support simultaneous reception of unicast and multicast services in synchronous (i.e., frame alignment) or asynchronous (i.e., frame misalignment) conditions.

[0379] It should be noted that the terminal device indicates whether it supports receiving unicast services and multicast services simultaneously in synchronous (i.e., frame alignment) or asynchronous (i.e., frame misalignment) conditions under different capability combinations. Figure 8 The method is performed individually.

[0380] The above method introduces new indication information to indicate whether different capability combinations support simultaneous reception of unicast services and multicast services in synchronous (ie, frame alignment) or asynchronous (ie, frame misalignment) situations, so that access network equipment can provide unicast services more reasonably.

[0381] In another possible implementation, the ability of the terminal device to indicate whether it supports asynchronous CA or asynchronous DC may be reused. If the terminal device supports asynchronous CA, it may be considered that the terminal device supports simultaneous reception of unicast services and multicast services.

[0382] In another possible implementation, the terminal device can report the currently available capability combination of the multicast service when reporting the unicast capability. Optionally, the fallback capability can also be reported. The fallback capability is a weakening of the existing unicast capability. For example, if band A supports 100M and band B supports 50M, the fallback capability can be a weakened capability such as band A supports 80M and band B supports 50M. The specific capability information can be shown in Table 6 below.

[0383] Table 6

[0384]

[0385]

[0386] Based on these reported capability combinations, when the terminal device starts to receive multicast services, the terminal device can select a usable capability combination and send it to the network device. For example, if the terminal device currently receives unicast services on band A, after the terminal device starts to receive multicast services (the band for receiving multicast services is not limited here), the terminal device can send to the network device the capability combination that can continue to be used after receiving the multicast services, such as the first line and / or the second line and / or the third line. Specifically, the terminal device can report the usable capability combination through the MII process or through the user assistantance information (UAI) process.

[0387] The following are two methods for terminal devices to report the available capability combinations.

[0388] Method A: The capability information reported by the terminal device carries the identifier (or index) of each capability combination. For example, the feature set combination corresponding to featureSetCombinationID 1 in Table 3b includes 4 rows (that is, 4 capability combinations), and the identifiers are 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively.

[0389] When the terminal device starts to receive a multicast service, it can choose to report an identifier of a combination of capabilities that support receiving the current unicast service and multicast service at the same time. Specifically, it can report one identifier or all identifiers that meet the requirements.

[0390] Alternatively, when the terminal device reports receiving multicast services, it can also select the identifier of the maximum capability combination of unicast services. Since the capability information reported by the terminal device may not include a capability combination that can support both unicast services and multicast services, this method allows the access network device to adjust the resources occupied by unicast services for the terminal device by reporting the maximum capability of the supported unicast services.

[0391] Method B: The terminal device can report the band combination, featureSetCombinationID and featureSet ID of the capability combination, that is, report the capability information to the access network device again by index. Similarly, the capability combination reported by the terminal device can be a capability combination that supports receiving unicast services and multicast services at the same time, or it can be the maximum capability supported by unicast services while satisfying multicast services.

[0392] Based on the above method A or method B, the access network device can provide unicast services within the capability combination indicated by the terminal device after receiving the indication information reported by the terminal device.

[0393] In the embodiment of the present application, accurate reporting of multicast capabilities can be achieved by reporting the ability to receive multicast services at the band level or the ability to receive multicast services at the CC level in the capability information, so that the access network equipment can provide multicast services based on the refined capability information, or the terminal equipment can provide unicast services more accurately.

[0394] Furthermore, by reporting the highest modulation order of the supported received multicast service and the modulation order of the multicast service being received or expected to be received, the communication efficiency of the multicast service and the unicast service can be improved.

[0395] At present, MII (which can be the enhanced MII mentioned above, the existing MII, or the MII that will appear in the future development of communications) can interact between access network devices. Access network devices interact through inter-node RRC messages to send services that terminal devices are interested in to adjacent access network devices. MII can contain TMGI that the terminal device is interested in or is receiving. TMGI includes PLMN information. The specific form of TMGI is as follows:

[0396]

[0397]

[0398] }

[0399] It can be seen that the PLMN information can be in two forms, one is the PLMN index value (plmn-Index), and the other is the PLMN specific value (explicitValue). For the PLMN index value, the index value reported by the terminal device is the PLMN identification information list (plmn-IdentityInfoList) in SIB1 or the PLMN index value in the non-public network (NPN) identification information list (npn-IdentityInfoList) or the stand-alone non-public network (SNPN) index value.

