Communication method and related device

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method and a related device, which can be used in the technical field of communication. In the technical scheme provided by the invention, network equipment can configure a random access preamble with a small number of repetitions for first terminal equipment, and can configure a random access preamble with a large number of repetitions for second terminal equipment, the signal coverage performance of the area where the first terminal device is located is higher than the signal coverage performance of the area where the second terminal device is located. In the method, a first terminal device can send a random access preamble with a small number of repetitions to a network device, and the resource overhead of the first terminal device and the network device can be reduced while the access performance of the first terminal device is satisfied.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to communication methods and related devices. Background Art

[0002] In a wireless communication system, a network device can send a synchronization signal block (SSB) to a terminal device, and the terminal device can send a random access preamble to the network device based on the SSB. After receiving the random access preamble, the network device can establish a connection with the terminal device. Here, the process of establishing a connection between the network device and the terminal device can be called a random access process.

[0003] At present, the network device can send configuration information to the terminal device, and the configuration information is used by the terminal device to determine the random access preamble code to be sent. The configuration parameters of the random access preamble code include the number of repetitions, which is used to indicate the maximum number of times the random access preamble code is repeatedly sent. Since the network device can include multiple coverage areas, some coverage areas have good signal coverage performance, and some coverage areas have poor signal coverage performance, different terminal devices can be located in different coverage areas. In order to ensure access performance, the network device can uniformly configure random access preambles with a large number of repetitions for different terminal devices.

[0004] However, the more times the random access preamble sent by the terminal device is repeated, the greater the resource overhead generated by the terminal device and the network device. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and related devices for solving the problem of high resource overhead of terminal devices and network devices in the prior art.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a network device. The method includes: sending first information, wherein the first information is used to indicate a random access preamble format of a random access opportunity RO resource of each SSB in a plurality of synchronization signal blocks SSBs, wherein the plurality of SSBs include a first SSB and a second SSB, wherein the first SSB and the second SSB have different signal coverage performances, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the first SSB is different from the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the second SSB.

[0007] The network device may include multiple coverage areas, and the signal coverage performance of each coverage area in the multiple coverage areas may be different. The multiple coverage areas may correspond to multiple SSBs one by one, and the network device may send the SSB corresponding to each coverage area in the multiple coverage areas.

[0008] Among them, the first SSB can be the SSB sent by the network device to the first coverage area, and the terminal device located in the first coverage area can receive the first SSB. Here, the terminal device located in the first coverage area can be called the first terminal device.

[0009] The second SSB may be the SSB sent by the network device to the second coverage area. The terminal device located in the second coverage area may receive the second SSB. Here, the terminal device located in the second coverage area may be referred to as a second terminal device.

[0010] The network device can send first information to each terminal device among multiple terminal devices. After each terminal device receives the first information, it can determine the random access preamble code format of the RO resource of the SSB received by each terminal device based on the SSB received by each terminal device and the first information, and then send a random access preamble code of the determined random access preamble code format to the network device.

[0011] For example, the network device can send first information to the first terminal device. After receiving the first information, the first terminal device can determine the random access preamble code format of the RO resource of the first SSB based on the first SSB and the first information, and then send a random access preamble code in the random access preamble code format to the network device.

[0012] For example, the network device can send first information to the second terminal device. After receiving the first information, the second terminal device can determine the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the second SSB based on the second SSB and the first information, and then send a random access preamble code in the random access preamble code format to the network device.

[0013] In this method, the network device configures different numbers of repetitions of the random access preamble code for terminal devices located in different coverage areas, that is, the network device can configure a suitable random access preamble code format for each terminal device based on the coverage area of ​​each terminal device. This can ensure the access performance of the terminal device while reducing the resource overhead of the network device and the terminal device.

[0014] In some possible implementations, the first information includes first configuration information and second configuration information, the first configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble format of the RO resources of the first SSB is the first random access preamble format, and the second configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble format of the RO resources of the second SSB is the second random access preamble format; the signal coverage performance of the first SSB is stronger than the signal coverage performance of the second SSB, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble of the first random access preamble format is less than the number of repetitions of the random access preamble of the second random access preamble format.

[0015] That the signal coverage performance of the first SSB is stronger than the signal coverage performance of the second SSB can be understood as: the signal coverage performance of the first coverage area is stronger than the signal coverage performance of the second coverage area.

[0016] Taking the NTN network as an example, the coverage area of ​​the satellite includes the sub-satellite area and the edge area. The signal coverage performance of the sub-satellite area is stronger than that of the edge area. The first coverage area includes the sub-satellite area, and the terminal device located in the sub-satellite area is the first terminal device. The second coverage area includes the edge area, and the terminal device located in the edge area is the second terminal device.

[0017] In this method, the first random access preamble code may be a format of a random access preamble code configured by a network device to a first terminal device, and the second random access preamble code may be a format of a random access preamble code configured by a network device to a second terminal device, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code in the first random access preamble code format is less than the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code in the second random access preamble code format.

[0018] In an example, the first random access preamble format is C2 format, and the second random access preamble format is B4 format. The number of repetitions of the preamble in C2 format is 4, and the number of repetitions of the preamble in B4 format is 6.

[0019] In this method, the network device can configure a random access preamble with a small number of repetitions for the first terminal device, and the first terminal device can send a random access preamble with a small number of repetitions to the network device, while meeting the access performance of the first terminal device and reducing the resource overhead of the first terminal device and the network device.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the first configuration information includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the first random access preamble code format and / or an identifier of the first random access preamble code format, and an index of the first SSB.

[0021] As an example, the first configuration information may be as follows: Fig.10As shown. Among them, the first random access preamble format may be C2 format, the random access configuration index corresponding to the C2 format may be 251, and the index of the first SSB may be 1. The random access configuration index corresponding to the C2 format is only an example, and the actual value may be different.

[0022] In this implementation, the first terminal device can determine that the random access preamble code format of the RO resource of the first SSB is the first random access preamble code format based on the first configuration information, and then send a random access preamble code in the first random access preamble code format to the network device, which is conducive to establishing a communication connection between the first terminal device and the network device.

[0023] In some possible implementations, the second configuration information includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the second random access preamble format and / or an identifier of the second random access preamble format, and an index of the second SSB.

[0024] As an example, the second configuration information may be as follows: Fig.12 The second random access preamble format may be a B4 format, the random access configuration index corresponding to the B4 format may be 217, and the index of the second SSB may be 2. The random access configuration index corresponding to the B4 format is only an example, and the actual value may be different.

[0025] In this implementation, the second terminal device can determine that the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the second SSB is the second random access preamble code format based on the second configuration information, and then send a random access preamble code in the second random access preamble code format to the network device, which is conducive to establishing a communication connection between the second terminal device and the network device.

[0026] In some possible implementations, the first configuration information further includes a random access configuration index corresponding to a second random access preamble format and / or an identifier of the second random access preamble format, and the second configuration information includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the second random access preamble format and / or an identifier of the second random access preamble format and an index of the second SSB. The second random access preamble format is a universal random access preamble format.

[0027] As an example, the first configuration information may be as follows: Fig.11As shown. Among them, the general random access preamble format may be the second random access preamble format, the second random access preamble format may be the B4 format, and the random access configuration index corresponding to the B4 format may be 217. The special random access preamble format may be the first random access preamble format, the first random access preamble format may be the C2 format, and the random access configuration index corresponding to the C2 format may be 251. The index of the first SSB may be 1.

[0028] In this implementation method, the first terminal device can determine that there is a special random access preamble code format in the first SSB based on the first configuration information, and determine that the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the first SSB is the special random access preamble code format, that is, the first random access preamble code format, and then send a random access preamble code in the first random access preamble code format to the network device, which is conducive to establishing a communication connection between the first terminal device and the network device.

[0029] As an example, the second configuration information may be as follows: Fig.13 As shown. Among them, the general random access preamble format may be the second random access preamble format, the second random access preamble format may be the B4 format, and the random access configuration index corresponding to the B4 format is 217. The special random access preamble format may be empty. The index of the second SSB may be 2.

[0030] In this implementation, the second terminal device can determine, based on the second configuration information, that there is no special random access preamble code format for the second SSB, and determine that the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the second SSB is the universal random access preamble code format, that is, the second random access preamble code format, and then send a random access preamble code in the second random access preamble code format to the network device, which is conducive to establishing a communication connection between the second terminal device and the network device.

[0031] In some possible implementations, the time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the first SSB is smaller than the time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the second SSB.

[0032] In this method, the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the first SSB is the first random access preamble code format, the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the second SSB is the second random access preamble code format, the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code of the first random access preamble code format is less than the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code of the second random access preamble code format, and the time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the first SSB is less than the time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the second SSB.

[0033] That is, a random access preamble with a small number of repetitions occupies a small time slot length, and a random access preamble with a large number of repetitions occupies a large time slot length.

[0034] The smaller the time slot occupied by the random access preamble, the fewer times the terminal device can transmit the random access preamble within a period of time, and the lower the power consumption of the terminal device. If the time slot length occupied by the RO resource of the first SSB is smaller than the time slot length occupied by the RO resource of the second SSB, the number of times the first random access preamble is sent by the first terminal device in any time period can be smaller than the number of times the second random access preamble is sent by the second terminal device in the same time period, which is beneficial to reducing the power consumption of the first terminal device.

