Communication method and device and storage medium

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method and device and a storage medium. The method comprises the following steps: selecting a first RO group to send a random access request in a target time period determined according to a first time period; wherein the first time period is a time period corresponding to a first set, the first set comprises one or more first RO groups, ROs in the first RO groups are mapped to the first SSB, and the target time period comprises K (K is a positive integer) association mode periods. According to the method provided by the invention, the time period corresponding to the RO group can be effectively determined, so that the position of the RO group is further determined, and the requirement that the terminal equipment performs multi-PRACH transmission to enhance uplink coverage is met.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Multiple physical random access channel (PRACH) transmissions are introduced in the new radio (NR) to enhance uplink coverage. Specifically, when the terminal device supports multiple PRACH transmissions, the terminal device can transmit PRACH multiple times in one random access attempt. In other words, when the terminal device supports multiple PRACH transmissions, the terminal device can send random access requests multiple times in one random access attempt. For terminal devices that do not support multiple PRACH transmissions, the terminal device supports single PRACH transmission. In this case, the terminal device can only transmit PRACH once in one random access attempt, that is, when the terminal device only supports single PRACH transmission, the terminal device can only send a random access request once in one random access attempt.

[0003] For multiple PRACH transmissions, the terminal device sends a random access request based on a random access occasion (PRACH occasion, RO) group (RO group, i.e., RO group). The RO group contains one or more ROs. In one random access attempt, the terminal device sends multiple random access requests based on one RO group. Specifically, the terminal device can select an RO group for multiple PRACH transmissions in a time period X (TimePeriod X, hereinafter referred to as the time period).

[0004] However, there is currently no solution for determining the length of the time period, and a method for determining the length of the time period is urgently needed to further determine the location of the RO group to meet the needs of the terminal device to perform multiple PRACH transmissions to enhance uplink coverage. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present application provides a communication method, apparatus and storage medium, which are helpful to effectively determine the time period corresponding to the RO group, so as to further determine the location of the RO group, and meet the needs of the terminal device to perform multiple PRACH transmissions and multiple random access repetitions to enhance uplink coverage.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, including: selecting a first RO group to send a random access request within a target time period, where the target time period is determined according to a first time period, the first time period is the time period corresponding to a first set, and the first set includes one or more first RO groups; wherein, the ROs in the first RO group are mapped to a first SSB, and the target time period includes K associated pattern periods, and K is a positive integer.

[0007] In one possible implementation, the target time period is the first time period.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the target time period is the maximum value of the time periods corresponding to M sets, and the ROs in the RO group in the m-th set among the M sets are mapped to the m-th SSB among the M SSBs, where 0 < m < M + 1, m is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the target time period is the least common multiple of the time periods corresponding to M sets, and the ROs in the RO group in the m-th set among the M sets are mapped to the m-th SSB among the M SSBs, where 0 < m < M + 1, m is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer.

[0010] In one possible implementation, Q is determined according to the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs within an associated pattern period, Q is the number of associated pattern periods within a second time period, the second time period is the time period corresponding to a second set, there is at least one second RO group in the second set, the ROs in the second RO group are mapped to a second SSB, the second SSB is any one of the M SSBs, M is a positive integer, and Q is a positive integer.

[0011] In one possible implementation, Q is determined according to the ratio of the number of target ROs within the second time period to the number of target ROs within an associated pattern period, Q is the number of associated pattern periods within the second time period, there are no target ROs not assigned to the second RO group within the second time period, the second time period is the time period corresponding to a second set, the second set includes one or more second RO groups, the ROs in the second RO group are mapped to a second SSB, the second SSB is any one of the M SSBs, M is a positive integer, and Q is a positive integer.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the number of target ROs within the second time period is determined according to the least common multiple of the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs within an associated pattern period.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the target RO is the RO mapped to the second SSB, and the time domain positions of different target ROs are different, and the preamble sets corresponding to the second SSBs mapped by different target ROs are the same.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the target RO is a dedicated RO, and the dedicated RO supports multi-physical random access channel (PRACH) transmission and does not support single PRACH transmission.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a first indication, where the first indication is used to indicate determining Q in a first manner, or the first indication is used to indicate determining Q in a second manner; where the first manner is that Q is determined according to the ratio of the number of target ROs in the second time period to the number of target ROs in the associated pattern period; the second manner is that Q is determined according to the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs in the associated pattern period.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a second indication, where the second indication is used to indicate transmitting the random access request using a dedicated RO, or the second indication is used to indicate transmitting the random access request using a shared RO.

[0017] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, including: receiving a random access request within at least one time period, where the at least one time period includes a target time period, the target time period is determined according to a first time period, the first time period is the time period corresponding to a first set, and the first set includes one or more first RO groups; where the ROs in the first RO group are mapped to the first SSB, and the target time period includes K associated pattern periods, and K is a positive integer.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the target time period is the first time period.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the target time period is the maximum value of the time periods corresponding to M sets, and the ROs in the RO group in the m-th set among the M sets are mapped to the m-th SSB among the M SSBs, where 0 < m < M + 1, m is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the target time period is the least common multiple of the time periods corresponding to M sets, and the ROs in the RO group in the m-th set among the M sets are mapped to the m-th SSB among the M SSBs, where 0 < m < M + 1, m is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer.

[0021] In one possible implementation, Q is determined based on the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs in the association mode period, Q is the number of association mode periods in the second time period, the second time period is the time period corresponding to the second set, there is at least one second RO group in the second set, the ROs in the second RO group are mapped to the second SSB, the second SSB is any one of M SSBs, M is a positive integer, and Q is a positive integer.

[0022] In one possible implementation, Q is determined based on the ratio of the number of target ROs in the second time period to the number of target ROs in the association mode period, Q is the number of association mode periods in the second time period, there is no target RO that is not divided into the second RO group in the second time period, the second time period is the time period corresponding to the second set, the second set includes one or more second RO groups, the ROs in the second RO group are mapped to the second SSB, the second SSB is any one of M SSBs, M is a positive integer, and Q is a positive integer.

[0023] In one possible implementation manner, the number of target ROs in the second time period is determined according to the least common multiple of the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs in the association mode period.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the target RO is an RO mapped to the second SSB, and different target ROs have different time domain positions, and the preamble code sets corresponding to the second SSBs mapped to different target ROs are the same.

[0025] In one possible implementation manner, the target RO is a dedicated RO, which supports multiple physical random access channel PRACH transmissions and does not support single PRACH transmissions.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the method also includes: sending a first indication, the first indication is used to indicate that Q is determined by a first method, or the first indication is used to indicate that Q is determined by a second method; wherein the first method is that Q is determined based on the ratio of the number of target ROs in the second time period to the number of target ROs in the association mode period; the second method is that Q is determined based on the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs in the association mode period.

[0027] In one possible implementation manner, the method further includes: sending a second indication, where the second indication is used to indicate that a dedicated RO is used to transmit a random access request, or the second indication is used to indicate that a shared RO is used to transmit a random access request.

[0028] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising: a processor and a memory, the memory being used to store programs; the processor being used to run the programs and execute the communication method as described in the first aspect.

[0029] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising: a processor and a memory, the memory being used to store programs; the processor being used to run the programs and execute the communication method as described in the second aspect.

[0030] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a program. When the program is run on a terminal device, the terminal device implements the communication method as described in the first aspect, or, when the program is run on a network device, the network device implements the communication method as described in the second aspect.

[0031] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, which includes a program, and when the program is run on a processor of a terminal device, the terminal device executes the communication method as described in the first aspect, or, when the program is run on a processor of a network device, the network device executes the communication method as described in the second aspect.

[0032] In one possible design, the program in the sixth aspect may be stored in whole or in part on a storage medium packaged together with the processor, or may be stored in whole or in part on a memory not packaged together with the processor.

[0033] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising: one or more functional modules, wherein the one or more functional modules are used to execute any one of the communication methods provided in the first aspect.

[0034] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising: one or more functional modules, wherein the one or more functional modules are used to execute any one of the communication methods provided in the second aspect.

[0035] In a ninth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising: a communication device for executing any one of the methods provided in the first aspect and a communication device for executing any one of the methods provided in the second aspect.

[0036] Among them, the communication device in the third aspect and the seventh aspect may be a chip or a terminal device, and the communication device in the fourth aspect and the eighth aspect may be a chip or a network device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1A A schematic diagram of a flow chart of a non-contention-based random access process provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 1B A flowchart of a contention-based random access process provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 2 RO schematic diagram provided for the embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 3a-3d A schematic diagram of an association cycle provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of an association mode cycle provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 6 A flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a target RO provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of RO and SSB mapping provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 9-12 They are schematic diagrams of RO groups in the second time period provided in the embodiments of the present application;

[0047] Fig.13 A schematic diagram of an RO group in a target time period provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Fig.14 A schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0049] Fig.15 A schematic diagram of the structure of another embodiment of the communication device provided by the present application;

[0050] Fig.16 A schematic structural diagram of yet another embodiment of the communication device provided in the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] In the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, the character " / " indicates that the objects before and after the association are in an or relationship. For example, A / B can represent A or B. "And / or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone.