[0400] plmn-IdentityInfoList contains multiple PLMN-IdentityInfo, which contains multiple PLMN index values ​​and cell IDs. Specifically, the PLMN index value of the i-th PLMN in the n-th cell can be calculated by the formula b1+b2+…+b(n-1)+i, where b(n-1) is the number of PLMNs included in the n-1-th cell. In this way, the PLMN index value corresponding to each PLMN can be obtained.

[0401] The PLMN information in the TMGI received by the terminal device may be a PLMN index value or a PLMN value.

[0402] If the TMGI in the MII reported by the terminal device is reported through the PLMN index value, the access network devices usually directly forward the terminal device to other access network devices when exchanging MII messages. However, other access network devices cannot determine the PLMN corresponding to the PLMN index value, resulting in the PLMN index value in the TMGI being unable to be interpreted, and other access network devices cannot correctly identify the TMGI.

[0403] In view of the above problem, a possible solution is that the source access network device can send a corresponding relationship to other access network devices, and the corresponding relationship is a one-to-one correspondence between one or more PLMN index values ​​and one or more PLMN values. Thus, after the source access network device receives the indication information from the terminal device, the indication information indicates that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive information about a multicast service (such as the above-mentioned MII). If the indication information includes at least one PLMN index value. The source access network device can send the indication information to other access network devices. Other access network devices can determine the corresponding PLMN based on the corresponding relationship and the PLMN index value included in the indication information.

[0404] It should be noted that this solution does not depend on Figure 8 The method is performed individually.

[0405] Four implementation methods of the corresponding relationship are introduced below.

[0406] Implementation method 1: The source access network device sends PLMN identification information in SIB1 to other access network devices, and the PLMN identification information indicates the corresponding relationship. For example, the PLMN identification information may include one or more PLMN values, and the order of the one or more PLMN values ​​indicates the corresponding relationship.

[0407] For example, the source access network device sends PLMN-IdentityInfo to other access network devices. Compared with LTE, in which access network devices exchange SIB1, this method only needs to exchange required information, and other unnecessary information in SIB1 is not exchanged too much, so the signaling overhead is small.

[0408] Implementation method 2: In the current Xn protocol, the Xn interface establishment (Xn Setup) process and the NG-RAN node configuration update (NG-RAN node Configuration Update) process will forward the relevant information of the cell, including the PLMN list of the broadcast information of each cell, which contains the PLMN list broadcast in the SIB corresponding to each cell (CGI), that is, the plmn-IdentityList in the PLMN-IdentityInfo.

[0409] Based on this, the source access network device may indicate the correspondence between the PLMN index value and the PLMN specific value in the relevant information of the cell. For example, the PLMN index value corresponding to the PLMN specific value may be carried in the relevant information of the cell.

[0410] For example, the first access network device sends an Xn interface establishment message or a NG-RAN node configuration update message to the second access network device, where the Xn interface establishment message or the NG-RAN node configuration update message includes information of at least one cell, and the information of the first cell in the at least one cell indicates at least one PLMN of the first cell and the PLMN index value corresponding to each PLMN.

[0411] Alternatively, the source access network device can make the order of PLMNs in the relevant information of the cell consistent with the order of PLMNs of the cell in SIB1, which can be specified by the protocol or implemented by the access network device. In addition, the offset of the PLMN index value is forwarded to other access network devices. Specifically, the offset can be the total number of PLMNs of each cell before the cell. For example, the relevant information of the nth cell can include the total number of PLMNs from the 1st cell to the n-1th cell, b1+b2+…+b(n-1).

[0412] For example, the first access network device sends an Xn interface establishment message or an NG-RAN node configuration update message to the second access network device, where the Xn interface establishment message or the NG-RAN node configuration update message includes information of at least one cell, and the information of the nth cell in the at least one cell indicates at least one PLMN and an offset of the nth cell, where the offset is the total number of PLMNs from the first cell to the n-1th cell in the at least one cell, and n is an integer greater than 0.