[0035] For network devices, the shorter the time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the first SSB, the fewer RO resources the network device needs to reserve, which is also beneficial for reducing the resource reservation overhead of the network device.

[0036] In some possible implementations, the first SSB includes M SSBs, the second SSB includes N SSBs, M and N are positive integers, and the RO resources of the M SSBs and the RO resources of the N SSBs are mapped to the first subframe in the wireless frame based on a first mapping rule, and the first mapping rule includes mapping in order from small to large according to the indexes of the M+N SSBs in the first SSB and the second SSB.

[0037] As an example, assume that the network device can send eight SSBs: SSB0 to SSB7, among which SSB3, SSB4, SSB5 and SSB6 have strong signal coverage performance, and SSB3, SSB4, SSB5 and SSB6 are the first SSB. The remaining SSB beams SSB0, SSB1, SSB2 and SSB7 have weak signal coverage performance, and SSB0, SSB1, SSB2 and SSB7 are the second SSB.

[0038] Assume that one SSB can correspond to one RO resource. The RO resource corresponding to SSB0 is RO0, the RO resource corresponding to SSB1 is RO1, and so on. The RO resource corresponding to SSB7 is RO7.

[0039] Assume that there are four radio frames: radio frame 0, radio frame 1, radio frame 2 and radio frame 3, and each of the four radio frames has its own corresponding radio frame number. Each of the four radio frames can include ten subframes: subframe 0 to subframe 9, each subframe has its own corresponding subframe number, and each subframe can contain a time slot. It can be understood that the four radio frames here are only examples, and the number of radio frames required for the actual SSB mapping to the RO resources depends on the number of SSBs and the number of RO resources.

[0040] Assume that the subframe number of the first subframe of each radio frame is {0, 1, 2, 3}, which means that only subframe 0, subframe 1, subframe 2 and subframe 3 can be used to place RO resources.

[0041] Assuming that the format of the random access preamble code of the RO resource of the first SSB is C2 format, and the format of the random access preamble code of the RO resource of the second SSB is B4 format, the time slot length occupied by any RO resource of the first SSB can be 1 / 2 time slot, and the time slot length occupied by any RO resource of the second SSB can be 1 time slot.

[0042] Optionally, the location of the RO resource in the radio frame can be as follows: Fig.14 As shown. In this example, for radio frame 0, RO0 can be placed in subframe 0, RO1 can be placed in subframe 1, RO2 can be placed in subframe 2, and RO3 and RO4 can be placed in subframe 3. For radio frame 1, RO5 and RO6 can be placed in subframe 0, RO7 can be placed in subframe 1, RO0 can be placed in subframe 2, and RO1 can be placed in subframe 3. For radio frame 2, RO2 can be placed in subframe 0, RO3 and RO4 can be placed in subframe 1, RO5 and RO6 can be placed in subframe 2, and RO7 can be placed in subframe 3. For radio frame 3, RO0 can be placed in subframe 0, RO1 can be placed in subframe 1, RO2 can be placed in subframe 2, and RO3 and RO4 can be placed in subframe 3.

[0043] Optionally, the location of the RO resource in the radio frame may also be as follows: Fig.15 As shown. In this example, for radio frame 0, RO0 can be placed in subframe 0, RO1 can be placed in subframe 1, RO2 can be placed in subframe 2, and RO3 and RO4 can be placed in subframe 3. For radio frame 1, RO5 and RO6 can be placed in subframe 0, and RO7 can be placed in subframe 1. For radio frame 2, RO0 can be placed in subframe 0, RO1 can be placed in subframe 1, RO2 can be placed in subframe 2, and RO3 and RO4 can be placed in subframe 3. For radio frame 3, RO5 and RO6 can be placed in subframe 0, and RO7 can be placed in subframe 1.

[0044] In some possible implementations, the first SSB includes M SSBs, the second SSB includes N SSBs, M and N are positive integers, the RO resources of the M SSBs are mapped to the second subframe in the wireless frame based on a second mapping rule, the second mapping rule includes mapping in ascending order of the indices of the M SSBs, and the RO resources of the N SSBs are mapped to the third subframe in the wireless frame based on a third mapping rule, and the third mapping rule includes mapping in ascending order of the indices of the N SSBs.

[0045] As an example, assume that the network device can send eight SSBs: SSB0 to SSB7, among which SSB3, SSB4, SSB5 and SSB6 have strong signal coverage performance, and SSB3, SSB4, SSB5 and SSB6 are the first SSBs. SSB0, SSB1, SSB2 and SSB7 have weak signal coverage performance, and SSB0, SSB1, SSB2 and SSB7 are the second SSBs.

[0046] Assume that one SSB can correspond to one RO resource. The RO resource corresponding to SSB0 is RO0, the RO resource corresponding to SSB1 is RO1, and so on. The RO resource corresponding to SSB7 is RO7.

[0047] Assume that there are four radio frames: radio frame 0, radio frame 1, radio frame 2, and radio frame 3, each of which has its own corresponding radio frame number. Each of which may include ten subframes: subframe 0 to subframe 9, each of which has its own corresponding subframe number, and each subframe may include one time slot.

[0048] Assume that the subframe number of the second subframe in the wireless frame is {4}, which means that only subframe 4 can place the RO resource of the first SSB. Assume that the subframe number of the third subframe in the wireless frame is {0,1,2,3}, which means that only subframe 0, subframe 1, subframe 2 and subframe 3 can place the RO resource of the second SSB.

[0049] Assuming that the format of the random access preamble code of the RO resource of the first SSB is C2 format, and the format of the random access preamble code of the RO resource of the second SSB is B4 format, the time slot length occupied by any RO resource of the first SSB can be 1 / 2 time slot, and the time slot length occupied by any RO resource of the second SSB can be 1 time slot.

[0050] Accordingly, the location of the RO resource in the radio frame can be as follows: Fig.16 In this example, for any wireless frame, each of subframe 0, subframe 1, subframe 2 and subframe 3 can place an RO resource of the second SSB, and subframe 4 can place two RO resources of the first SSB.

[0051] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a terminal device, and the method includes: receiving first information, the first information being used to indicate the random access preamble code format of the random access opportunity RO resources of each SSB in multiple synchronization signal blocks SSB, the multiple SSBs including a first SSB and a second SSB, the first SSB and the second SSB have different signal coverage performances, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the first SSB is different from the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the second SSB; determining the format of the random access preamble code to be sent based on the first information.

[0052] In some possible implementations, the first information includes first configuration information and second configuration information, the first configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble format of the RO resources of the first SSB is the first random access preamble format, and the second configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble format of the RO resources of the second SSB is the second random access preamble format; the signal coverage performance of the first SSB is stronger than the signal coverage performance of the second SSB, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble of the first random access preamble format is less than the number of repetitions of the random access preamble of the second random access preamble format.

[0053] In some possible implementations, the first configuration information includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the first random access preamble code format and / or an identifier of the first random access preamble code format, and an index of the first SSB.

[0054] In some possible implementations, the second configuration information includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the second random access preamble format and / or an identifier of the second random access preamble format, and an index of the second SSB.

[0055] In some possible implementations, the first configuration information also includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the second random access preamble code format and / or an identifier of the second random access preamble code format, and the second configuration information includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the second random access preamble code format and / or an identifier of the second random access preamble code format and an index of the second SSB; wherein the second random access preamble code format is a general random access preamble code format.

[0056] In some possible implementations, the time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the first SSB is smaller than the time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the second SSB.

[0057] In some possible implementations, the first SSB includes M SSBs, the second SSB includes N SSBs, M and N are positive integers, and the RO resources of the M SSBs and the RO resources of the N SSBs are mapped to the first subframe in the wireless frame based on a first mapping rule, and the first mapping rule includes mapping in order from small to large according to the indexes of the M+N SSBs in the first SSB and the second SSB.

[0058] In some possible implementations, the first SSB includes M SSBs, the second SSB includes N SSBs, M and N are positive integers, the RO resources of the M SSBs are mapped to the second subframe in the wireless frame based on a second mapping rule, the second mapping rule includes mapping in ascending order of the indices of the M SSBs, and the RO resources of the N SSBs are mapped to the third subframe in the wireless frame based on a third mapping rule, and the third mapping rule includes mapping in ascending order of the indices of the N SSBs.

[0059] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication device, including modules or units for implementing the method in the first aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect. It should be understood that each module or unit can implement the corresponding function by executing a computer program.

[0060] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, including a module or unit for implementing the method in the second aspect and any possible implementation of the second aspect. It should be understood that each module or unit can implement the corresponding function by executing a computer program.

[0061] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, comprising a processor, wherein the processor is used to execute the communication method described in any possible implementation manner in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0062] The device may further include a memory for storing instructions and data. The memory is coupled to the processor, and when the processor executes the instructions stored in the memory, the methods described in the above aspects may be implemented. The device may further include a communication interface, and the communication interface is used for the device to communicate with other devices. Exemplarily, the communication interface may be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module or other type of communication interface.