[0052] It should be pointed out that the words "first", "second", etc. involved in the embodiments of the present application are only used to distinguish the description and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated, nor can they be understood as indicating or implying an order.

[0053] In the embodiments of the present application, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "plurality" refers to two or more. In addition, "at least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, which may include any combination of single items 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, B and C. Among them, each of A, B, and C can be an element itself, or a set containing one or more elements.

[0054] In the embodiments of the present application, "exemplary", "in some embodiments", "in another embodiment", etc. are used to indicate examples, illustrations or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" in the present application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of the word "exemplary" is intended to present concepts in a concrete way.

[0055] In the embodiments of the present application, "of", "corresponding", and "corresponding" can sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that when the distinction between them is not emphasized, the meanings to be expressed are consistent. In the embodiments of the present application, communication and transmission can sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that when the distinction between them is not emphasized, the meanings to be expressed are consistent. For example, transmission can include sending and / or receiving, which can be a noun or a verb.

[0056] The equal to involved in the embodiments of the present application can be used in conjunction with greater than, and is applicable to the technical solution adopted when greater than, and can also be used in conjunction with less than, and is applicable to the technical solution adopted when less than. It should be noted that when equal to is used in conjunction with greater than, it cannot be used in conjunction with less than; when equal to is used in conjunction with less than, it cannot be used in conjunction with greater than.

[0057] The following is an explanation of some of the terms involved in the embodiments of the present application to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0058] 1. Terminal equipment.

[0059] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver functions, which can be referred to as a terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), access terminal equipment, vehicle-mounted terminal equipment, industrial control terminal equipment, UE unit, UE station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal equipment, mobile equipment, UE terminal equipment, wireless communication equipment, UE agent or UE device, etc. The terminal device can be fixed or mobile. It should be noted that the terminal device can support at least one wireless communication technology, such as long term evolution (LTE), new radio (NR), etc. For example, the terminal device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer (pad), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, an all-in-one computer, a vehicle-mounted terminal, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a wearable device, a terminal device in a future mobile communication network, or a terminal device in a future evolved public mobile land network (PLMN), etc. In some embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may also be a device with transceiver functions, such as a chip system, wherein the chip system may include a chip and may also include other discrete devices.

[0060] 2. Network equipment.

[0061] In the embodiment of the present application, the network device is a device that provides wireless communication functions for the terminal device, and can also be referred to as an access network device, a radio access network (RAN) device, etc. Among them, the network device can support at least one wireless communication technology, such as LTE, NR, etc. For example, the network device includes but is not limited to: a next-generation base station (generation nodeB, gNB) in the fifth-generation mobile communication system (5th-generation, 5G), an evolved node B (evolved node B, eNB), a radio network controller (radio network controller, RNC), a node B (nodeB, NB), a base station controller (base station controller, BSC), a base transceiver station (base transceiverstation, BTS), a home base station (for example, home evolved node B, or home node B, HNB), a baseband unit (baseband unit, BBU), a transmitting and receiving point (transmitting and receiving point, TRP), a transmitting point (transmitting point, TP), a mobile switching center, etc. The network device may also be a wireless controller, a centralized unit (CU) and / or a distributed unit (DU) in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, or the network device may be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a terminal device, a wearable device, a network device in future mobile communications, or a network device in a future evolving PLMN, etc. In some embodiments, the network device may also be a device having a wireless communication function for a terminal device, such as a chip system. For example, the chip system may include a chip and may also include other discrete devices.

[0062] 3. Random access

[0063] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can achieve uplink synchronization with the network device through a random access process. From the perspective of media access control (MAC) layer conflict resolution, the random access process can be divided into a contention-based random access process and a non-contention-based random access process. Among them, the contention-based random access process can also be called a conflict-based random access process. The non-contention-based random access process can also be called a non-contention-based random access process.

[0064] like Figure 1AAs shown, it is a method flow chart of a non-contention-based random access process, which specifically includes the following steps.

[0065] Step 111: The terminal device sends a random access request, and correspondingly, the network device receives the random access request. Specifically, the random access request includes a preamble code allocated by the network device to the terminal device.

[0066] Step 112: The network device receives the random access request and sends a random access response (RAR). Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the RAR, thereby achieving uplink synchronization.

[0067] Specifically, after receiving the random access request, the network device estimates the transmission delay between the network device and the terminal device based on the preamble code. Then, the network device calibrates the uplink timing based on the estimated transmission delay, and then indicates it to the terminal device through a random access response. For example, the network device can send the RAR on the payload of the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). Furthermore, the RAR can be obtained by scrambling the random access radio network temporary identifier (RA-RNTI). In some embodiments, the value of the RA-RNTI is determined by the position of the time-frequency resources carrying the preamble code.

[0068] For the terminal device, after sending a random access request, the terminal device can monitor the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) within the RAR time window (RAR window) according to the RA-RNTI to obtain downlink control information (DCI). Then, the terminal device uses the RA-RNTI to parse the PDSCH payload according to the DCI to receive the RAR corresponding to the RA-RNTI encrypted. If the RAR is received within the RARwindow, the random access is considered successful and uplink time synchronization is achieved.

[0069] If no RAR is received within the RAR window, it is considered that random access has failed and uplink time synchronization has not been achieved.

[0070] In addition, the contention-based random access procedure can be divided into a four-step random access procedure and a two-step random access procedure based on the steps.

[0071] like Figure 1BFIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for a four-step random access process, which specifically includes the following steps:

[0072] 121. The terminal device sends a random access request, and correspondingly, the network device receives the random access request. The random access request may also be referred to as message 1 (message 1, Msg1). Msg1 includes a preamble.

[0073] 122. The network device receives the random access request and sends a RAR. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the RAR. The RAR can also be called message 2 (message 2, Msg2).

[0074] For example, Msg2 may include the time adjustment amount required for specifying uplink synchronization, the uplink resources required for the terminal device to send message 3 (message3, Msg3), a temporary cell-radionetwork temporary identifier (TC-RNTI), etc.

[0075] For details about steps 121 and 122, see Figure 1A The relevant description in will not be repeated here.

[0076] 123. The terminal device receives the random access response and sends Msg3. Correspondingly, the network device receives Msg3.

[0077] For example, the terminal device sends Msg3 on the physical uplink share channel (PUSCH). For example, Msg3 may contain a unique identifier of the terminal device. The identifier can be used for conflict resolution of Msg4. For example, for a terminal device in a connected state, the unique identifier of the terminal device is a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI). For another example, for a terminal device in a non-connected state, the unique identifier of the terminal device is a unique terminal device identifier from the core network.

[0078] 124. The network device receives Msg3 and sends message 4 (message4, Msg4). Correspondingly, the terminal device receives Msg4.

[0079] Specifically, in the conflict resolution mechanism, the network device carries the flag used to uniquely identify the terminal device in Msg4 to indicate the winning terminal device. For the terminal device that did not win the conflict resolution, random access will be re-initiated. If the PDSCH received by the terminal device in Msg4 is scrambled by the TC-RNTI specified in Msg2, for the terminal device in the non-connected state, the TC-RNTI will be converted to C-RNTI after the random access is successful.

[0080] It should be noted that the first two steps Msg1 and Msg2 in the four-step random access process mainly complete the uplink time synchronization, while the main purpose of Msg3 and Msg4 is to specify a unique and legal identity for the terminal device for subsequent data transmission.

[0081] 4. Random Access preamble (RA preamble)

[0082] The random access preamble in the embodiment of the present application refers to a sequence sent by the terminal device to apply for network access, including but not limited to a gold sequence, an m sequence, a ZC (Zadoff-Chu) sequence, etc. In addition to the above sequences, the composition of the preamble may also include a cyclic prefix and a guard interval, etc. The random access preamble may be referred to as a preamble.

[0083] For example, each cell may have multiple (for example, 64 or other numbers) available RA preambles, forming a random access preamble sequence, and each random access preamble has a unique index (RA preamble index) in the random access preamble sequence. Among them, the terminal device selects one (or the network device specifies one) RA preamble from the random access preamble sequence to use RO (PRACH Occasion, RO) for transmission, that is, the RA preamble is carried (or transmitted) by the RO.

[0084] 5. Random Access Opportunity (RO)

[0085] RO refers to the time-frequency resources used for PRACH (Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH) transmission, or the time-frequency resources used for random access request transmission. That is, the terminal device sends the random access request based on the RO, or the terminal device sends the random access request on the RO.