[0413] It should be noted that the present application does not limit the order of the correspondence relationship and the indication information. The correspondence relationship may be sent first and then the indication information, or the indication information may be sent first and then the correspondence relationship. Alternatively, the correspondence relationship and the indication information may be sent at the same time, for example, by sending the correspondence relationship and the indication information in one message (or signaling).

[0414] In view of the above problem, another possible solution is that the terminal device receives service information from the access network device, and the service information includes a first TMGI, wherein the first TMGI includes a first PLMN index value. After determining the PLMN value corresponding to the first PLMN index value, the terminal device sends an MII to the access network device, wherein the MII includes a second TMGI, and the second TMGI includes the PLMN value corresponding to the first PLMN index value. The serviceID in the first TMGI and the second TMGI is the same. The access network device may be an access network device that provides multicast services for the terminal device.

[0415] In a possible implementation, the second TMGI is the TMGI carried in an application layer message (such as a service announcement message) received by the terminal device.

[0416] In another possible implementation, the second TMG is generated by the terminal device according to the first TMGI and the PLMN value corresponding to the first PLMN index value. For example, the terminal device can replace the first PLMN index value in the first TMGI with the PLMN value corresponding to the first PLMN index value, and then generate the second TMGI.

[0417] Optionally, after receiving the MII reported by the terminal device, the access network device may forward it to other access network devices.

[0418] In response to the above problem, another possible solution is that the source access network device receives a first indication message from a terminal device, wherein the first indication message indicates that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive information about a multicast service, and the first indication message includes at least one PLMN index value; the source access network device sends a second indication message to other access network devices, and the PLMN information in the second indication message is a PLMN value corresponding to the at least one PLMN index value.

[0419] Optionally, the second indication information is obtained by replacing the at least one PLMN index value in the first indication information with a PLMN value corresponding to the at least one PLMN index value.

[0420] Exemplarily, the first indication information indicates that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive at least one of the following information of a multicast service: frequency information, TMGI, SCS, or modulation order.

[0421] For example, after the source access network device receives the MII reported by the terminal device, if the MII includes a PLMN index value, the PLMN specific value corresponding to the PLMN index value is sent to other access network devices, for example, the PLMN specific value is re-encoded and then sent to other access network devices.

[0422] Currently, when a terminal device reports MII, it will report a multicast frequency list, multicast service priority, TMGI list, etc. If the terminal device reports MII before security activation, the transmission of detailed information of the multicast service will be unsafe, which will bring security risks. However, if MII is reported after security activation, the access network device will allocate resources for unicast services to the terminal device after the terminal device is securely activated, such as initial BWP. After receiving the MII reported by the terminal device, the initial BWP will be reconfigured according to MII. For example, the bandwidth of the initial BWP will be configured as the bandwidth of the CFR. This will bring greater signaling overhead and make the interruption delay of the multicast service longer. Based on this, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication method for reducing signaling overhead and improving the continuity of multicast services while ensuring communication security. Fig.10 As shown, the method specifically includes:

[0423] S1001, the terminal device determines first information and second information.

[0424] The first information indicates that the terminal device is interested in the multicast service, and the second information indicates the multicast service in which the terminal device is interested.

[0425] Optionally, S1001 may be an optional step.

[0426] S1002: The terminal device sends first information. Correspondingly, the access network device receives the first information.

[0427] Exemplarily, the first information may include at least one of the following: a frequency list of interest, a priority of a multicast service, or a broadcast CFR. That is, the terminal device may implicitly indicate that the terminal device is interested in the multicast service through at least one of the following: a frequency list of interest, a priority of a multicast service, or a broadcast CFR.

[0428] Alternatively, the terminal device may also indicate the first information in other ways, for example, indicating the first information through a 1-bit display, and so on.

[0429] In one implementation, the frequency list of interest, the priority of the multicast service, or the broadcast CFR may also be sent after security activation, for example, together with the second information. In this implementation, the terminal device may send the first information in other ways, for example, by displaying a bit indicating that the terminal device is interested in the multicast service.

[0430] The specific first information may be sent via an RRC setup complete (RRCSetupComplete) message or an RRC setup request (RRCSetupRequest) message or other messages.