[0063] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a program code for execution by a communication device, wherein the program code includes instructions for implementing the method described in any possible implementation method of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0064] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a communication device, enables the communication device to implement the method described in any possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0065] It can be understood that the effects that can be obtained from the second to seventh aspects can be referred to the description in the first aspect and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an NTN network architecture applicable to this application;

[0068] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of another NTN network architecture applicable to this application;

[0069] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the configuration of an RO provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0070] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of OFDM symbols included in a random access preamble;

[0071] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the correspondence between SSB and RO provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0072] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the correspondence between SSB and RO provided in another embodiment of the present application;

[0073] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the coverage area of ​​a satellite provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] Fig. 9 A flow chart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] Fig.10 A schematic diagram of first configuration information provided for an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] Fig.11 A schematic diagram of first configuration information provided for another embodiment of the present application;

[0077] Fig.12 A schematic diagram of second configuration information provided for an embodiment of the present application;

[0078] Fig.13 A schematic diagram of second configuration information provided for another embodiment of the present application;

[0079] Fig.14 A schematic diagram of the location of RO resources in a radio frame provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0080] Fig.15 A schematic diagram of the location of RO resources in a radio frame provided by another embodiment of the present application;

[0081] Fig.16 A schematic diagram of the location of RO resources in a radio frame provided by another embodiment of the present application;

[0082] Fig.17 A schematic diagram of a random access method flow chart provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0083] Fig.18 A schematic diagram of a random access method flow chart provided in another embodiment of the present application;

[0084] Fig.19 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0085] Fig. 20 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in another embodiment of the present application;

[0086] Fig.21 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in yet another embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0087] 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.

[0088] In order to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, the words "first" and "second" are used to distinguish the same items or similar items with substantially the same functions and effects. For example, the first information and the second information are only used to distinguish different information, and their order is not limited. Those skilled in the art can understand that the words "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution order, and the words "first" and "second" do not necessarily limit them to be different.

[0089] In the embodiments of the present application, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "more than one" 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. Among them, a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0090] The technical solution of the present invention can be applied to various communication systems, such as long term evolution (LTE) system, fifth generation (5G) communication system or new radio (NR), non-terrestrial networks (NTN) and future communication systems, such as sixth generation (6G) communication system, etc., but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0091] Below, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments of the present application are described in detail.

[0092] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, first Figure 1 The communication system applicable to the embodiment of the present application is described. Figure 1 As shown, the communication system includes a wireless access network 100. The wireless access network 100 may include at least one wireless access network device (such as Figure 1 110a, 110b and 110c), and may also include at least one terminal (such as Figure 1 120a to 120g).

[0093] The terminal is connected to the wireless access network device by wireless means, and the wireless access network device is connected to the core network by wireless or wired means. The core network device and the wireless access network device can be independent and different physical devices, or the functions of the core network device and the logical functions of the wireless access network device can be integrated on the same physical device, or part of the functions of the core network device and part of the functions of the wireless access network device can be integrated on one physical device. Terminals and wireless access network devices can be connected to each other by wired or wireless means. Figure 1 This is just a schematic diagram. The communication system may also include other network devices, such as wireless relay devices and wireless backhaul devices. Figure 1 Not drawn in.

[0094] A wireless access network (RAN) device may be a device with wireless transceiver functions. The wireless access network device may be a device that provides wireless communication function services, usually located on the network side, including but not limited to: a next-generation base station (gNodeB, gNB) in a 5G communication system, a next-generation base station in a sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc., an evolved node B (eNB) in a long-term evolution (LTE) system, a radio network controller (RNC), a node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a home base station (e.g., home evolved NodeB, or home Node B, HNB), a base band unit (BBU), a transmission reception point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a base transceiver station (BTS), etc. In a network structure, the access network device may include a centralized unit (CU) node, or a distributed unit (DU) node, or a RAN device including a CU node and a DU node, or a control plane CU node and a user plane CU node, and a RAN device of a DU node. The access network device provides services for a cell, and the user equipment communicates with the base station through the transmission resources used by the cell (for example, frequency domain resources, or spectrum resources). The cell may be a cell corresponding to a base station (for example, a base station), and the cell may belong to a macro base station or a base station corresponding to a small cell. The small cell here may include: a metro cell, a micro cell, a picocell, a femtocell, etc. These small cells have the characteristics of small coverage and low transmission power, and are suitable for providing high-speed data transmission services. The wireless access network device may be a satellite (such as a Figure 1 110a), or a macro base station (such as Figure 1 110b), or a micro base station or an indoor station (such as Figure 1110c), may also be a relay node or a donor node, a device that provides wireless communication services for user equipment, a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, a relay station, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, and a network device in a future evolution network. The access network device in this embodiment may also be an open radio access network (O-RAN) device, which may include an open distributed unit (O-DU) and an open centralized unit (O-CU).

[0095] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form used by the wireless access network device. For ease of description, the following description takes a base station as an example of a wireless access network device.

[0096] The terminal can also be called terminal equipment, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc. It can be an entity on the user side for receiving or transmitting signals, such as a mobile phone. Terminal equipment includes handheld devices, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices or computing devices with wireless communication functions. Exemplarily, UE can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer or a computer with wireless transceiver function. The terminal device can also be a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, etc. The terminal can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a wearable device, a vehicle, a drone, a helicopter, an airplane, a ship, a robot, a robotic arm, a smart home device, etc. In the embodiment of the present application, the device for realizing the function of the terminal can be a terminal; it can also be a device that can support the terminal to realize the function, such as a chip system, or a communication module, or a modem, etc., which can be installed in the terminal. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete devices. In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, the device for realizing the function of the terminal is a terminal, and the terminal is a UE as an example to describe the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal device.

[0097] Optionally, the UE may also be used to act as a base station. For example, the UE may act as a scheduling entity that provides sidelink signals between UEs in vehicle-to-everything (V2X), device-to-device (D2D), or peer-to-peer (P2P).

[0098] Base stations and terminals can be fixed or movable. Base stations and terminals can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on the water surface; they can also be deployed on aircraft, balloons, and artificial satellites in the air. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of base stations and terminals.

[0099] The roles of the base station and the terminal can be relative, for example, Figure 1 The helicopter or drone 120c in the figure can be configured as a mobile base station. For the terminal 120d that accesses the wireless access network 100 through 120c, the terminal 120c is a base station; but for the satellite 110a, 120c is a terminal, that is, 110a and 120c communicate through the wireless air interface protocol. Of course, 110a and 120c can also communicate through the interface protocol between base stations. In this case, relative to 110a, 120c is also a base station. Therefore, base stations and terminals can be collectively referred to as communication devices. Figure 1 110a, 110b, 110c and 120a-120g in the figure can be called communication devices having their respective corresponding functions, such as a communication device having a base station function, or a communication device having a terminal function.

[0100] Base stations and terminals, base stations and base stations, and terminals and terminals can communicate through authorized spectrum, unauthorized spectrum, or both; they can communicate through spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), spectrum above 6 GHz, or spectrum below 6 GHz and spectrum above 6 GHz. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0101] In the embodiments of the present application, the functions of the base station may also be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the base station, or by a control subsystem including the base station function. The control subsystem including the base station function here may be a control center in the application scenarios of the above-mentioned terminals such as smart grid, industrial control, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The functions of the terminal may also be performed by a module (such as a chip or a modem) in the terminal, or by a device including the terminal function.

[0102] In particular, in the NTN communication system, the wireless access network device may include a satellite, and the satellite may implement transparent payload transmission or regenerative payload transmission.

[0103] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of an NTN network architecture applicable to this application. Figure 2 As shown, the UE communicates with the ground base station through the user-universal terrestrial radio access network-user (Uu) interface of the ground base station. The satellite can realize transparent load transmission between the user and the ground base station. The satellite and the NTN gateway can be considered as the remote radio unit (RRU) of the ground base station to realize transparent forwarding of the signal, that is, the satellite only supports functions such as RF filtering, frequency conversion and amplification, and the signal waveform remains unchanged. The forwarding of the satellite is transparent to the terminal device. Among them, the ground base station and the core network (CN) can communicate through the next generation network (NG) interface, and the non-access stratum (NAS) signaling of the core network and the service data of the UE are exchanged through the NG interface.

[0104] Figure 3 This is another NTN network architecture diagram applicable to this application. Figure 3 As shown, the satellite has some or all functions of a wireless access network device, and can be called a satellite base station. It can provide wireless access services and schedule wireless resources for terminal devices that access the network through the satellite base station. The satellite base station communicates with the UE through the Uu interface. The satellite base station and the CN can communicate through the NG interface, and the satellite base station and the core network can exchange NAS signaling and UE service data through the NG interface. The satellite radio interface (satellite radio interface, SRI) interface is the feeder link between the NTN gateway and the satellite. Figure 3 In the NG, the SRI interface can be used as part of the NG interface to realize communication interaction between the satellite and the core network.

[0105] In addition, satellites can also be used in earth moving scenarios and earth fixed scenarios. In earth moving scenarios, the coverage of satellite beams moves with the satellite, that is, the direction of the beams with the same beam number sent by the satellite side remains unchanged. As the satellite moves, the geographical areas covered by the beams with the same beam number are different. In earth fixed scenarios, the coverage of satellite beams does not move with the satellite, that is, the direction of the beams with the same beam number sent by the satellite side changes as the satellite moves. As the satellite moves, the geographical areas covered by the beams with the same beam number are the same.

[0106] Understandably, Figures 1 to 3 The wireless access network equipment in the system may also be referred to as network equipment.

[0107] In a wireless communication system, a network device may send an SSB to a terminal device, and the terminal device may send a random access preamble to the network device based on the SSB. After receiving the random access preamble, the network device may establish a connection with the terminal device. Here, the process of establishing a connection between the network device and the terminal device may be referred to as a random access process.