[0086] RO may include time domain resources and frequency domain resources. Exemplarily, time domain resources may be indicated by a time domain resource index, and frequency domain resources may be indicated by a frequency domain resource index. For a time domain resource corresponding to a time domain resource index, the number of ROs in the frequency domain may be {1, 2, 4, 8}, which is configured by the high-level parameter "msg1-FDM", that is, msg1-FDM may be configured on a time domain resource and the number of ROs in the frequency domain. The time domain position or time domain resource of the RO is configured in the time domain by the parameter "prach-ConfigurationIndex".

[0087] For the convenience of description, the descriptions of "one time domain resource", "different time domain resources" and "one time unit" all refer to the time domain resource corresponding to a time domain resource index, and the time domain resource index is used to indicate the time domain resource of RO.

[0088] It should be noted that the configuration of the high-level parameters mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may adopt other parameter configurations in actual implementation. For example, even if prach-ConfigurationIndex is currently used to configure the time domain position or time domain resources of the RO, and msg1-FDM is used to configure the number of ROs in the frequency domain, in future protocols or related descriptions, it may be changed to other names. Therefore, the use of a certain high-level parameter configuration mentioned in the embodiments of the present application is only an example for the convenience of understanding, and should not be considered as a limitation on the specific configuration method in the present application.

[0089] All parameters configured in the network devices used in the embodiments of the present application may have their names changed, but the meanings they refer to remain unchanged.

[0090] For the time domain position or time domain resource of the RO, the network device can configure it to the terminal device through the high-level parameter prach-ConfigurationIndex. In a possible implementation, when the network device configures the high-level parameter prach-ConfigurationIndex, different configuration methods can be used for different preamble code formats. A time domain resource configuration table can be pre-set in the network device and the terminal device. When the terminal device receives the high-level parameter prach-ConfigurationIndex sent by the network device, the specific configuration method can be determined by looking up the table.

[0091] Table 1

[0092]

[0093] Optionally, there are three cases in the table of time domain resource configuration, namely, the cell frequency band is frequency range 1 (Frequency Range 1, FR1), frequency division duplex (Frequency Division Duplexing, FDD) mode / supplementary uplink (supplementary uplink, SUL); the cell frequency band is FR1, time division duplex (Time Division Duplexing, TDD) mode; the cell frequency band is frequency range 2 (Frequency Range 2, FR2), TDD mode. Among them, duplexing is a process of realizing two-way communication on a single communication channel. Due to space limitations, this application only introduces the table header here. By way of example, Table 1 shows a possible configuration method of prach-ConfigurationIndex.

[0094] Table 1 defines the random access configuration for FR1 and FDD mode / supplementary uplink. Combined with Table 1, according to the prach-ConfigurationIndex of the cell configuration, we can get:

[0095] 1) Preamble format.

[0096] 2)n f mod x = y, where n f is the radio frame where the RO is located, the value of x is used to determine the PRACH configuration period, x∈{1, 2, 4, 8, 16}, x×10 is the duration of the PRACH configuration period (in ms), that is, 10ms, 20ms, ..., 160ms. Taking the radio frame (System Frame Number, SFN) 0 as the starting point, y is used to calculate the radio frame where the RO is located. Among them, the PRACH configuration period is the period configured for PRACH transmission in the time domain resource configuration of the RO, for example, the above x×10.

[0097] For example, x = 2, that is, the PRACH configuration period is 20ms, if y = 0, that is, n f When it is an even frame, n f mod x=y=0 (ie, RO exists in even frames); if y=1, that is, n f When it is an odd frame, n f mod x=y=1 (ie, RO exists in odd frames).

[0098] For another example, x=4, that is, the PRACH configuration period is 40ms, and there are RO time domain resources in every 40ms radio frame. If y=0, when SFN=(0, 4, 8...), n fmod x=y=0 (i.e., RO exists in the wireless frame with SFN=(0, 4, 8…)); if y=1, when SFN=(1, 5, 9…), n f mod x=y=1 (ie, RO exists in the radio frame with SFN=(1, 5, 9...)).

[0099] 3) Subframe number: the subframe number where the RO's time domain resources are located.

[0100] 4) Starting symbol: the starting symbol of the time domain resource of the RO in the PRACH time slot. The PRACH time slot refers to the time slot containing the RO.

[0101] 5) Number of PRACH slots within a subframe: The number of PRACH slots in a subframe is 1 or 2.

[0102] 6) In the time domain, the number of ROs contained in a PRACH time slot.

[0103] 7) The time domain symbol length of an RO.

[0104] For example, see Figure 2 , Figure 2 ROjk is a schematic diagram of an RO provided in an embodiment of the present application, wherein the horizontal axis is the time domain resource, the vertical axis is the frequency domain resource, and ROjk refers to an RO with a time domain resource index of j (j is an integer greater than or equal to 0) and a frequency domain resource index of k (k is an integer greater than or equal to 0). For example, Figure 2 RO01 refers to the RO with a time domain resource index of 0 and a frequency domain resource index of 1; RO10 refers to the RO with a time domain resource index of 1 and a frequency domain resource index of 0.

[0105] It should be noted that the time domain resources of two ROs with adjacent time domain resource indexes may be continuous in the time domain or may be discontinuous in the time domain. Figure 2 ,exist Figure 2In the example, RO00 is a RO with a time domain resource index of 0, and its time domain resources are orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols with indexes of 0 to 1 in the 4th subframe of the system frame. RO10 is a RO with a time domain resource index of 1, and its time domain resources are OFDM symbols with indexes of 2 to 3 in the 4th subframe of the system frame. At this time, the time domain resources of RO00 and RO10 are continuous. For another example, RO20 is a RO with a time domain resource index of 2, and its time domain resources are OFDM symbols with indexes of 0 to 1 in the 3rd subframe of the system frame, and RO30 is a RO with a time domain resource index of 3, and its time domain resources are OFDM symbols with indexes of 0 to 1 in the 4th subframe of the system frame. At this time, the time domain resources of RO20 and RO30 are discontinuous.

[0106] The frequency domain resources of two ROs with adjacent frequency domain resource indexes may be continuous in the frequency domain, or may be discontinuous in the frequency domain. For example, see Figure 2 ,exist Figure 2 , RO00 is an RO with a frequency domain resource index of 0, and RO01 is an RO with a frequency domain resource index of 1. RO00 and RO01 are two ROs with adjacent frequency domain resource indexes, and the frequency domain resources of the two ROs are continuous in the frequency domain.

[0107] 6. RO group

[0108] An RO group includes one or more ROs, and the synchronization signal blocks (Synchronization Signal Block, SSB) mapped by the one or more ROs are the same, and the number of ROs in the RO group is the same as the number of PRACH repetition transmissions.

[0109] In an optional implementation manner, among the multiple ROs in the RO group, there are ROs with the same frequency domain resources and different time domain resources. Figure 2 As shown, RO00 and RO10 are two ROs with the same frequency domain resources and different time domain resources. Assuming that the SSBs mapped to RO00 and RO10 are the same, RO00 and RO10 are two ROs in one RO group.

[0110] In another optional implementation, there are ROs with different frequency domain resources and / or time domain resources among the multiple ROs in the RO group, wherein the different frequency domain resources and / or time domain resources of the multiple ROs can be understood as being partially different or completely different. Figure 2As shown, it is assumed that multiple ROs in an RO group are: RO00, RO11, RO20, RO31, wherein RO00 and RO20 are ROs with the same frequency domain resources and different time domain resources, and RO00 and RO11 are ROs with different frequency domain resources and different time domain resources.

[0111] 7. Random access request retransmission times

[0112] The number of random access request repetition transmissions in the embodiment of the present application refers to the number of times a terminal device transmits a random access request multiple times (or repeatedly) during a random access process. The number of random access request repetition transmissions may also be referred to as PRACH repetition, PRACH repetition transmissions, Msg1 repetition, or message 1 repetition transmissions.

[0113] Exemplarily, if the number of times the random access request is repeatedly transmitted is 4, it may mean that the random access request is repeatedly transmitted 4 times.

[0114] 8. Single PRACH transmission

[0115] Single PRACH transmission can also be called single PRACH transmission. Specifically, single PRACH transmission supports the terminal device to send only one random access request or PRACH in one random access attempt (one RACH attempt). Among them, one random access attempt performs one random access process. In other words, when the terminal device adopts single PRACH transmission, it sends one random access request or PRACH in one random access process. For example, taking the four-step random access process as an example, PRACH transmission can also be understood as Msg1 transmission, that is, when the terminal device adopts single PRACH transmission, it sends Msg1 once in one random access process.