[0431] S1003: The access network device configures frequency domain resources for the terminal device based on the first information, for example, configures an initial BWP for the terminal device, wherein the bandwidth of the initial BWP is equal to the bandwidth of the CFR.

[0432] S1004, the terminal device sends the second information. Correspondingly, the access network device receives the second information.

[0433] The second information indicates the multicast service in which the terminal device is interested.

[0434] Exemplarily, the second information may include a multicast service identifier or a multicast service identifier or an Internet protocol (IP) group address. For example, the multicast service identifier or the multicast service identifier may be a TMGI.

[0435] The second information can be sent via terminal equipment assistance information (UEAssistanceInformation), security mode completion (SecurityModeComplete) message, or other messages.

[0436] Optionally, S1005, the terminal device may receive the multicast service of interest on the configured frequency domain resources, for example, may receive the multicast service of interest on the configured initial BWP.

[0437] The first information is sent before the security activation, and the second information is sent after the security activation. S1003 can be executed before the security activation or after the security activation, which is not specifically limited here.

[0438] As an example, the security activation process may include: the access network device sends a security mode command to the terminal device, wherein the security mode command carries a key. Afterwards, the terminal device sends a security mode completion to the access network device. Based on this example, in a specific implementation, the first information may be sent before receiving the security mode command from the access network device or before sending the security mode completion, and the second information may be sent after sending the security mode completion.

[0439] In a possible implementation, the terminal device may send the first information before security activation and send the second information after security activation when at least one of the following conditions is met:

[0440] The cell / access network device to which the terminal device accesses is providing multicast services;

[0441] The cell / access network equipment to which the terminal device accesses will provide multicast services;

[0442] The cell / access network equipment to which the terminal device accesses supports the provision of multicast services;

[0443] The terminal device is receiving or expecting to receive a multicast service in the cell / access network device currently accessed;

[0444] The multicast service that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive is currently provided / will be provided / supported by the cell / access network device currently accessed;

[0445] The cell currently accessed by the terminal device broadcasts the SIB for providing multicast service information;

[0446] The cell currently accessed by the terminal device broadcasts a first SIB, which carries multicast control configuration information (MCCH);

[0447] The bandwidth of the CFR of the multicast service provided by the cell currently accessed by the terminal device is different from the bandwidth of the initial BWP configured by the system message;

[0448] The bandwidth of the CFR of the multicast service provided by the cell currently accessed by the terminal device is greater than the bandwidth of the initial BWP configured by the system message; or,

[0449] The terminal device receives third information from the access network device, and the third information instructs the terminal device to send the first information before security activation and send the second information after security activation. Optionally, the third information is carried in a broadcast message.

[0450] In the embodiment of the present application, by indicating to the access network device that the terminal device is interested in the multicast service before security activation, the access network device can configure resources for the multicast service, such as CFR, for the terminal device, so that there is no need to reconfigure according to the multicast service after configuring the resources for the unicast service, for example, there is no need to configure the bandwidth of the initial BWP to the bandwidth of the CFR according to the multicast service after configuring the initial BWP. In this way, the signaling overhead can be reduced, which helps to ensure the continuity of the multicast service. In addition, sending the relevant information of the multicast service of interest to the terminal device after security activation can avoid transmitting the specific information of the MBS in an unsafe environment, thereby improving the security of communications.

[0451] It should be noted that Figure 7 The method and Fig.10 The methods can be implemented as independent solutions or combined as a solution. Figure 7 In the method, when the terminal device sends MII to the access network device, Fig.10 The method sends, that is, sends the first information before security activation, which can be specifically indicated implicitly through information such as a list of frequencies of interest, priority of multicast services, or broadcast CFR, or can be indicated through a 1-bit display, and sends the second information after security activation.

[0452] In a specific implementation, in an implementation method of indicating the first information by displaying 1 bit, information such as a frequency list of interest, a priority of a multicast service, a broadcast CFR, or a modulation order of a multicast service being received or expected to be received may be sent before security activation, for example, together with the first information, or may be sent after security activation, for example, together with the second information. Alternatively, information such as a frequency list of interest, a priority of a multicast service, a broadcast CFR, or a modulation order of a multicast service being received or expected to be received may also be sent partially before security activation and the other partially after security activation.