[0108] The random access preamble may include parameters such as a random access preamble index, a random access preamble code format, a configuration period, a subframe number, a start symbol, a number of time slots, a number of random access channel occasions (RO), and a number of occupied symbols.

[0109] The configuration period is used to indicate the location of the RO resource. For example, the location of the RO resource may be the location of a subframe of the RO resource in each radio frame (or system frame), and the location of the subframe may be represented by a subframe number.

[0110] The location of the RO resource can be determined based on the period and offset value. Assume that the location of the RO resource can be: SFN mod x = y, where n SFN Indicates the location of the RO resource, x represents the period, and y represents the offset.

[0111] The subframe number indicates the subframe number where the RO exists. When the subframe number has the RO, it indicates that the subframe number can be configured with the RO resource. The subframe number is used to determine the distribution density of the RO resource in each radio frame.

[0112] The start symbol indicates the start position of the first RO in the time domain, and the start position may indicate the position of the first RO in a symbol (or sequence).

[0113] The number of time slots indicates the number of time slots contained in a subframe. A subframe may contain one or two time slots.

[0114] The RO quantity indicates the number of ROs that can be configured in one time slot.

[0115] The number of occupied symbols indicates the number of symbols that an RO can occupy.

[0116] There may be multiple formats of random access preambles, and parameters corresponding to random access preambles of different formats may be different. As an example, Table 1 gives parameters of random access preambles of two formats.

[0117] Table 1: Random access preamble parameters

[0118]

[0119] In this example, there are two formats of random access preambles: B4 format and C2 format. The random access configuration indexes corresponding to the random access preambles of these two formats are 217 and 251 respectively.

[0120] For the random access preamble of B4 format, RO exists in any subframe numbered 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 in any radio frame. Each subframe contains 2 time slots, 1 RO is configured in each time slot, and the number of symbols occupied by RO resources is 12.

[0121] For the random access preamble of C2 format, RO exists in the subframes with subframe numbers 2 and 7 in any radio frame. Each subframe includes 2 time slots, 2 ROs are configured in each time slot, and the number of symbols occupied by RO resources is 6.

[0122] Taking the random access preamble of C2 format as an example, assuming that a radio frame includes 10 subframes. The configuration of RO can be as follows: Figure 4 In this example, RO can be configured in subframes with subframe numbers 2 and 7. The subframe with subframe number 2 can include time slot 1 and time slot 2. RO1 and RO2 can be configured in time slot 1, and RO3 and RO4 can be configured in time slot 2. The subframe with subframe number 7 can include time slot 3 and time slot 4. RO5 and RO6 can be configured in time slot 3, and RO7 and RO8 can be configured in time slot 4.

[0123] In addition, the number of repetitions corresponding to random access preambles of different formats may be different. The number of repetitions of the random access preamble code may be used to indicate the maximum number of times the random access preamble code is repeatedly sent. The number of repetitions corresponding to random access preambles of different formats may be configured in advance.

[0124] As an example, the number of repetitions corresponding to the random access preamble code in the B4 format may be 12, and the number of repetitions corresponding to the random access preamble code in the C2 format may be 4.

[0125] Optionally, the random access preamble may be transmitted based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology. The number of repetitions of the random access preamble may be the same as the number of OFDM symbols included in the random access preamble. Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the OFDM symbols included in the random access preamble. Figure 5 (a) in FIG. 1 is a random access preamble in B4 format, which includes 4 OFDM symbols, a cyclic prefix (CP) and a time domain gap. Figure 5(b) in the figure is a random access preamble in C2 format, which includes 12 OFDM symbols, a CP and a time domain gap.

[0126] The network device may include multiple coverage areas, and the multiple coverage areas may correspond to multiple SSBs one by one. The network device may send the SSB corresponding to each coverage area to the terminal device in each coverage area of ​​the multiple coverage areas. Each of the multiple SSBs has its own corresponding RO. In other words, each of the multiple SSBs has its own corresponding RO resources. In this application, for the convenience of description, the RO resources corresponding to the SSB can also be expressed as the RO resources of the SSB.

[0127] In some examples, one SSB may correspond to multiple ROs. Figure 6 As shown, one SSB may correspond to 8 ROs, and each of the 8 ROs may include 60 contention-based random access preamble codes.

[0128] For each RO, the contention-based random access preambles in each RO may be deployed in an ascending order of the index of the random access preambles.

[0129] When multiple ROs are deployed in multiple frequency domains, the multiple frequency domains may be deployed in an ascending order based on the indexes of the frequency domains. Each frequency domain may include at least one RO, and the at least one RO may be deployed in the frequency domain based on the order of the ROs.

[0130] When multiple ROs are deployed in multiple time slots, the multiple time slots may be deployed in an ascending order based on the index of the time slots. Each time slot may include at least one RO, and the at least one RO may be deployed in the time slot based on the order of the ROs.

[0131] Optionally, in other embodiments, one SSB may also correspond to 4 or 2 ROs.

[0132] In other examples, multiple SSBs may correspond to one RO. Figure 7 As shown, one RO may correspond to four SSBs: SSB0, SSB1, SSB2 and SSB3, and the RO may include 48 contention-based random access preambles. The index numbers of the 48 contention-based random access preambles in the RO are: 0-11, 16-27, 32-43 and 48-59 respectively.

[0133] Among them, the index of the contention-based random access preamble code corresponding to SSB0 is 0-11, the index of the contention-based random access preamble code corresponding to SSB1 is 16-27, the index of the contention-based random access preamble code corresponding to SSB2 is 32-43, and the index of the contention-based random access preamble code corresponding to SSB3 is 48-59.

[0134] Optionally, in other embodiments, one RO may also correspond to 2, 6, or 16 ROs.

[0135] Optionally, in some other embodiments, one RO may also correspond to 1 RO.

[0136] Optionally, there is an association relationship between the configuration period of RO and the mapping period (or association period) of SSB to RO. The mapping period of SSB to RO (hereinafter referred to as mapping period) can be understood as: the number of configuration periods of RO required in the time domain after all SSBs are mapped to RO.

[0137] The association relationship between the configuration period and the mapping period of the RO can be represented by an association period mapping table of the SSB and the RO. As an example, Table 2 is an association period mapping table of the SSB and the RO.

[0138] Table 2: SSB and RO association period mapping table

[0139] Configuration period (ms) SSB to RO mapping cycle 10 {1,2,4,8,16} 20 {1,2,4,8} 40 {1,2,4} 80 {1,2} 160 {1}

[0140] In this example, mapping starts from frame number 0, takes the minimum value of the configured period in the associated period mapping table (i.e., selected from {1, 2, 4, 8, 16} wireless frames), and requires that all configured SSBs be fully mapped to ROs within the associated period at least once. If, within a mapping, after the entire SSB to RO cyclic mapping is completed, some ROs are still not mapped, then these ROs will no longer establish a mapping relationship with the SSB. If, within a mapping, after the entire SSB to RO cyclic mapping is completed, some ROs are still not mapped, then these ROs will no longer establish a mapping relationship with the SSB.

[0141] In addition, there is also an association relationship between the mapping period and the SSB to RO association pattern period (hereinafter referred to as the association pattern period). An association pattern period may contain one or more mapping periods, and the SSB to RO mapping pattern is repeated in different association pattern periods, with a maximum of 160ms. ROs that are not mapped by SSB after an integer number of mapping periods will not be used for random access channel transmission.

[0142] The network device may send configuration information to the terminal device, and the configuration information is used by the terminal device to determine the random access preamble code to be sent. Since the network device may include multiple coverage areas, some coverage areas have good signal coverage performance, and some coverage areas have poor signal coverage performance, different terminal devices may be located in different coverage areas. In order to ensure access performance, the network device may uniformly configure a random access preamble code with a large number of repetitions to different terminal devices.

[0143] For example, in the NTN network, the satellite covers a wide area, and the satellite coverage area may include the sub-satellite area and the edge area. Figure 8 As shown, the shaded area may represent the sub-satellite point area, in which the first terminal device is located; the blank area may represent the edge point area, in which the second terminal device is located. The sub-satellite point area has a good link budget, good coverage performance, and good access performance for the first terminal device. The edge point area has a poor link budget, poor coverage performance, and limited access for the second terminal device, and coverage enhancement needs to be considered.

[0144] In the prior art, in order to ensure the access performance of the first terminal device and the second terminal device at the same time, the satellite can uniformly configure a random access preamble with a large number of repetitions for the first terminal device and the second terminal device, such as a random access preamble in B4 format. In this way, the random access preambles sent by the first terminal device and the second terminal device to the network device are both the random access preambles with a large number of repetitions.

[0145] The more times the random access preamble sent by the terminal device is repeated, the greater the resource overhead generated by the terminal device and the network device. Since the first terminal device is located in a sub-satellite point area with sufficient link budget, the first terminal device can ensure the access performance of the first terminal device by sending a random access preamble with a small number of repetitions to the network device. Therefore, in the prior art, when the first terminal device sends the random access preamble with a large number of repetitions to the network device, the first terminal device and the network device will generate unnecessary resource overhead.

[0146] To this end, the present application provides a communication method for solving the problem of unnecessary resource overhead generated by terminal devices and network devices during random access.

[0147] In the technical solution of the present application, the network equipment can configure random access preamble codes of different formats for terminal devices located in different coverage areas, and the random access preamble codes of different formats correspond to different numbers of repetitions.