[0116] 9. Multiple PRACH transmission

[0117] Multiple PRACH transmissions can also be referred to as multiple PRACH transmissions. Specifically, multiple PRACH transmissions support the terminal device to send multiple random access requests or PRACHs in one random access attempt. That is to say, when the terminal device adopts multiple PRACH transmissions, multiple random access requests or PRACHs can be sent in one random access process. In an embodiment of the present application, one random access attempt refers to one random access process. For example, taking the four-step random access process as an example, PRACH transmission can also be understood as Msg1 transmission, that is, when the terminal device adopts multiple PRACH transmissions, it supports sending multiple Msg1s in one random access process. Multiple PRACH transmissions can also be understood as repeated transmissions (repetition) of random access requests or repeated transmissions of Msg1.

[0118] For example, the terminal device adopts multiple PRACH transmissions, and the number of repetitions of PRACH is 4. In one random access attempt, the terminal device can support sending a random access request once on four random access occasions (PRACH occasions, RO) with different time domain resources.

[0119] It should be noted that the number of PRACH repetitions can also be referred to as the number of random access request repetitions, PRACH repetitions, the number of PRACH transmissions, etc. In the four-step random access process, the number of PRACH repetitions can also be referred to as Msg1 repetitions, or the number of Msg1 repetitions, etc.

[0120] 10. Dedicated RO

[0121] The dedicated RO in the embodiment of the present application refers to an RO that supports multiple PRACH transmissions but does not support single PRACH transmissions. The dedicated RO may also be referred to as dedicated RO, separate RO, additional RO, etc., which is not limited here.

[0122] For ease of description, this application uses an RO that supports multiple PRACH transmissions but does not support single PRACH transmission as a dedicated RO for example.

[0123] 11. Shared RO

[0124] The shared RO in the embodiment of the present application refers to an RO that supports multi-PRACH transmission and single PRACH transmission. The shared RO can also be called shared RO, legacy RO, legacy RO, traditional RO, etc., which is not limited here.

[0125] For ease of description, this application uses an RO that supports both multi-PRACH transmission and single PRACH transmission as a shared RO as an example for explanation.

[0126] 12. Mapping (association / correspondence) rules between SSB and RO

[0127] In NR, the cell frequency increases, and accordingly, its coverage range decreases. In order to increase the coverage range of the cell, some broadcast information is no longer sent in the form of coverage, but in the form of beam sweeping. At a certain moment, the energy is concentrated in a certain direction, so that this direction can send the signal farther, but the signal cannot be received in other directions. Send in another direction at the next moment, and finally achieve coverage of the entire cell by constantly changing the beam direction. Each beam is associated with an SSB, and the SSB is in units of half a frame of 5ms, that is, an SS burstset. All SSBs in an SS burst set must be sent periodically in the same half frame. SSB appears several times in a half frame at intervals. Each of these SSBs corresponds to a beam scanning direction, and eventually there will be an SSB in each direction.

[0128] Beams are used in the random access process, where SSB has multiple transmission opportunities within the time domain period, and has corresponding numbers, which can correspond to different beams. For the terminal device, the terminal device has the opportunity to send the preamble only when the beam scanning signal of SSB covers the terminal device. When the network receives the preamble of the terminal device, it knows the best downlink beam, that is, it knows which beam points to the terminal device. Therefore, SSB needs to be associated with the preamble, and the preamble can only be sent through RO, so SSB needs to be mapped with RO.

[0129] By establishing an association between SSB and RO, the terminal device can make a corresponding selection after receiving the SSB, and then send a random access request based on the RO associated with the selected SSB. After receiving the random access request, the network device can identify the SSB selected by the terminal device, and then use the beam corresponding to the SSB selected by the terminal device to send a random access response, which helps to improve the possibility of uplink synchronization.

[0130] In an optional implementation, the mapping rule between SSB and RO is as follows:

[0131] First, within a single RO, the order of the preamble indexes is increasing;

[0132] Second, the frequency domain resource index order of the frequency multiplexed RO is increasing;

[0133] Third, the order of the time domain resource index of the time multiplexed RO within a PRACH time slot is increasing;

[0134] Fourth, the order of PRACH time slot indexes is increasing.

[0135] That is to say, the mapping rules between SSB and RO can be followed: 1. Increase the preamble code index; 2. Increase the frequency domain resource index of RO; 3. Increase the time domain resource index of RO; 4. Increase the PRACH time slot.

[0136] Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, the existing SSB and RO mapping rules (or association rules) can be used to establish the mapping relationship between SSB and RO, and the improved SSB and RO association rules or mapping rules can be used to establish the mapping relationship between SSB and RO, which is not limited here. Optionally, the mapping relationship between SSB and RO can also be called the association relationship between SSB and RO, the corresponding relationship between SSB and RO, etc., which is not limited here.

[0137] In an optional implementation, the mapping relationship between SSB and RO may also be indicated by a high-level parameter "ssb-perRACH-OccasioM(N)". Exemplarily, the value of N may be {1 / 8, 1 / 4, 1 / 2, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16}.

[0138] If N<1, it means that 1 SSB can be mapped to 1 / N ROs. For example, if N=1 / 4, then 1 SSB is associated with 4 ROs; if N=1 / 8, then 1 SSB is associated with 8 ROs;

[0139] If N=1, it means that 1 SSB is mapped to 1 RO;

[0140] If N>1, it means that N SSBs can be mapped in one RO. It should be noted that when multiple SSBs correspond to one RO, the network device can distinguish different SSBs corresponding to the same RO through the preamble code. For example, take RO1 as an example. SSB1 and SSB2 both correspond to RO1. In this case, SSB1 and SSB2 can correspond to different preamble codes. For example, SSB1 corresponds to preamble code 11 and preamble code 12; SSB2 corresponds to preamble code 21 and preamble code 22. In this way, when the terminal device selects SSB1, it can send preamble code 11 or preamble code 12 based on RO1. Alternatively, when the terminal device selects SSB2, it can send preamble code 21 or preamble code 22 based on RO1.

[0141] In summary, one RO may be associated or corresponded to one SSB. Alternatively, multiple ROs may be associated or corresponded to one SSB. Alternatively, multiple SSBs may be associated or corresponded to one RO.

[0142] As shown in Table 2 below, a mapping table of SSB and RO is shown.

[0143] Table 2

[0144]

[0145] In Table 2, PRACH configuration period indicates the PRACH configuration period; Association period (number of PRACH configuration periods) indicates the association period, that is, the number of PRACH configuration periods required to map a round of SSBs configured by the network device. As can be seen from Table 2, the minimum association period is 1.

[0146] In one association cycle, the RO can at least completely map one round of SSB. If the remaining ROs cannot completely map one round of SSB, the remaining ROs are empty. If the remaining ROs can continue to map one round of SSB configured by the network device, they can continue to map.

[0147] The following example uses a cell with 8 SSBs, the indexes of the 8 SSBs are 0 to 7, and the parameter msg1-FDM = 4. Figure 3a to Figure 3d , the mapping relationship between SSB and RO, and the association period are illustrated with examples.

[0148] For example, see Figure 3a , Figure 3a Schematic diagram of a mapping relationship between SSB and RO provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3a The figure shows the mapping relationship between SSB and RO when N=1 / 4. One box represents one RO. Figure 3a The RO includes 8 SSBs, namely SSB0 to SSB7. Since N=1 / 4, one SSB is associated with 4 ROs. Figure 3a In the example, the number of PRACH configuration cycles required to map a round of SSBs (ie, SSB0 to SSB7) configured by the network device is 4, that is, the association period between SSB and RO is 4 PRACH configuration periods. For example, if the PRACH configuration period is 10ms, the association period is 40ms.

[0149] For another example, see Figure 3b , Figure 3bFIG. 1 is another schematic diagram of the mapping relationship between SSB and RO provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3b The figure shows the mapping relationship between SSB and RO mentioned above, that is, when N=1 / 2. One box represents one RO. Figure 3b The RO includes 8 SSBs, namely SSB0 to SSB7. Since N=1 / 2, one SSB is associated with 2 ROs. Figure 3b In the example, the number of PRACH configuration cycles required to map a round of SSBs (ie, SSB0 to SSB7) configured by the network device is 2, that is, the association period between SSB and RO is 2 PRACH configuration periods. For example, if the PRACH configuration period is 10ms, the association period is 20ms.

[0150] For another example, see Figure 3c , Figure 3c FIG. 1 is another schematic diagram of a mapping relationship between SSB and RO provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3c The figure shows the SSB-perRACH-Occasion mentioned above, that is, the mapping relationship between SSB and RO when N=1. One box represents one RO. Figure 3c The RO includes 8 SSBs, namely SSB0 to SSB7. Since N=1, one SSB is associated with one RO. Figure 3c In the example, the number of PRACH configuration cycles required to map a round of SSBs (ie, SSB0 to SSB7) configured by the network device is 1, that is, the association period between SSB and RO is 1 PRACH configuration period. For example, if the PRACH configuration period is 10ms, the association period is 10ms.