[0453] Based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment, the present application embodiment provides a communication device, the structure of which can be as follows: Fig.11 As shown, it includes a communication module 1101 and a processing module 1102.

[0454] In one embodiment, the communication device can be used to implement Figure 7In the embodiment of the method executed by the terminal device, the device may be the terminal device itself, or a chip or a chipset in the terminal device or a part of the chip used to execute the function of the related method. Among them, the processing module 1102 is used to determine the capability information, the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the component carrier CC; the communication module 1101 is used to send the capability information to the access network device.

[0455] Optionally, the communication module 1101 is further used to: send indication information to the access network device, where the indication information indicates the modulation order of the multicast service being received by the terminal device.

[0456] Optionally, the communication module 1101 is further used to: before the processing module 1102 determines the capability information, receive capability reporting indication information from the access network device, where the capability reporting indication information indicates that the terminal device reports the capability of receiving multicast services.

[0457] Exemplarily, the capability information includes an identifier of a first frequency band combination list and a first feature set combination; wherein the first frequency band combination list includes first frequency band information, the first frequency band information includes identifiers of N frequency bands supporting reception of multicast services, N is an integer greater than 0; the first feature set combination includes at least one first parameter set corresponding to the first frequency band combination list, any first parameter set indicating the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N frequency bands respectively, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each of the N frequency bands.

[0458] Optionally, the first frequency band combination list also includes second frequency band information, the second frequency band information includes identifiers of M frequency bands supporting unicast services, M is an integer greater than 0; any first parameter set also indicates the capabilities of the M frequency bands respectively corresponding to receiving unicast services, or, any first parameter set also indicates the capabilities of the M frequency bands respectively corresponding to receiving communication services, and the communication services include unicast services and multicast services.

[0459] Exemplarily, the capability information includes an identifier of a second frequency band combination list and a second feature set combination; wherein the second frequency band combination list includes identifiers of N frequency bands supporting reception of multicast services, where N is an integer greater than 0; the second feature set combination includes Q1 group of parameters corresponding to the second frequency band combination list, wherein each group of parameters includes Q2 second parameter sets, and any second parameter set indicates the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N frequency bands respectively, and / or the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each of the N frequency bands, where Q1 is an integer greater than 0, and Q2 is an integer greater than 0.

[0460] Optionally, the capability information also includes a third frequency band combination list, wherein the third frequency band combination list includes identifiers of M frequency bands supporting reception of unicast services, and M is an integer greater than 0; the second feature set combination also includes Q2 third parameter sets corresponding to the third frequency band combination list, and any third parameter set indicates the capability of receiving unicast services corresponding to the M frequency bands respectively; wherein the i-th second parameter set in the Q2 second parameter sets corresponds to the i-th first parameter set in any group of parameters in the Q1 group of parameters, wherein i is an integer greater than 0 and not greater than Q2.

[0461] Exemplarily, the capability information includes a second frequency band combination list and identifiers of Q1 third feature set combinations; wherein the second frequency band combination list includes identifiers of N frequency bands supporting reception of multicast services, where N is an integer greater than 0; any third feature set combination includes Q2 fourth parameter sets, and any fourth parameter set indicates the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N frequency bands respectively, and / or the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each of the N frequency bands, where Q1 is an integer greater than 0, and Q2 is an integer greater than 0.

[0462] Optionally, the capability information also includes a list of third frequency band combinations and an identifier of a fourth feature set combination, wherein the third frequency band combination includes identifiers of M frequency bands supporting reception of unicast services, where M is an integer greater than 0; and the fourth feature set combination includes Q2 fifth parameter sets, and any fifth parameter set indicates the capability of receiving unicast services corresponding to the M frequency bands respectively.

[0463] Exemplarily, the capability information includes an identifier of a fourth frequency band combination list and a fifth feature set combination; wherein the fourth frequency band combination list includes identifiers of X frequency bands supported by the terminal device, where X is an integer greater than 0; the fifth feature set combination includes at least one sixth parameter set, and any sixth parameter set indicates communication parameters corresponding to the X frequency bands, respectively, wherein the X frequency bands include N frequency bands that support receiving multicast services, and the communication parameters corresponding to any frequency band among the N frequency bands indicate the ability of the frequency band to receive multicast services, and / or the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the frequency band, wherein, if the CC supports receiving multicast services, the communication capability corresponding to the CC is the ability of the CC to receive multicast services, and N is an integer greater than 0 and not greater than X.