[0148] As an example, the format of the random access preamble code configured by the network device for the terminal device located in the first coverage area may be the first random access preamble code format, and the format of the random access preamble code configured by the network device for the terminal device located in the second coverage area may be the second random access preamble code format. The terminal device located in the first coverage area may be referred to as the first terminal device, and the terminal device located in the second coverage area may be referred to as the second terminal device.

[0149] The network device may send a first SSB to a first coverage area, and the network device may send a second SSB to a second coverage area, and the signal coverage performance of the first SSB is stronger than the signal coverage performance of the second SSB. The number of repetitions of the random access preamble code of the first random access preamble code format is less than the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code of the second random access preamble code format.

[0150] Taking the NTN network as an example, the satellite coverage area includes the sub-satellite area and the edge area. The satellite can send the first SSB and the second SSB to the sub-satellite area and the edge area respectively, and the signal coverage performance of the first SSB is stronger than the signal coverage performance of the second SSB. In this example, the signal coverage performance of the sub-satellite area is stronger than the signal coverage performance of the edge area.

[0151] In this example, the first coverage area includes a sub-satellite area, and the terminal device located in the sub-satellite area is a first terminal device. The second coverage area includes an edge area, and the terminal device located in the edge area is a second terminal device.

[0152] The format of the random access preamble configured by the network device to the first terminal device may be a first random access preamble format. The format of the random access preamble configured by the network device to the second terminal device may be a second random access preamble format, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble in the first random access preamble format is less than the number of repetitions of the random access preamble in the second random access preamble format.

[0153] In an example, the first random access preamble format is C2 format, and the second random access preamble format is B4 format. The number of repetitions of the preamble in C2 format is 4, and the number of repetitions of the preamble in B4 format is 6.

[0154] In this method, the network device can configure a random access preamble with a small number of repetitions for the first terminal device, and the first terminal device can send a random access preamble with a small number of repetitions to the network device, while meeting the access performance of the first terminal device and reducing the resource overhead of the first terminal device and the network device.

[0155] Next, this application will combine Figures 9 to 21 , the solution of this application is introduced in detail.

[0156] Fig. 9 The following is a flow chart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. Fig. 9 As shown, the communication method may include S901 and S902.

[0157] S901, the network device sends first information to the terminal device, the first information is used to indicate the random access preamble format of the RO resource of each SSB in multiple SSBs, the multiple SSBs include a first SSB and a second SSB, the first SSB and the second SSB have different signal coverage performances, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the first SSB is different from the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the second SSB. Accordingly, the terminal device receives the first information.

[0158] As an example, the network device may be Figure 1 Any wireless access network device in the communication system architecture shown in FIG. Figure 2 or Figure 3 Satellites in the NTN network architecture are shown.

[0159] In the method, the coverage area of ​​the network device may include a first coverage area and a second coverage area. Taking the NTN network as an example, the first coverage area may include a sub-satellite point area, and the second coverage area may include an edge point area.

[0160] The network device may send a first SSB to the first coverage area, and the network device may send a second SSB to the second coverage area.

[0161] Optionally, the network device may send the SSB in a broadcasting manner. For example, the network device may broadcast a first SSB to a first coverage area, and the network device may broadcast a second SSB to a second coverage area.

[0162] Optionally, the network device may determine the coverage area and the SSB sent by the coverage area based on any one or more of the following information: link budget, coverage performance, reference signal receiving power (RSRP).

[0163] For example, the network device may detect RSRP of multiple coverage areas, and the coverage area whose RSRP exceeds a preset threshold among the multiple coverage areas may be determined as the first coverage area, and the coverage area whose RSRP does not reach the preset threshold among the multiple coverage areas may be determined as the second coverage area.

[0164] In this example, the signal coverage performance of the first coverage area is stronger than the signal coverage performance of the second coverage area.

[0165] In the present application, a terminal device located in a first coverage area of ​​a network device may be referred to as a first terminal device. When the network device broadcasts a first SSB to the first coverage area, the first terminal device may receive the first SSB.

[0166] The terminal device located in the second coverage area of ​​the network device can be referred to as a second terminal device. When the network device broadcasts the second SSB to the second coverage area, the second terminal device can receive the second SSB.

[0167] When the network device broadcasts different SSBs to different coverage areas, it can send the first information to terminal devices in different coverage areas.

[0168] For example, when the network device broadcasts the first SSB to the first coverage area, the network device may send the first information to the first terminal device. For another example, when the network device broadcasts the second SSB to the second coverage area, the network device may send the first information to the second terminal device.

[0169] Optionally, the network device may also send the first information to terminal devices in different coverage areas after broadcasting different SSBs to different coverage areas.

[0170] For example, after the network device broadcasts the first SSB to the first coverage area, it sends the first information to the first terminal device. For another example, after the network device broadcasts the second SSB to the second coverage area, it sends the first information to the second terminal device.

[0171] S902: The terminal device determines the format of the random access preamble code to be sent based on the first information.

[0172] In this embodiment, the first information may include first configuration information and second configuration information, the first configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the first SSB is the first random access preamble code format, and the second configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the second SSB is the second random access preamble code format.

[0173] When the terminal device determines the format of the random access preamble code to be sent based on the first information, it can determine the format of the random access preamble code to be sent based on the received SSB and the first information.

[0174] For example, after the first terminal device receives the first SSB, it can determine that the format of the random access preamble code that the first terminal device needs to send is the first random access preamble code format based on the first configuration information in the first information. For another example, after the second terminal device receives the second SSB, it can determine that the format of the random access preamble code that the second terminal device needs to send is the second random access preamble code format based on the second configuration information in the first information.

[0175] In a first possible implementation manner, the first configuration information may include a random access configuration index corresponding to a first random access preamble code format and / or an identifier of the first random access preamble code format, and an index of the first SSB.

[0176] like Fig.10 As shown, the first random access preamble code format can be C2 format, the random access configuration index corresponding to the C2 format can be 251, and the index of the first SSB can be 1.

[0177] In this implementation, the first terminal device can determine that the random access preamble code format of the RO resource of the first SSB is the first random access preamble code format based on the first configuration information, and then send a random access preamble code in the first random access preamble code format to the network device, which is conducive to establishing a communication connection between the first terminal device and the network device.

[0178] In a second possible implementation, the first configuration information may further include a random access configuration index corresponding to the second random access preamble format and / or an identifier of the second random access preamble format, wherein the second random access preamble format may be a universal random access preamble format (or a common random access preamble format).

[0179] That is to say, the first configuration information includes the random access configuration index corresponding to the general random access preamble code format and / or the identifier of the general random access preamble code format, the random access configuration index corresponding to the special random access preamble code format and / or the identifier of the special random access preamble code format, and the index of the first SSB.

[0180] like Fig.11 As shown, the general random access preamble format may be the second random access preamble format, the second random access preamble format may be the B4 format, and the random access configuration index corresponding to the B4 format may be 217. The special random access preamble format may be the first random access preamble format, the first random access preamble format may be the C2 format, and the random access configuration index corresponding to the C2 format may be 251. The index of the first SSB may be 1.

[0181] The number of repetitions of the random access preamble in the C2 format may be less than the number of repetitions of the random access preamble in the B4 format. The number of repetitions of the preamble in the C2 format is 4, and the number of repetitions of the preamble in the B4 format is 6.

[0182] In this implementation method, the first terminal device can determine that there is a special random access preamble code format in the first SSB based on the first configuration information, and determine that the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the first SSB is the special random access preamble code format, that is, the first random access preamble code format, and then send a random access preamble code in the first random access preamble code format to the network device, which is conducive to establishing a communication connection between the first terminal device and the network device.

[0183] In a first possible implementation manner, the second configuration information may include a random access configuration index corresponding to a second random access preamble code format and / or an identifier of a second random access preamble code format, and an index of the second SSB.

[0184] like Fig.12 As shown, the second random access preamble code format can be B4 format, the random access configuration index corresponding to the B4 format can be 217, and the index of the second SSB can be 2.

[0185] In this implementation, the second terminal device can determine that the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the second SSB is the second random access preamble code format based on the second configuration information, and then send a random access preamble code in the second random access preamble code format to the network device, which is conducive to establishing a communication connection between the second terminal device and the network device.

[0186] In a second possible implementation, the second configuration information includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the universal random access preamble format and / or an identifier of the universal random access preamble format, and an index of the second SSB. As an example, the universal random access preamble can be a second random access preamble format.

[0187] like Fig.13 As shown, the general random access preamble format may be the second random access preamble format, the second random access preamble format may be the B4 format, and the random access configuration index corresponding to the B4 format may be 217. The special random access preamble format may be empty. The index of the second SSB may be 2.

[0188] In this implementation, the second terminal device can determine, based on the second configuration information, that there is no special random access preamble code format for the second SSB, and determine that the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the second SSB is the universal random access preamble code format, that is, the second random access preamble code format, and then send a random access preamble code in the second random access preamble code format to the network device, which is conducive to establishing a communication connection between the second terminal device and the network device.

[0189] For each SSB, each SSB has its own corresponding RO resource. The RO resource corresponding to each SSB can be configured in advance for the network device.

[0190] The network device may also send first indication information to the terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate the correspondence between each SSB in the multiple SSBs and the RO resource. Accordingly, after receiving the first indication information, the terminal device may send a random access preamble code on the corresponding RO resource based on the first indication information.