[0151] For another example, see Figure 3d , Figure 3d FIG. 1 is another schematic diagram of a mapping relationship between SSB and RO provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3d The figure shows the SSB-perRACH-Occasion mentioned above, that is, the mapping relationship between SSB and RO when N=2. One box represents one RO. Figure 3d There are 8 SSBs in the RO, namely SSB0 to SSB7. Since N = 2, 2 SSBs can be mapped in 1 RO. According to the mapping table of SSB and RO shown in Table 2, it can be seen that the minimum association period is 1. Therefore, if Figure 3d As shown, when N=2, in Figure 3, the number of PRACH configuration cycles required to map a round of SSBs (ie, SSB0 to SSB7) configured by the network device is 1, that is, the association period between SSB and RO is 1 PRACH configuration period. For example, if the PRACH configuration period is 10ms, the association period is 10ms.

[0152] In an optional implementation, the terminal device measures the SSB within the cell before performing random access. When the terminal device has the corresponding capability of a transmit (transport, Tx) or receive (receive, Rx) beam, the terminal device can apply the downlink receive beam to the uplink transmit beam.

[0153] Regardless of single PRACH transmission or multi-PRACH transmission, the terminal device sends random access based on RO.

[0154] Optionally, after triggering the random access process, the terminal device can measure the reference signal receiving power (RSRP) of the SSB sent by the network device, and determine the SSB that meets the RSRP condition. If there are multiple SSBs that meet the RSRP condition, then select one SSB from them, and determine one or more ROs associated with the SSB based on the association between the SSB and the RO, and select one preamble from the available preambles, and send the preamble on the selected RO, that is, the random access request sent on the one or more ROs contains the preamble or the ID or index of the preamble. In other words, the terminal device can determine the RO resource for transmitting the random access request based on the association between the SSB and the RO. In this way, after receiving the random access request, the network device can identify the SSB selected by the terminal device, and thereby use the beam corresponding to the SSB selected by the terminal device to send a random access response, which in turn helps to improve the possibility of uplink synchronization.

[0155] Optionally, the RSRP condition may be that the RSRP measurement value is greater than an RSRP threshold (the RSRP threshold is the RSRP threshold for determining an available SSB). The RSRP threshold may be preset (for example, specified by a protocol), or indicated by a network device (for example, the network device indicates the RSRP threshold to the terminal device via the rsrp-ThresholdSSB parameter), or determined by negotiation between the network device and the terminal device, or determined by the terminal device through other methods, which is not limited to this.

[0156] 13. Association Period of SSB and RO

[0157] The association period in the embodiment of the present application refers to the duration required to map a round of SSB configured by the network device based on the mapping rules between SSB and RO. Among them, based on the mapping rules between SSB and RO, the duration required to map a round of SSB configured by the network device is: one PRACH configuration period (PRACH configuration period), or multiple PRACH configuration periods, depending on the configuration of RO time domain resources and frequency domain resources. In other words, the duration required to map a round of SSB configured by the network device is the number of PRACH configuration periods required to map a round of SSB configured by the network device. Among them, the value of the PRACH configuration period is the value of x×10 in the aforementioned Table 1.

[0158] It can be understood that, within one association cycle, at least one round of SSB can be completely mapped. If the remaining ROs cannot completely map one round of SSB, the remaining ROs can be idle.

[0159] The PRACH configuration period may include multiple time slots, and the multiple time slots may include one or more PRACH time slots. One PRACH time slot may include one or more ROs for time division multiplexing. Through frequency division multiplexing on one time domain resource, there may be multiple RO frequency domain resources (indicated by msg1-FDM). The number of time slots included in one PRACH configuration period and the number of ROs included in one PRACH time slot may be indicated by the prach-ConfigurationIndex parameter. For example, the PRACH configuration period is 20ms. Among the time slots included in the 20ms, only some of the time slots may contain ROs. Then the time slots containing ROs are called PRACH time slots.

[0160] 14. Association Pattern Period

[0161] The association mode period includes one or more association periods, in order to ensure that the mapping between SSB and RO is repeated at most every 160ms. Between every two association mode periods, the number of ROs and the mapping relationship between SSB and RO are completely repeated; however, due to the uplink and downlink configuration, the collision between U symbols and D symbols or with dynamic scheduling resources, the mapping between SSB and RO between every two association periods may be different.

[0162] Figure 4 The schematic diagram of the association mode cycle is shown as an example. Two SSBs are configured in the cell, namely SSB1 and SSB2. The mapping rule between SSB and RO is one-to-one mapping, where a rectangular grid represents one RO. Figure 4, three association periods may constitute one association pattern period, for example, association period 1, association period 2, and association period 3 may constitute association pattern period 1. The durations of the association periods may be the same, or the durations of the association periods may be different. For example, association period 1 and association period 2 each include one PRACH configuration period (for example, PRACH configuration period 1 and PRACH configuration period 2, respectively), and association period 3 includes two PRACH configuration periods (for example, PRACH configuration period 3 and PRACH configuration period 4).

[0163] The duration, number of ROs and mapping relationship between SSB and RO are the same between different association mode cycles. For example, association mode cycle 1 contains 16 ROs, namely RO1-RO16. Among them, RO1, RO3, RO5, RO12 and RO14 are mapped to SSB0, and RO2, RO4, RO7, RO13 and RO15 are mapped to SSB1. RO6, RO9, RO10 and RO11 are judged as invalid ROs (ROs filled with a grid pattern) because they do not meet the definition of a valid RO. RO8 and RO16 are ROs that are not mapped with SSB (ROs filled with a diagonal grid) because in association cycle 2, the remaining RO (i.e. RO8) cannot completely map a round of SSB, and in association cycle 3, the remaining RO (i.e. RO16) cannot completely map a round of SSB. Similarly, association mode cycle 2 also contains 16 ROs, and these 16 ROs are completely repeated with the 16 ROs contained in association mode cycle 1.

[0164] It should be noted that, for the valid RO, the relevant description can be referred to the 3GPP standard, and it can be understood that, for the FDD (Frequency Division Duplexing) mode or paired spectrum, all ROs are valid.

[0165] For TDD (Time Division Duplexing) mode or unpaired spectrum, if the network side does not configure high-level parameters (such as tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon), and the time domain resource position of the RO is after the symbol position where the SSB is located, and is at least Ngap symbols away from the symbol position where the last SSB received by the terminal device is located, then the RO is valid, that is, a valid RO.

[0166] If the network side configures high-level parameters (such as tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon), configures the RO in the uplink resources, and the time domain resource position of the RO is after the symbol position where the SSB is located, and is at least Ngap symbols away from the symbol position where the last SSB received by the terminal device is located, then the RO is valid, that is, a valid RO.

[0167] 15. Time cycle

[0168] The time period in the embodiment of the present application may include one or more association mode periods. In the time period, one or more RO groups may be included. The terminal device may select an RO group in the time period to repeatedly transmit a random access request.

[0169] The time period is mapped starting from the radio frame (System Frame Number, SFN) 0, and the number of RO groups and the positions of the ROs included may be repeated every two time periods.

[0170] The above is a brief introduction to some concepts involved in this application.

[0171] The embodiment of the present application proposes a communication method, which helps to effectively determine the time period corresponding to the RO group, so as to further determine the location of the RO group, and meet the needs of the terminal device to perform multiple PRACH transmissions and multiple random access repetitions to enhance uplink coverage.

[0172] Now combined Figure 5-Figure 13 The communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application is exemplified.

[0173] Figure 5 A network architecture diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5 The communication system shown includes: a terminal device and a network device. The terminal device and the network device can communicate with each other wirelessly. Of course, Figure 5 The communication system shown is only an exemplary description and does not constitute a limitation on the communication system applied in the embodiment of the present application. For example, the communication system in the embodiment of the present application may also include multiple network devices and / or multiple terminal devices.

[0174] In addition, the embodiments of the present application can be applied to terrestrial network scenarios or non-terrestrial network scenarios (such as satellite communication scenarios), etc., without limitation.

[0175] Figure 6 A flow chart of an embodiment of the communication method provided in this application specifically includes the following steps:

[0176] Step 601, the terminal device selects the first RO group within the target time period to send a random access request. That is, the terminal device repeatedly transmits the random access request N times based on the first RO group selected within the target time period, where N is the number of ROs in the first RO group selected within the target time period, and N is an integer greater than 1. In an optional manner, N is the number of repeated transmissions configured by the network device. For example, if there are 3 first RO groups within the target time period, the terminal device can select the first first RO group to send a random access request, where N is the number of ROs in the first first RO group.

[0177] Accordingly, the network device receives the random access request in at least one time period, and the at least one time period includes the target time period. Specifically, the network device may perform joint detection on multiple ROs in each RO group in at least one time period, thereby receiving the random access request.

[0178] Optionally, in a subsequent process, after receiving a random access request sent by the terminal device, the network device sends a random access response after the last RO of the first RO group (i.e., the RO group used by the terminal device to send the random access request); correspondingly, the terminal device monitors the RAR within the RAR time window.