[0464] Optionally, any sixth parameter set indicates communication parameters corresponding to X frequency bands, including: any sixth parameter set includes indexes of communication parameters corresponding to X frequency bands, and the index of the communication parameters of any frequency band among the X frequency bands satisfies: if the frequency band supports receiving multicast services, the index of the communication parameter corresponding to the frequency band belongs to the first index set; if the frequency band does not support receiving multicast services, the index of the communication parameter corresponding to the frequency band belongs to the second index set.

[0465] Optionally, the communication parameters corresponding to any frequency band among the N frequency bands indicate the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the frequency band, including: the communication parameters corresponding to any frequency band among the N frequency bands include the index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the frequency band, and the index of the communication capability corresponding to any CC on the frequency band satisfies: if the CC supports receiving multicast services, the index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC belongs to the third index set; if the CC does not support receiving multicast services, the index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC belongs to the fourth index set.

[0466] In the example, the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band includes at least one of the following: the frequency band supports receiving multicast services, or communication parameters for receiving multicast services on the frequency band.

[0467] In the example, the CC's corresponding capability of receiving multicast services includes: CC supports receiving multicast services, and / or, receiving communication information of multicast services on CC; wherein, the communication information is the communication parameters for receiving multicast services on CC, or, the communication information is the capability value of CC, and the capability value is determined based on the communication parameters for receiving multicast services on CC.

[0468] In addition, the communication parameters for receiving the multicast service include the highest modulation order supported when receiving the multicast service.

[0469] In one embodiment, the communication device can be used to implement Figure 7 In the embodiment of the method performed by the access network device, the device may be the access network device itself, or a chip or a chipset in the access network device or a part of the chip used to perform the function of the related method. The communication module 1101 is used to receive capability information from the terminal device, the capability information indicates the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the component carrier CC; the processing module 1102 is used to determine the capability of the terminal device according to the capability information.

[0470] Optionally, the communication module 1101 is further used to: receive indication information from a terminal device, where the indication information includes a modulation order of a multicast service being received by the terminal device.

[0471] Optionally, the communication module 1101 is further used to: before receiving capability information from the terminal device, send capability reporting indication information to the terminal device, where the capability reporting indication information instructs the terminal device to report a capability of receiving multicast services.

[0472] Exemplarily, the capability information includes an identifier of a first frequency band combination list and a first feature set combination; wherein the first frequency band combination list includes first frequency band information, the first frequency band information includes identifiers of N frequency bands supporting reception of multicast services, N is an integer greater than 0; the first feature set combination includes at least one first parameter set corresponding to the first frequency band combination list, any first parameter set indicating the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N frequency bands respectively, and / or the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each of the N frequency bands.

[0473] Optionally, the first frequency band combination list also includes second frequency band information, the second frequency band information includes identifiers of M frequency bands supporting unicast services, M is an integer greater than 0; any first parameter set also indicates the capabilities of the M frequency bands respectively corresponding to receiving unicast services, or, any first parameter set also indicates the capabilities of the M frequency bands respectively corresponding to receiving communication services, and the communication services include unicast services and multicast services.

[0474] Exemplarily, the capability information includes an identifier of a second frequency band combination list and a second feature set combination; wherein the second frequency band combination list includes identifiers of N frequency bands supporting reception of multicast services, where N is an integer greater than 0; the second feature set combination includes Q1 group of parameters corresponding to the second frequency band combination list, wherein each group of parameters includes Q2 second parameter sets, and any second parameter set indicates the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N frequency bands respectively, and / or the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each of the N frequency bands, where Q1 is an integer greater than 0, and Q2 is an integer greater than 0.