[0191] For example, assuming that the first SSB corresponds to the first RO resource, after the first terminal device receives the first indication information, it can send a first random access preamble code on the first RO resource based on the first indication information.

[0192] For another example, assuming that the second SSB corresponds to the second RO resource, after the second terminal device receives the first indication information, it can send a second random access preamble code on the second RO resource based on the first indication information.

[0193] In some possible implementations, the time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the first SSB may be smaller than the time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the second SSB.

[0194] The time slot length occupied by the RO resource of the first SSB may be associated with the number of random access opportunities parameter corresponding to the first random access preamble format. The time slot length occupied by the RO resource of the second SSB may be associated with the number of random access opportunities parameter corresponding to the second random access preamble format.

[0195] Combined with Table 1, when the first random access preamble format is C2 format, two ROs can be configured in one time slot, and the time slot length occupied by any RO resource of the first SSB can be 1 / 2 time slot. When the second random access preamble format is B4 format, one RO can be configured in one time slot, and the time slot length occupied by any RO resource of the second SSB can be 1 time slot.

[0196] The smaller the time slot occupied by the random access preamble, the fewer times the terminal device can transmit the random access preamble within a period of time, and the lower the power consumption of the terminal device. If the time slot length occupied by the RO resource of the first SSB is smaller than the time slot length occupied by the RO resource of the second SSB, the number of times the first random access preamble is sent by the first terminal device in any time period can be smaller than the number of times the second random access preamble is sent by the second terminal device in the same time period, which is beneficial to reducing the power consumption of the first terminal device.

[0197] For network devices, the shorter the time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the first SSB, the fewer RO resources the network device needs to reserve, which is also beneficial for reducing the resource reservation overhead of the network device.

[0198] In some possible implementations, the first SSB may include M SSBs, and the second SSB may include N SSBs, M and N are positive integers, and the RO resources of the M SSBs and the RO resources of the N SSBs are mapped to the first subframe in the wireless frame based on a first mapping rule, and the first mapping rule includes mapping in order from small to large according to the indexes of the M+N SSBs in the first SSB and the second SSB.

[0199] In this implementation, the method of mapping the RO resources of SSB to the wireless frame may include: first determining the indexes of M+N SSBs, and determining the configuration content and random access preamble format of each RO resource, mapping the indexes in the M+N SSBs in ascending order to the corresponding RO resources according to the configuration content of each RO resource and the indexes of the M+N SSBs, and then determining the position of each RO resource in the wireless frame based on the random access preamble format of each RO resource and the first mapping rule.

[0200] As an example, assume that the network device can send eight SSBs: SSB0 to SSB7, among which SSB3, SSB4, SSB5 and SSB6 have strong signal coverage performance, and SSB3, SSB4, SSB5 and SSB6 are the first SSB. The remaining SSB beams SSB0, SSB1, SSB2 and SSB7 have weak signal coverage performance, and SSB0, SSB1, SSB2 and SSB7 are the second SSB.

[0201] Assuming that one SSB can correspond to one RO resource, the RO resource corresponding to SSB0 is RO0, the RO resource corresponding to SSB1 is RO1, and so on, the RO resource corresponding to SSB7 is RO7.

[0202] Assume that there are four radio frames: radio frame 0, radio frame 1, radio frame 2, and radio frame 3, each of which has its own corresponding radio frame number. Each of which may include ten subframes: subframe 0 to subframe 9, each of which has its own corresponding subframe number, and each subframe may include one time slot.

[0203] Assume that the subframe number of the first subframe of each radio frame is {0, 1, 2, 3}, which means that only subframe 0, subframe 1, subframe 2 and subframe 3 can be used to place RO resources.

[0204] Assuming that the format of the random access preamble code of the RO resource of the first SSB is C2 format, and the format of the random access preamble code of the RO resource of the second SSB is B4 format, the time slot length occupied by any RO resource of the first SSB can be 1 / 2 time slot, and the time slot length occupied by any RO resource of the second SSB can be 1 time slot.

[0205] Accordingly, the location of the RO resource in the radio frame can be as follows: Fig.14As shown. In this example, for radio frame 0, RO0 can be placed in subframe 0, RO1 can be placed in subframe 1, RO2 can be placed in subframe 2, and RO3 and RO4 can be placed in subframe 3. For radio frame 1, RO5 and RO6 can be placed in subframe 0, RO7 can be placed in subframe 1, RO0 can be placed in subframe 2, and RO1 can be placed in subframe 3. For radio frame 2, RO2 can be placed in subframe 0, RO3 and RO4 can be placed in subframe 1, RO5 and RO6 can be placed in subframe 2, and RO7 can be placed in subframe 3. For radio frame 3, RO0 can be placed in subframe 0, RO1 can be placed in subframe 1, RO2 can be placed in subframe 2, and RO3 and RO4 can be placed in subframe 3.

[0206] In this method, the subframe number of the subframe occupied by the RO resources of the M SSBs in the first radio frame may be the same as the subframe number of the subframe occupied by the RO resources of the N SSBs in the second radio frame.

[0207] The subframe number of the subframe occupied by the RO resources of the M SSBs in the first wireless frame is the same as the subframe number of the subframe occupied by the RO resources of the N SSBs in the second wireless frame. It can be understood that the subframe number of the subframe occupied by the RO resources of any one or more of the M SSBs in the first wireless frame is the same as the subframe number of the subframe occupied by the RO resources of any one or more of the N SSBs in the second wireless frame.

[0208] Fig.14 In the figure, the subframe occupied by the RO resource of the first SSB in radio frame 0 is subframe 3, and the subframes occupied by the RO resource of the second SSB in radio frame 0 are subframe 0, subframe 1, and subframe 2. The subframe occupied by the RO resource of the first SSB in radio frame 1 is subframe 0, and the subframes occupied by the RO resource of the second SSB in radio frame 0 are subframe 1, subframe 2, and subframe 3. The subframes occupied by the RO resource of the first SSB in radio frame 2 are subframe 1 and subframe 2, and the subframes occupied by the RO resource of the second SSB in radio frame 0 are subframe 0 and subframe 3. The subframe occupied by the RO resource of the first SSB in radio frame 3 is subframe 3, and the subframes occupied by the RO resource of the second SSB in radio frame 0 are subframe 0, subframe 1, and subframe 2.

[0209] In this example, the radio frame 0 may be the first radio frame, and the radio frame 1 and the radio frame 2 may both be the second radio frame.

[0210] Alternatively, the radio frame 1 may be the first radio frame, and the radio frame 0, the radio frame 2, and the radio frame 3 may all be the second radio frame.

[0211] Alternatively, the radio frame 2 may be the first radio frame, and the radio frame 0, the radio frame 1, and the radio frame 3 may all be the second radio frame.

[0212] Alternatively, wireless frame 3 may be the first wireless frame, and wireless frame 1 and wireless frame 2 may both be the second wireless frame.

[0213] Optionally, after a mapping is completed in a certain radio frame, if there are still some subframes in the first subframe of the radio frame where RO resources are not placed, then no RO resources are placed in these subframes.

[0214] Accordingly, the location of the RO resource in the radio frame can be as follows: Fig.15 As shown. In this example, for radio frame 0, RO0 can be placed in subframe 0, RO1 can be placed in subframe 1, RO2 can be placed in subframe 2, and RO3 and RO4 can be placed in subframe 3. For radio frame 1, RO5 and RO6 can be placed in subframe 0, and RO7 can be placed in subframe 1. For radio frame 2, RO0 can be placed in subframe 0, RO1 can be placed in subframe 1, RO2 can be placed in subframe 2, and RO3 and RO4 can be placed in subframe 3. For radio frame 3, RO5 and RO6 can be placed in subframe 0, and RO7 can be placed in subframe 1. For radio frame 2, RO0 can be placed in subframe 0, and RO1 can be placed in subframe 1.

[0215] In this example, the position of the RO resource of each SSB is the same in each mapping cycle.

[0216] In some other possible implementations, the first SSB includes M SSBs, the second SSB includes N SSBs, M and N are positive integers, the RO resources of the M SSBs are mapped to the second subframe in the wireless frame based on a second mapping rule, the second mapping rule includes mapping in ascending order of the indices of the M SSBs, and the RO resources of the N SSBs are mapped to the third subframe in the wireless frame based on a third mapping rule, and the third mapping rule includes mapping in ascending order of the indices of the N SSBs.

[0217] In this implementation, the method of mapping the RO resources of the first SSB and the second SSB into the wireless frame may include: first determining the indexes of M+N SSBs, and determining the configuration content and random access preamble format of each RO resource, mapping the indexes in the M+N SSBs to the corresponding RO resources one by one in ascending order according to the configuration content of each RO resource and the indexes of the M+N SSBs, and then determining the position of the RO resources of the first SSB in the wireless frame based on the random access preamble format of the RO resources of the first SSB and the second mapping rule, and determining the position of the RO resources of the second SSB in the wireless frame based on the random access preamble format of the RO resources of the second SSB and the third mapping rule.

[0218] Assume that the network device can send eight SSBs: SSB0 to SSB7, among which SSB3, SSB4, SSB5 and SSB6 have strong signal coverage performance, and SSB3, SSB4, SSB5 and SSB6 are the first SSBs. SSB0, SSB1, SSB2 and SSB7 have weak signal coverage performance, and SSB0, SSB1, SSB2 and SSB7 are the second SSBs.