[0179] The target time period is determined according to the time period corresponding to the first set (referred to as the first time period), and the first set includes one or more first RO groups. The ROs in the first RO group are mapped to the first SSB, and the target time period includes K association mode periods, where K is a positive integer.

[0180] Specifically, the target time period may be the first time period, or may be a time period determined based on the first time period, and this application does not impose any limitation thereto.

[0181] Among them, after triggering the random access process, the terminal device can measure the RSRP of the SSB sent by the network device and determine the SSB that meets the RSRP condition. If there are multiple SSBs that meet the RSRP condition, one SSB is selected from them. The SSB determined by this process is the first SSB. Assuming that the terminal device determines SSB1 as the first SSB, that is, when the terminal device determines to use SSB1 for random access, in step 601, the terminal device can select the first RO group (the RO in the first RO group is mapped to SSB1) within the target time period to send a random access request.

[0182] The target time period may be any one of the following cases 1 to 3:

[0183] Case 1: the target time period is the first time period.

[0184] Exemplarily, assume that the first SSB is SSB1 and the first set is Set 1, that is, the ROs in Set 1 are mapped to SSB1. If the time period corresponding to Set 1 is Time Period 1, in Case 1, the target time period is Time Period 1. At this time, the above K = the number of associated pattern periods within Time Period 1.

[0185] In Case 2, the target time period is the maximum value among the time periods corresponding to M sets.

[0186] Among them, the ROs in the RO group of the m-th set among the M sets are mapped to the m-th SSB among the M SSBs, where 0 < m < M + 1, m is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer.

[0187] Among them, M can be the number of SSBs configured in the cell, or other values, which are not limited in this application. The M SSBs include the first SSB.

[0188] Exemplarily, assume M = 3. The corresponding relationship among the M SSBs, the M sets, and the time periods corresponding to the M sets can be seen in Table 3. In Table 3, the ROs in Set 1 are mapped to SSB1, the time period corresponding to Set 1 is Time Period 1, the ROs in Set 2 are mapped to SSB2, the time period corresponding to Set 2 is Time Period 2, the ROs in Set 3 are mapped to SSB3, and the time period corresponding to Set 3 is Time Period 3.

[0189] Table 3

[0190] SSB gather The time period corresponding to the collection SSB1 (1st SSB) Set 1 (1st set) Time Cycle 1 SSB2 (2nd SSB) Set 2 (the second set) Time Cycle 2 SSB3 (3rd SSB) Set 3 (The third set) Time Cycle 3

[0191] Assume that the first SSB is SSB1, and Time Period 2 > Time Period 3 > Time Period 1. At this time, in Case 2, the target time period is Time Period 2.

[0192] Furthermore, the time periods are all integer multiples of the associated pattern period. When comparing the lengths of the time periods, it can be achieved by comparing the number of associated pattern periods included in the time periods. Or, the terminal device can determine the time period with the largest number of included associated pattern periods as the target time period. Exemplarily, assume that the number of associated pattern periods included in the 3 time periods in Table 3 is as shown in Table 4. Then, if K2 > K3 > K1, then Time Period 2 > Time Period 3 > Time Period 1. At this time, the above K = K2.

[0193] Table 4

[0194] The time period corresponding to the collection The number of correlation pattern periods contained in the time period Time Cycle 1 K1 Time Cycle 2 K2 Time Cycle 3 K3

[0195] In Case 3, the target time period is the least common multiple of the time periods corresponding to M sets.

[0196] In case 3, when determining the least common multiple of the time period, the time period can be directly used to determine the least common multiple. For example, based on the examples shown in Tables 3 and 4, assuming that the first SSB is SSB1, the duration of the associated mode period is T, time period 2=4T (ie, K2=4), time period 3=3T (ie, K3=3), time period 1=1T (ie, K1=1), then the target time period is 12T, at this time, the above K=12; the least common multiple of the number of associated mode periods in the time period can also be determined to determine the target time period. For example, based on the examples shown in Tables 3 and 4, assuming that the first SSB is SSB1, K2=4, K3=3, K1=1, at this time, the least common multiple of K2, K3 and K1 is 12, that is, the target time period contains 12 associated mode periods, then the target time period is 12T, at this time, the above K=12.

[0197] In the above situation 1, the terminal device can calculate the time period corresponding to the first set, and after calculating the time period corresponding to the first set, the target time period is determined. In other words, the time period in situation 1 is determined per SSB.

[0198] In the above-mentioned cases 2 and 3, the terminal device may calculate the time period corresponding to each of the M sets, and determine the target time period according to the time periods corresponding to all of the M sets.

[0199] Specifically, in any of the above cases 1 to 3, for any set or any SSB, the terminal device can determine the time period by determining the number of association mode periods contained in the time period. For example, based on the example shown in Table 4, the terminal device can calculate time period 1 by determining K1, calculate time period 2 by determining K2, and calculate time period 3 by determining K3.

[0200] For the second set among the M sets, the time period corresponding to the second set can be determined by the following method 1 or method 2, wherein the time period corresponding to the second set can be called a second time period, the second set includes at least one second RO group (or the second time period includes at least one second RO group), and the RO in the second RO group is mapped to a second SSB, and the second SSB is any RO among the M SSBs. In other words, for any set among the M sets, the time period corresponding to the set can be determined by method 1 or method 2. The number of association pattern periods in the second time period is recorded as Q.

[0201] Mode 1: Q is determined according to the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs in the association mode period. In Mode 1, there is at least one second RO group in the second set.

[0202] In an embodiment of the present application, optionally, the target RO is an RO mapped to the second SSB, and the time domain positions (or time domain resources) of different target ROs are different, and the preamble code sets corresponding to the second SSBs mapped to different target ROs are the same.

[0203] The time domain position is the position of the target RO in the time domain, that is, it is different from the time domain positions of the multiple target ROs mapped by the second SSB. The frequency domain resources of different target ROs may be the same or different, and this application does not limit this.

[0204] It should be noted that after the SSB is mapped to the RO, each SSB mapped to the RO will correspond to a preamble set. Exemplarily, when the terminal device performs contention-based random access, the available preamble set configured by the network device is {preamble 0, preamble 1, ..., preamble 63}. Among them, the preamble set configured by the network device may be different from the example here, and this application is not limited. If an RO is mapped to an SSB, then the preamble set corresponding to the SSB may be {preamble 0, preamble 1, ..., preamble 63}. If multiple SSBs are mapped to an RO, then the preambles in {preamble 0, preamble 1, ..., preamble 63} can be divided into multiple sets, and the multiple sets correspond one-to-one to the multiple SSBs, and the same preamble does not exist in any two of the multiple sets. For example, assuming that RO01 maps SSB0 and SSB1, the preamble code set corresponding to SSB0 can be {preamble code 0, preamble code 1, ..., preamble code 31}, and the preamble code set corresponding to SSB1 can be {preamble code 32, preamble code 33, ..., preamble code 63}.

[0205] When a terminal device uses an SSB to send a random access request on an RO, it can select a preamble code from the preamble code set corresponding to the SSB to send. Since the preamble code included in each random access request is the same when the random access request is repeatedly transmitted N times, in order to ensure that ROs in the same RO group can complete the repeated transmission of random access requests, the preamble code sets corresponding to the second SSBs mapped to different target ROs need to be the same.

[0206] Optionally, the preamble codes in the preamble code set may all be preamble codes configured in the cell.

[0207] For example, assuming that the mapping relationship between RO and SSB contained in an association mode cycle is shown in Figure 7, RO1, RO3, RO5, RO12 and RO14 are all mapped to SSB0, and their time domain positions are different, and the preamble code sets corresponding to the SSBs mapped by these ROs are all {preamble code 0, preamble code 1, ..., preamble code 63}, then these ROs are the target ROs mapped to SSB0. Similarly, RO2, RO4, RO7, RO13 and RO15 are all mapped to SSB1, and their time domain positions are different, and the preamble code sets corresponding to the SSBs mapped by these ROs are all {preamble code 0, preamble code 1, ..., preamble code 63}, then these ROs are the target ROs mapped to SSB1.

[0208] It can be understood that, based on the examples shown in Table 3 and Table 4, if the second SSB is SSB1, then Q is K1.

[0209] After the terminal device determines the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs in the association mode period, the second time period may be determined according to the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs in the association mode period.

[0210] It can be understood that the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request can be specified by the protocol, or can be pre-set in the terminal device, or can be indicated by the network device, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0211] In some optional embodiments, the terminal device can determine the minimum number of association mode cycles required to form a second RO group based on the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs within the association mode cycle, and the minimum number is the number of association mode cycles included in the second time period.

[0212] Specifically, Q can be in, The symbol for rounding up.