[0475] Optionally, the capability information also includes a third frequency band combination list, wherein the third frequency band combination list includes identifiers of M frequency bands supporting reception of unicast services, and M is an integer greater than 0; the second feature set combination also includes Q2 third parameter sets corresponding to the third frequency band combination list, and any third parameter set indicates the capability of receiving unicast services corresponding to the M frequency bands respectively; wherein the i-th second parameter set in the Q2 second parameter sets corresponds to the i-th first parameter set in any group of parameters in the Q1 group of parameters, wherein i is an integer greater than 0 and not greater than Q2.

[0476] Exemplarily, the capability information includes a second frequency band combination list and identifiers of Q1 third feature set combinations; wherein the second frequency band combination list includes identifiers of N frequency bands supporting reception of multicast services, where N is an integer greater than 0; any third feature set combination includes Q2 fourth parameter sets, and any fourth parameter set indicates the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the N frequency bands respectively, and / or the capabilities of receiving multicast services corresponding to the CC on each of the N frequency bands, where Q1 is an integer greater than 0, and Q2 is an integer greater than 0.

[0477] Optionally, the capability information also includes a list of third frequency band combinations and an identifier of a fourth feature set combination, wherein the third frequency band combination includes identifiers of M frequency bands supporting reception of unicast services, where M is an integer greater than 0; and the fourth feature set combination includes Q2 fifth parameter sets, and any fifth parameter set indicates the capability of receiving unicast services corresponding to the M frequency bands respectively.

[0478] Exemplarily, the capability information includes an identifier of a fourth frequency band combination list and a fifth feature set combination; wherein the fourth frequency band combination list includes identifiers of X frequency bands supported by the terminal device, where X is an integer greater than 0; the fifth feature set combination includes at least one sixth parameter set, and any sixth parameter set indicates communication parameters corresponding to the X frequency bands, respectively, wherein the X frequency bands include N frequency bands that support receiving multicast services, and the communication parameters corresponding to any frequency band among the N frequency bands indicate the ability of the frequency band to receive multicast services, and / or the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the frequency band, wherein, if the CC supports receiving multicast services, the communication capability corresponding to the CC is the ability of the CC to receive multicast services, and N is an integer greater than 0 and not greater than X.

[0479] Optionally, any sixth parameter set indicates communication parameters corresponding to X frequency bands, including: any sixth parameter set includes indexes of communication parameters corresponding to X frequency bands, and the index of the communication parameters of any frequency band among the X frequency bands satisfies: if the frequency band supports receiving multicast services, the index of the communication parameter corresponding to the frequency band belongs to the first index set; if the frequency band does not support receiving multicast services, the index of the communication parameter corresponding to the frequency band belongs to the second index set.

[0480] Optionally, the communication parameters corresponding to any frequency band among the N frequency bands indicate the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the frequency band, including: the communication parameters corresponding to any frequency band among the N frequency bands include the index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC on the frequency band, and the index of the communication capability corresponding to any CC on the frequency band satisfies: if the CC supports receiving multicast services, the index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC belongs to the third index set; if the CC does not support receiving multicast services, the index of the communication capability corresponding to the CC belongs to the fourth index set.

[0481] In the example, the capability of receiving multicast services corresponding to the frequency band includes at least one of the following: the frequency band supports receiving multicast services, or communication parameters for receiving multicast services on the frequency band.

[0482] In the example, the CC's corresponding capability of receiving multicast services includes: CC supports receiving multicast services, and / or, receiving communication information of multicast services on CC; wherein, the communication information is the communication parameters for receiving multicast services on CC, or, the communication information is the capability value of CC, and the capability value is determined based on the communication parameters for receiving multicast services on CC.

[0483] In addition, the communication parameters for receiving the multicast service include the highest modulation order supported when receiving the multicast service.

[0484] The division of modules in the embodiments of the present application is schematic and is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. In addition, each functional module in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into a processor, or may exist physically separately, or two or more modules may be integrated into one module. The above-mentioned integrated modules may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It is understood that the functions or implementations of each module in the embodiments of the present application may further refer to the relevant description of the method embodiment.

[0485] In one possible approach, the communication device may be as follows Fig.12 As shown, the device may be a communication device or a chip in a communication device, wherein the communication device may be a terminal device in the above embodiment or a network device in the above embodiment. The device includes a processor 1201 and a communication interface 1202, and may also include a memory 1203. Among them, the processing module 1102 may be the processor 1201. The communication module 1101 may be the communication interface 1202.