[0219] Assuming that one SSB can correspond to one RO resource, the RO resource corresponding to SSB0 is RO0, the RO resource corresponding to SSB1 is RO1, and so on, the RO resource corresponding to SSB7 is RO7.

[0220] Assume that there are four radio frames: radio frame 0, radio frame 1, radio frame 2, and radio frame 3, each of which has its own corresponding radio frame number. Each of which may include ten subframes: subframe 0 to subframe 9, each of which has its own corresponding subframe number, and each subframe may include one time slot.

[0221] Assume that the subframe number of the second subframe in the wireless frame is {4}, which means that only subframe 4 can place the RO resource of the first SSB. Assume that the subframe number of the third subframe in the wireless frame is {0,1,2,3}, which means that only subframe 0, subframe 1, subframe 2 and subframe 3 can place the RO resource of the second SSB.

[0222] Assuming that the format of the random access preamble code of the RO resource of the first SSB is C2 format, and the format of the random access preamble code of the RO resource of the second SSB is B4 format, the time slot length occupied by any RO resource of the first SSB can be 1 / 2 time slot, and the time slot length occupied by any RO resource of the second SSB can be 1 time slot.

[0223] Accordingly, the location of the RO resource in the radio frame can be as follows: Fig.16 In this example, for any wireless frame, each of subframe 0, subframe 1, subframe 2 and subframe 3 can place an RO resource of the second SSB, and subframe 4 can place two RO resources of the first SSB.

[0224] In this method, the subframe number of the subframe occupied by the RO resources of the M SSBs in the wireless frame is different from the subframe number of the subframe occupied by the RO resources of the N SSBs in the wireless frame.

[0225] The subframe number of the subframe occupied by the RO resources of the M SSBs in the wireless frame is different from the subframe number of the subframe occupied by the RO resources of the N SSBs in the wireless frame, which can be understood as: the subframe number of the subframe occupied by the RO resources of any one of the M SSBs in any wireless frame is different from the subframe number of the subframe occupied by the RO resources of any one of the N SSBs in any wireless frame.

[0226] In the ground mobile scenario, the geographical area covered by the SSB signal of the same SSB index is constantly changing. Assuming that the SSBs sent by the network device include SSB1 and SSB2, and the signal coverage area of ​​SSB1 at a certain moment is the sub-satellite point area, then the signal coverage area of ​​SSB1 is always the sub-satellite point area, and the signal coverage area of ​​SSB2 at a certain moment is the edge point area, then the signal coverage area of ​​SSB2 is always the edge point area. In this case, the random access preamble format of the RO resource of SSB1 remains unchanged, and the random access preamble format of the RO resource of SSB2 remains unchanged.

[0227] In the ground fixed scenario, the geographical area covered by the SSB signal of the same SSB index is fixed. Assume that the SSBs sent by the network device include SSB1 and SSB2, and the signal coverage area of ​​SSB1 at a certain moment is the sub-satellite point area, and the signal coverage area of ​​SSB1 at other moments can be updated to the edge point area, and the signal coverage area of ​​SSB2 at a certain moment is the edge point area, and the signal coverage area of ​​SSB2 at other moments can be updated to the sub-satellite point area. In this case, the random access preamble format of the RO resource of SSB1 needs to be updated based on the signal coverage area of ​​SSB1, and the random access preamble format of the RO resource of SSB2 also needs to be updated based on the signal coverage area of ​​SSB2. In other words, the configuration information corresponding to SSB1 needs to be updated based on the signal coverage area of ​​SSB1, and the configuration information corresponding to SSB2 also needs to be updated based on the signal coverage area of ​​SSB2.

[0228] In one possible implementation, when the random access preamble format of the RO resource of any SSB is updated, the network device requires each terminal device to send updated configuration information.

[0229] This implementation can be applied to Fig.14 Or in the mapping method shown in 15.

[0230] In another possible implementation, when the random access preamble format of the RO resource of SSB1 is updated, the network device needs to send the updated configuration information to the terminal devices within the signal coverage area of ​​SSB1. When the random access preamble format of the RO resource of SSB2 is updated, the network device needs to send the updated configuration information to the terminal devices within the signal coverage area of ​​SSB2.

[0231] This implementation can be applied to Fig.16 In the mapping method shown.

[0232] Next, the present application will introduce the random access method by taking the first terminal device and the second terminal device as examples respectively.

[0233] Fig.17 A schematic diagram of a random access method flow chart provided in one embodiment of the present application. Fig.17 As shown, the random access method may include S1701 to S1704.

[0234] S1701, the network device sends a first SSB to a first coverage area. Correspondingly, a first terminal device receives the first SSB, and the first terminal device is a terminal device located in the first coverage area.

[0235] In the NTN network, the network device may be a satellite, and the first coverage area may be a sub-satellite area.

[0236] S1702, the network device sends first information to the first terminal device, the first information is used to indicate the random access preamble format of the random access opportunity RO resource of each SSB in multiple synchronization signal blocks SSB, the multiple SSBs include a first SSB and a second SSB, the first SSB and the second SSB have different signal coverage performances, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the first SSB is different from the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the second SSB. Accordingly, the first terminal device receives the first information.

[0237] In this method, the first information includes first configuration information and second configuration information. The first configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the first SSB is the first random access preamble code format, and the second configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the second SSB is the second random access preamble code format.

[0238] The signal coverage performance of the first SSB is stronger than the signal coverage performance of the second SSB, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code of the first random access preamble code format is less than the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code of the second random access preamble code format.

[0239] In the method, the first information may be carried in a system message. As an example, the network device may send a system message, such as system information block (SIB) 1 and SIB19, to the first terminal device.

[0240] S1703, the first terminal device determines that the random access preamble code format to be sent is the first random access preamble code format based on the first SSB and the first information.

[0241] When the first coverage area is a sub-satellite area, the signal coverage performance of the first coverage area is strong, that is, the signal coverage performance of the first SSB is strong. At this time, the first random access preamble code format can be a C2 format.

[0242] S1704, the first terminal device sends a random access preamble format of a first random access preamble format to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the random access preamble format of the first random access preamble format.

[0243] When the network device is a satellite, the first SSB can be used to indicate the time-frequency position of SIB1, and the time-frequency position is used to determine the cell information.

[0244] In addition, SIB1 may also be configured with a search space of SIB19, and the search space of SIB19 is used to determine the ephemeris information of the satellite.

[0245] The first terminal device may obtain the cell information and the ephemeris information of the satellite based on the first SSB. Optionally, after obtaining the cell information and the ephemeris information of the satellite, the first terminal device may send a random access preamble format of the first random access preamble format to the network device.

[0246] Optionally, when the first terminal device sends a random access preamble format of a first random access preamble format to a network device, the random access preamble format of the first random access preamble format may be sent on the RO resources of the first SSB.

[0247] Fig.18 A schematic diagram of a random access method flow chart provided in another embodiment of the present application. Fig.18 As shown, the random access method may include S1801 to S1804.

[0248] S1801, the network device sends a second SSB to the second coverage area. Correspondingly, the second terminal device receives the second SSB, and the second terminal device is a terminal device located in the second coverage area.

[0249] In the NTN network, the network device may be a satellite, and the second coverage area may be an edge point area.

[0250] S1802, the network device sends first information to the second terminal device, the first information is used to indicate the random access preamble format of the random access opportunity RO resource of each SSB in multiple synchronization signal blocks SSB, the multiple SSBs include a first SSB and a second SSB, the first SSB and the second SSB have different signal coverage performances, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the first SSB is different from the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the second SSB. Accordingly, the first terminal device receives the first information.

[0251] In this method, the first information includes first configuration information and second configuration information. The first configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the first SSB is the first random access preamble code format, and the second configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the second SSB is the second random access preamble code format.

[0252] The signal coverage performance of the first SSB is stronger than the signal coverage performance of the second SSB, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code of the first random access preamble code format is less than the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code of the second random access preamble code format.

[0253] In the method, the first information may be carried in a system message. As an example, the network device may send a system message, such as system message blocks SIB1 and SIB19, to the second terminal device.

[0254] S1803, the second terminal device determines that the random access preamble code format to be sent is the second random access preamble code format based on the second SSB and the first information.

[0255] When the second coverage area is an edge point area, the signal coverage performance of the second coverage area is weak, that is, the signal coverage performance of the second SSB is weak. At this time, the second random access preamble format can be B4 format.

[0256] S1804, the second terminal device sends a random access preamble format of a second random access preamble format to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the random access preamble format of the second random access preamble format.

[0257] When the network device is a satellite, the second SSB can be used to indicate the time-frequency position of SIB1, and the time-frequency position is used to determine the cell information.

[0258] In addition, SIB1 may also be configured with a search space of SIB19, and the search space of SIB19 is used to determine the ephemeris information of the satellite.

[0259] The second terminal device may obtain the cell information and the satellite ephemeris information based on the second SSB. Optionally, after obtaining the cell information and the satellite ephemeris information, the second terminal device may send a random access preamble format of a second random access preamble format to the network device.

[0260] In this method, when the second terminal device sends a random access preamble format of a second random access preamble format to the network device, the random access preamble format of the second random access preamble format can be sent on the RO resources of the second SSB.

[0261] The method for determining the RO resources of the second SSB can refer to the existing technology and will not be repeated here.

[0262] It can be understood that in the aforementioned embodiment, the network device can send the first configuration information and the second configuration information to each terminal device. Since the SSBs received by the terminal devices in different areas are different, each terminal device can determine the random access preamble format corresponding to the SSB from the first configuration information and the second configuration information based on the received SSB after receiving the SSB, and then determine the random access preamble format corresponding to the SSB as the format of the random access preamble to be sent.