[0213] Exemplarily, assuming that the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request is 4 and the number of target ROs in the association mode period is 5, at least one association mode period is required to form a second RO group, that is, the second time period includes one association mode period; or, assuming that the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request is 8 and the number of target ROs in the association mode period is 5, at least two association mode periods are required to form a second RO group, that is, the second time period includes two association mode periods. In this example, the second time period includes one second RO group.

[0214] Exemplarily, assuming that the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request is 2, and the number of target ROs in the association mode period is 5, it takes at least one association mode period to form a second RO group, that is, the second time period includes one association mode period. In this example, the second time period includes 2 second RO groups.

[0215] Now combined Figure 8-Figure 10 The calculation method of the second time period of method 1 is exemplified.

[0216] For example, refer to Figure 8 Taking the second SSB as SSB2 as an example, the number of target ROs mapped with SSB2 in association mode cycle 1 is 5. For example, these 5 target ROs may be RO01, RO10, RO21, RO41 and RO50 respectively.

[0217] Next, the minimum number of association mode cycles required to form a second RO group may be determined according to the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs within the association mode cycle.

[0218] Assume that the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request is 2, that is, the number of target ROs in a second RO group is 2. Since the number of target ROs in one association mode period is 5, that is, the minimum number of association mode periods required to form a second RO group is 1, that is, the second time period includes 1 association mode period.

[0219] Fig. 9 The example shows that the second SSB is Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the second RO group in the case of SSB2. Fig. 9 The second time period includes an association mode period, and the second time period includes two second RO groups, for example, second RO group 1 and second RO group 2. Second RO group 1 includes two target ROs RO01 and RO10, and second RO group 2 includes two target ROs RO21 and RO41. Since RO50 fails to find a target RO to form a second RO group with it in the time domain, RO5 is a redundant RO.

[0220] The redundant RO may also be referred to as an orphan RO. If a target RO does not belong to any second RO group during the second time period, the RO may be referred to as a redundant RO or an orphan RO.

[0221] Assume that the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request is 8, that is, the number of target ROs in a second RO group is 8. The number of target ROs in an association mode period is 5, that is, the minimum number of association mode periods required to form a second RO group is 2, that is, the second time period includes 2 association mode periods.

[0222] Fig.10 The example shows that the second SSB is Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the second RO group in the case of SSB2. Fig.10 , the second time period includes two association mode periods, for example, association mode period 1 and association mode period 2. The second time period includes one second RO group, for example, the second RO group includes eight ROs, namely, RO01, RO10, RO21, RO41, RO50, RO61, RO70 and RO81. Since ROa1 and Rob0 fail to find a target RO to form an RO group with them in the time domain, ROa1 and ROb0 are redundant ROs.

[0223] In mode 1, since there may be redundant ROs, although these redundant ROs have been mapped to SSBs, they cannot be used to send preamble codes, that is, they cannot be used to send random access requests, thus resulting in a waste of RO resources.

[0224] Mode 2, Q is determined according to the ratio of the number of target ROs in the second time period to the number of target ROs in the association mode period. In Mode 2, there is no target RO that is not divided into the second RO group in the second time period, that is, there is no redundant RO, thereby improving the resource utilization of ROs.

[0225] It can be understood that, based on the examples shown in Table 3 and Table 4, if the second SSB is SSB1, then Q is K1.

[0226] After the terminal device determines the number of target ROs within the association mode period, Q may be determined according to the ratio of the number of target ROs within the second time period to the number of target ROs within the association mode period.

[0227] Exemplarily, Q may be a ratio of the number of target ROs in the second time period to the number of target ROs in the association mode period.

[0228] Exemplarily, Q may also be W times the ratio of the number of target ROs in the second time period to the number of target ROs in the association mode period, where W is a positive integer greater than 1.

[0229] For the convenience of description, the following example takes Q as the ratio of the number of target ROs in the second time period to the number of target ROs in the association mode period.

[0230] The number of target ROs in the second time period may be determined according to the least common multiple of the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs in the association mode period.

[0231] Exemplarily, the number of target ROs in the second time period may be the least common multiple of the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs in the association mode period.

[0232] Exemplarily, the number of target ROs in the second time period may also be a common multiple of the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs in the association mode period (the common multiple is not the least common multiple). For example, taking the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request as 2 and the number of target ROs in the association mode period as 3, since the least common multiple of 2 and 3 is 6, the number of target ROs in the second time period is 6. After calculation, the ratio of the number of target ROs in the second time period to the number of target ROs in the association mode period is 2, so the second time period may include 2 association mode periods. At this time, there are a total of 6 target ROs in the second time period, so the second time period can just include 3 second RO groups, and there is no redundant RO.

[0233] For another example, taking the case where the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request is 2 and the number of target ROs in the association mode period is 4, since the least common multiple of 2 and 4 is 4, the number of target ROs in the second time period is 4. After calculation, the ratio of the number of target ROs in the second time period to the number of target ROs in the association mode period is 1, so the second time period can include 1 association mode period. At this time, there are 4 target ROs in the second time period, so the second time period can include exactly 2 second RO groups, and there is no redundant RO.

[0234] It can be understood that the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request can be specified by the protocol, or can be pre-set in the terminal device, or can be indicated by the network device, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0235] Now combined Figure 8 , Fig.11 and Fig.12 The calculation method of the second time period of method 2 is exemplified.

[0236] For example, Figure 8 Taking SSB2 as an example, it is assumed that the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request is 2, that is, the number of target ROs in the second RO group is 2.

[0237] Next, the number of target ROs in the second time period can be calculated according to the least common multiple of the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs in the association mode period. In the embodiment of the present application, the number of target ROs in the second time period is the least common multiple of 2 and 5, that is, 10.

[0238] Then, the second time period is determined according to the ratio of the number of target ROs in the second time period to the number of target ROs in the association mode period. The number of association mode periods included in the second time period is the ratio of 10 to 5, which is 2, that is, the second time period includes 2 association mode periods.

[0239] Fig.11 This example shows that when the second SSB is Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the second RO group in the case of SSB2. Fig.11 , the second time period may include 2 association mode periods, for example, association mode period 1 and association mode period 2. The second time period may include 5 second RO groups, for example, second RO group 1, second RO group 2, second RO group 3, second RO group 4 and second RO group 5. Each second RO group may include 2 ROs, for example, second RO group 1 includes RO01 and RO10, second RO group 2 includes RO21 and RO41, second RO group 3 includes RO50 and RO61, second RO group 4 includes RO70 and RO81, and second RO group 5 includes ROa1 and Rob0. In the time domain, the time domain positions of the ROs in the above 5 second RO groups are different, and in the frequency domain, the frequency domain positions of any two ROs in the above 5 second RO groups may be the same or different.

[0240] For example, Figure 8 Taking SSB1 in as an example, the number of target ROs with different time domain positions mapped to SSB1 within an association mode period is 3. For example, these three target ROs with different time domain positions may be RO00, RO20 and RO40, or these three target ROs with different time domain positions may be RO03, RO20 and RO40, or these three target ROs with different time domain positions may be RO00, RO20 and RO43, or these three target ROs with different time domain positions may be RO03, RO20 and RO43.

[0241] Next, the number of target ROs in the second time period can be calculated according to the least common multiple of the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs in the association mode period. Assuming that the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request is 4, the number of target ROs in the second RO group is 4, and the number of target ROs in the second time period is the least common multiple of 3 and 4, that is, 12.

[0242] Then, the second time period is determined according to the ratio of the number of target ROs in the second time period to the number of target ROs in the association mode period. The number of association mode periods included in the second time period is the ratio of 12 to 3, which is 4, that is, the second time period includes 4 association mode periods.

[0243] Fig.12 This example shows that when the second SSB is Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the second RO group in the case of SSB1. Fig.12 , the second time period may include 4 association mode periods, for example, association mode period 1, association mode period 2, association mode period 3 and association mode period 4. The second time period may include 3 second RO groups, for example, second RO group 1, second RO group 2 and second RO group 3. Each second RO group may include 4 ROs, for example, taking the second RO group 2 as an example, the second RO group 2 may include RO80, ROa0, ROc0 and Roe0, or the second RO group 2 may include RO80, ROa3, ROc0 and Roe0, or the second RO group 2 may include RO80, ROa0, Roc3 and Roe0, or the second RO group 2 may include RO80, ROa3, Roc3 and Roe0.

[0244] In some optional embodiments, the second time period may also be determined by the ratio of the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request to the greatest common divisor, where the greatest common divisor may be the greatest common divisor between the number of target ROs within the association mode period and the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request.

[0245] It can be seen that the second time period can be obtained through various mathematical calculation methods, such as the least common multiple or the greatest common divisor, and the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit the above mathematical calculation method.

[0246] It can be understood that by determining the number of association mode periods included in the second time period by way 2, the existence of redundant ROs can be avoided, thereby improving the resource utilization of ROs.