[0486] The processor 1201 may be a CPU, or a digital processing unit, etc. The communication interface 1202 may be a transceiver, or an interface circuit such as a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver chip, etc. The device further includes: a memory 1203, which is used to store the program executed by the processor 1201. The memory 1203 may be a non-volatile memory, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), etc., or a volatile memory (volatile memory), such as a random-access memory (RAM). The memory 1203 is any other medium that can be used to carry or store the desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto.

[0487] The processor 1201 is used to execute the program code stored in the memory 1203, specifically to execute the actions of the processing module 1102, which will not be described in detail in this application. The communication interface 1202 is specifically used to execute the actions of the communication module 1101, which will not be described in detail in this application.

[0488] The specific connection medium between the communication interface 1202, the processor 1201 and the memory 1203 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. Fig.12The memory 1203, the processor 1201 and the communication interface 1202 are connected via a bus 1204. Fig.12 The connections between other components are shown in bold lines, which are only for illustration and are not intended to be limiting. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, Fig.12 Only one thick line is used in the diagram, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0489] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing computer software instructions required to be executed by the above-mentioned processor, which includes a program required to be executed by the above-mentioned processor.

[0490] The present application also provides a communication system, including a Figure 7 In the embodiment of the terminal device function and the communication device for realizing Figure 7 The communication device of the network device function in the embodiment.

[0491] The present application also provides a communication system, including a Fig.10 In the embodiment of the terminal device function and the communication device for realizing Fig.10 The communication device of the network device function in the embodiment.

[0492] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application may be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present application may adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment in combination with software and hardware. Moreover, the present application may adopt the form of a computer program product implemented in one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) that include computer-usable program code.

[0493] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each process and / or box in the flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the processes and / or boxes in the flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device generate instructions for implementing the processes in the flowchart and / or block diagram. Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in a block or multiple blocks.

[0494] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory capable of directing a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including an instruction device, which implements the process Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A function specified in one or more boxes.

[0495] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operating steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions for implementing the process. Figure 1 A process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps for the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0496] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The source access network device receives first indication information from the terminal device, where the first indication information indicates that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive a multicast service, and the first indication information includes a public land mobile network PLMN index value; The source access network device sends second indication information to the target access network device, where the second indication information includes a PLMN value, and the PLMN value is a PLMN value corresponding to the PLMN index value in the first indication information.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The second indication information is forwarded by the source access network device to the target access network device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The PLMN index value is included in the session identifier TMGI that the terminal device is interested in or is receiving in the first indication information, and the PLMN value is included in the TMGI that the terminal device is interested in or is receiving in the second indication information.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The first indication information and the second indication information are MBS interest indications.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The first indication information indicates that the terminal device is receiving or is interested in receiving at least one of the following information of a multicast service: frequency information, TMGI, SCS, or modulation order.

6. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Sending first indication information to a source access network device, where the first indication information indicates a multicast service that the terminal device is receiving or expects to receive, and the first indication information includes a public land mobile network PLMN index value; The PLMN index is used to obtain a PLMN value included in the second indication information sent by the source access network device to the target access network device, and the PLMN value is a PLMN value corresponding to the PLMN index value in the first indication information.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The second indication information is forwarded by the source access network device to the target access network device.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that The PLMN index value is included in the session identifier TMGI that the terminal device is interested in or is receiving in the first indication information, and the PLMN value is included in the TMGI that the terminal device is interested in or is receiving in the second indication information.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that: The first indication information and the second indication information are MBS interest indications.

10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that: The first indication information indicates that the terminal device is receiving or is interested in receiving at least one of the following information of a multicast service: frequency information, TMGI, SCS, or modulation order.

11. A communication device, characterized in that: The apparatus comprises a processor and a memory, the processor being coupled to the memory; The memory is used to store programs or instructions; The processor is used to call the program or instruction to enable the communication device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

12. A communication device, characterized in that: The apparatus comprises a processor and a memory, the processor being coupled to the memory; The memory is used to store programs or instructions; The processor is used to call the program or instruction to enable the communication device to execute the method according to any one of claims 6 to 10.

13. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium is used to store computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

14. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium is used to store computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to execute the method according to any one of claims 6 to 10.

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