[0263] Optionally, in some other embodiments, the network device may further send the first configuration information and the second configuration information to the first terminal device and the second terminal device respectively based on the coverage areas where the first terminal device and the second terminal device are located. In this way, the first terminal device and the second terminal device may directly determine the format of the random access preamble code to be sent based on the first configuration information and the second configuration information respectively.

[0264] In the embodiment of the present application, when the network device is a satellite, the coverage area of ​​the network device including the sub-satellite area and the edge area is only a simple example and does not limit the scope of the present application.

[0265] Optionally, in some embodiments, the coverage area of ​​the network device may include multiple areas, and the coverage performance of the multiple areas is different. The network device may configure different numbers of repetitions of the random access preamble format for the terminal devices located in the multiple areas. The specific configuration method can refer to the above embodiment and will not be repeated here.

[0266] For example, the coverage area of ​​the network device may also include the middle area. Accordingly, the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format configured by the network device to the terminal device located in the middle area is greater than the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format configured to the terminal device located in the sub-satellite area, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format configured by the network device to the terminal device located in the middle area is less than the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format configured to the terminal device located in the edge area.

[0267] In the embodiments of the present application, the random access configuration indexes corresponding to the B4 format and the C2 format are only examples, and the actual values ​​may be different from the examples of the present application, and the present application does not limit this.

[0268] In the embodiments of the present application, the indexes of the first SSB and the second SSB are only examples. The actual values ​​may be different from the examples of the present application, and the present application does not limit this.

[0269] Fig.19 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. Fig.19 As shown, the communication device 1900 may include a sending module 1901 and a receiving module 1902. Optionally, the communication device 1900 may be applied to a network device.

[0270] As an example, the communication device 1900 may be used to implement Fig. 9 The communication method of the embodiment shown in the figure, wherein the sending module 1901 can be used to execute S901.

[0271] As another example, the communication device 1900 can be used to implement Fig.17 The communication method of the embodiment shown in the figure, wherein the sending module 1901 can be used to execute S1701 and S1702, and the receiving module 1902 can be used to execute S1704.

[0272] As another example, the communication device 1900 can be used to implement Fig.18 The communication method of the embodiment shown in the figure, wherein the sending module 1901 can be used to execute S1801 and S1802, and the receiving module 1902 can be used to execute S1804.

[0273] Fig. 20 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. Fig. 20 As shown, the communication device 2000 may include a receiving module 2001, a determining module 2002 and a sending module 2003. Optionally, the communication device 2000 may be applied in a terminal device.

[0274] As an example, the communication device 2000 can be used to implement Fig. 9 The communication method of the embodiment shown in the figure, wherein the receiving module 2001 can be used to execute S901, and the determining module 2002 can be used to execute S902.

[0275] As another example, the communication device 2000 can be used to implement Fig.17The communication method of the embodiment shown in the figure: wherein the receiving module 2001 can be used to execute S1701 and S1702, the determining module 2002 can be used to execute S1703, and the sending module 2003 can be used to execute S1704.

[0276] As another example, the communication device 2000 can be used to implement Fig.18 The communication method of the embodiment shown in the figure, wherein the receiving module 2001 can be used to execute S1801 and S1802, the determining module 2002 can be used to execute S1803, and the sending module 2003 can be used to execute S1804.

[0277] Fig.21 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided by another embodiment of the present application. Fig.21 As shown, the communication device 2100 includes a processor 2101 and an interface circuit 2102. The processor 2101 and the interface circuit 2102 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 2102 can be a transceiver or an input-output interface. Optionally, the communication device 2100 may also include a memory 2103 for storing instructions executed by the processor 2101 or storing input data required by the processor 2101 to execute instructions or storing data generated after the processor 2101 executes instructions.

[0278] As an example, the interface circuit 2102 may be used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned sending module 1901 and receiving module 1902 .

[0279] As another example, the processor 2101 may be used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned determination module 2002 , and the interface circuit 2102 may be used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned receiving module 2001 and sending module 2003 .

[0280] The communication device 2100 may be a communication device or a chip used in a communication device.

[0281] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by hardware, or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an erasable programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and can write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a network device or a terminal device. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also be present in a network device or a terminal device as discrete components.

[0282] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is executed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device or other programmable device. The computer program or instruction may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer program or instruction may be transmitted from one website site, computer, server or data center to another website site, computer, server or data center by wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape; it may also be an optical medium, for example, a digital video disc; it may also be a semiconductor medium, for example, a solid-state hard disk.

[0283] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or provided for in any logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between the different embodiments are consistent and may be referenced to each other, and the technical features in the different embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0284] It is understood that the various numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the sequence number of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is applied in a network device, and the method comprises: The first information is sent, where the first information is used to indicate the random access preamble code format of the random access opportunity RO resources of each SSB in multiple synchronization signal blocks SSB, where the multiple SSBs include a first SSB and a second SSB, where the signal coverage performance of the first SSB and the second SSB are different, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the first SSB is different from the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code format of the RO resources of the second SSB.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first information includes first configuration information and second configuration information, the first configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the first SSB is the first random access preamble format, and the second configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the second SSB is the second random access preamble format; The signal coverage performance of the first SSB is stronger than the signal coverage performance of the second SSB, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code of the first random access preamble code format is less than the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code of the second random access preamble code format.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The first configuration information includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the first random access preamble code format and / or an identifier of the first random access preamble code format, and an index of the first SSB.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The second configuration information includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the second random access preamble code format and / or an identifier of the second random access preamble code format, and an index of the second SSB.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first configuration information further includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the second random access preamble format and / or an identifier of the second random access preamble format, and the second configuration information includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the second random access preamble format and / or an identifier of the second random access preamble format and an index of the second SSB; The second random access preamble format is a universal random access preamble format.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the first SSB is smaller than the time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the second SSB.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The first SSB includes M SSBs, and the second SSB includes N SSBs, where M and N are positive integers, and the RO resources of the M SSBs and the RO resources of the N SSBs are mapped to the first subframe in the wireless frame based on a first mapping rule, and the first mapping rule includes mapping in order from small to large according to the indexes of the M+N SSBs in the first SSB and the second SSB.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The first SSB includes M SSBs, the second SSB includes N SSBs, M and N are positive integers, the RO resources of the M SSBs are mapped to the second subframe in the wireless frame based on a second mapping rule, the second mapping rule includes mapping in ascending order according to the indexes of the M SSBs, and the RO resources of the N SSBs are mapped to the third subframe in the wireless frame based on a third mapping rule, and the third mapping rule includes mapping in ascending order according to the indexes of the N SSBs.

9. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is applied in a terminal device, and the method includes: Receive first information, where the first information is used to indicate a random access preamble format of a random access opportunity RO resource of each SSB in a plurality of synchronization signal blocks SSBs, where the plurality of SSBs include a first SSB and a second SSB, where the first SSB and the second SSB have different signal coverage performances, and where the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the first SSB is different from the number of repetitions of the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the second SSB; The format of the random access preamble code to be sent is determined based on the first information.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The first information includes first configuration information and second configuration information, the first configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the first SSB is the first random access preamble format, and the second configuration information is used to indicate that the random access preamble format of the RO resource of the second SSB is the second random access preamble format; The signal coverage performance of the first SSB is stronger than the signal coverage performance of the second SSB, and the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code of the first random access preamble code format is less than the number of repetitions of the random access preamble code of the second random access preamble code format.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The first configuration information includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the first random access preamble code format and / or an identifier of the first random access preamble code format, and an index of the first SSB.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The second configuration information includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the second random access preamble code format and / or an identifier of the second random access preamble code format, and an index of the second SSB.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The first configuration information further includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the second random access preamble format and / or an identifier of the second random access preamble format, and the second configuration information includes a random access configuration index corresponding to the second random access preamble format and / or an identifier of the second random access preamble format and an index of the second SSB; The second random access preamble format is a universal random access preamble format.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that The time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the first SSB is smaller than the time slot length occupied by the RO resources of the second SSB.

15. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that The first SSB includes M SSBs, and the second SSB includes N SSBs, where M and N are positive integers, and the RO resources of the M SSBs and the RO resources of the N SSBs are mapped to the first subframe in the wireless frame based on a first mapping rule, and the first mapping rule includes mapping in order from small to large according to the indexes of the M+N SSBs in the first SSB and the second SSB.

16. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that The first SSB includes M SSBs, the second SSB includes N SSBs, M and N are positive integers, the RO resources of the M SSBs are mapped to the second subframe in the wireless frame based on a second mapping rule, the second mapping rule includes mapping in ascending order according to the indexes of the M SSBs, and the RO resources of the N SSBs are mapped to the third subframe in the wireless frame based on a third mapping rule, and the third mapping rule includes mapping in ascending order according to the indexes of the N SSBs.

17. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a functional module for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or any one of claims 9 to 16.

18. A communication device, characterized in that: include: Memory and processor; The memory is used to store program instructions; The processor is configured to execute program instructions in the memory to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or any one of claims 9 to 16.

19. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a program code for computer execution, wherein the program code includes instructions for implementing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 or any one of claims 9 to 16.

20. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises instructions for implementing the method of any one of claims 1 to 8 or any one of claims 9 to 16.

Images