[0247] In some optional embodiments, the terminal device may include the above-mentioned method 1 and method 2 for calculating the second time period. The terminal device may use any one of the above-mentioned two methods, or the terminal device may use the default or configured calculation method of the above-mentioned two methods.

[0248] As for which specific calculation method the terminal device adopts, it can be pre-set in the terminal device, or specified in the protocol, or indicated by the network device. This embodiment of the application does not make any special limitation on this.

[0249] The network device may send an instruction to the terminal device based on factors such as the network environment to instruct the terminal device which calculation method to use. The network environment may include but is not limited to cell load, coverage of the network device, etc. In some embodiments, the network environment may also include other situations, which are not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0250] Exemplarily, the network device may send a first indication to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device may receive the first indication.

[0251] In the first case, the first indication is used to indicate that method 1 (also referred to as the second method) is used to determine Q. At this time, if the terminal device currently uses method 1 to calculate the second time period, when the terminal device receives the first indication, it is not necessary to switch; if the terminal device currently uses method 2 (also referred to as the first method) to calculate the second time period, it can switch from method 2 to method 1.

[0252] In the second case, the first indication is used to indicate that Q is determined using method 2. At this time, if the terminal device currently uses method 2 to calculate the second time period, when the terminal device receives the first indication, it is not necessary to switch; if the terminal device currently uses method 1 to calculate the second time period, it can switch from method 1 to method 2.

[0253] In some optional embodiments, for the calculation method of mode 2, the RO in the second RO group may be a dedicated RO. In this case, it is possible to avoid the time period being too large (for example, exceeding 160ms), thereby avoiding the invalidity of the time period exceeding 160ms in the time period due to the change in the mapping relationship between the RO and the SSB.

[0254] In some optional embodiments, for the calculation method of method 1, the ROs in the second RO group may be shared ROs.

[0255] In some optional embodiments, the network device may send a second indication to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device may receive the second indication. The second indication may be used to instruct the terminal device to use a dedicated RO to transmit a random access request, or the second indication is used to instruct the random access request to be transmitted using a shared RO. At this time, the terminal device may perform multiple PRACH transmissions based on the indication of the network device.

[0256] In some optional embodiments, since there may be multiple RO groups within the target time period, and the time domain positions of the ROs in the multiple RO groups are different, the terminal device can arbitrarily select one RO group from the multiple RO groups, or the terminal device can select the RO group closest to the current sending moment as the RO group ultimately used to send the random access request.

[0257] The terminal device may select the first RO group to send a random access request within the target time period. Figure 4 The association mode period 1 and the association mode period 2 shown in FIG. 1 constitute the target time period, the first SSB is SSB0, and the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request is 2. Then refer to Fig.13There are 10 ROs mapped to the first SSB in the target time period, which can form 5 first RO groups. The terminal device can select a first RO group from the 5 first RO groups to send a random access request.

[0258] Optionally, before step 601, the method further includes: the terminal device determines a target time period.

[0259] Optionally, the method further includes: the network device determines the above-mentioned at least one time period.

[0260] It is understandable that the terminal device can repeatedly send the above random access request within a time period. Therefore, before sending the random access request, the terminal device can first determine the target time period. After the terminal device determines the target time period, it can select a first RO group within the target time period to repeatedly send the random access request.

[0261] It should be noted that the set described in the above embodiment does not mean that the RO group must be divided into sets in the actual process of determining the time period. It is only for the convenience of description that the RO group composed of ROs mapped to the same SSB is considered to be the same set. When implementing it, the terminal device can determine the target RO based on the mapping relationship between SSB and RO, and then determine Q and the time period.

[0262] According to the description in the above embodiments (for example, Table 3), there is a corresponding relationship between the time period and the SSB and the set. Therefore, the "time period corresponding to the set" can also be called the "time period corresponding to the SSB", for example, the "time period corresponding to the first set" can also be called the "time period corresponding to the first SSB". Since the set includes the RO group, the "time period corresponding to the set" can also be called the "time period corresponding to the RO group", for example, the "time period corresponding to the first set" can also be called the "time period corresponding to the first RO group".

[0263] Fig.14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the communication device of the present application, such as Fig.14 As shown, the above communication device 1400 may include: a sending module 1410; wherein,

[0264] The sending module 1410 is used to select a first RO group to send a random access request within a target time period, where the target time period is determined according to a first time period, where the first time period is a time period corresponding to a first set, and the first set includes one or more first RO groups; wherein the RO in the first RO group is mapped to a first SSB, and the target time period includes K association mode periods, where K is a positive integer.

[0265] In one possible implementation, the target time period is the first time period.

[0266] In one possible implementation, the target time period is the maximum value among the time periods corresponding to M sets. In the m-th set among the M sets, the ROs in the RO group are mapped to the m-th SSB among the M SSBs, where 0 < m < M + 1, m is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer.

[0267] In one possible implementation, the target time period is the least common multiple of the time periods corresponding to M sets. In the m-th set among the M sets, the ROs in the RO group are mapped to the m-th SSB among the M SSBs, where 0 < m < M + 1, m is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer.

[0268] In one possible implementation, Q is determined according to the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs within the associated pattern period. Q is the number of associated pattern periods within the second time period. The second time period is the time period corresponding to the second set. There is at least one second RO group in the second set. The ROs in the second RO group are mapped to the second SSB, and the second SSB is any one of the M SSBs, where M is a positive integer and Q is a positive integer.

[0269] In one possible implementation, Q is determined according to the ratio of the number of target ROs within the second time period to the number of target ROs within the associated pattern period. Q is the number of associated pattern periods within the second time period. There are no target ROs not assigned to the second RO group within the second time period. The second time period is the time period corresponding to the second set. The second set includes one or more second RO groups. The ROs in the second RO group are mapped to the second SSB, and the second SSB is any one of the M SSBs, where M is a positive integer and Q is a positive integer.

[0270] In one possible implementation, the number of target ROs within the second time period is determined according to the least common multiple of the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs within the associated pattern period.

[0271] In one possible implementation, the target RO is the RO mapped to the second SSB, and different target ROs have different time domain positions, and the preamble sets corresponding to the second SSBs mapped by different target ROs are the same.

[0272] In one possible implementation, the target RO is a dedicated RO, and the dedicated RO supports multi-physical random access channel (PRACH) transmissions and does not support single PRACH transmission.

[0273] In one possible implementation, see Fig.14, the above communication device 1400 may further include:

[0274] A receiving module 1420, configured to receive a first indication, where the first indication is used to indicate determining Q in a first manner, or the first indication is used to indicate determining Q in a second manner; wherein, the first manner is that Q is determined according to the ratio of the number of target ROs in a second time period to the number of target ROs in an associated pattern period; the second manner is that Q is determined according to the number of repeated transmissions of a random access request and the number of target ROs in an associated pattern period.

[0275] In one possible implementation manner, the receiving module 1420 is further configured to receive a second indication, where the second indication is used to indicate transmitting a random access request using a dedicated RO, or the second indication is used to indicate transmitting a random access request using a shared RO.

[0276] In one possible implementation manner, the communication device 1400 may be a chip or a terminal device.

[0277] Fig.14 The communication device 1400 provided in the illustrated embodiment may be used to execute the technical solution of the method embodiment shown in this application, and its implementation principle and technical effects may be further referred to the relevant descriptions in the method embodiment.

[0278] Fig.15 It is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a communication device of this application. As Fig.15 shown, the above communication device 1500 may include: a receiving module 1510; wherein,

[0279] The receiving module 1510 is configured to receive a random access request within at least one time period, where the at least one time period includes a target time period, the target time period is determined according to a first time period, the first time period is a time period corresponding to a first set, and the first set includes one or more first RO groups; wherein, the ROs in the first RO group are mapped to a first SSB, and the target time period includes K associated pattern periods, and K is a positive integer.

[0280] In one possible implementation manner, the target time period is the first time period.

[0281] In one possible implementation manner, the target time period is the maximum value of the time periods corresponding to M sets, and the ROs in the RO group in the m-th set among the M sets are mapped to the m-th SSB among the M SSBs, where 0 < m < M + 1, m is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer.

[0282] In one possible implementation, the target time period is the least common multiple of the time periods corresponding to M sets, and the ROs in the RO group in the m-th set among the M sets are mapped to the m-th SSB among the M SSBs, where 0 < m < M + 1, m is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer.

[0283] In one possible implementation, Q is determined according to the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs within the associated pattern period. Q is the number of associated pattern periods within the second time period. The second time period is the time period corresponding to the second set. There is at least one second RO group in the second set, and the ROs in the second RO group are mapped to the second SSB. The second SSB is any one of the M SSBs, M is a positive integer, and Q is a positive integer.

[0284] In one possible implementation, Q is determined according to the ratio of the number of target ROs within the second time period to the number of target ROs within the associated pattern period. Q is the number of associated pattern periods within the second time period. There are no target ROs not assigned to the second RO group within the second time period. The second time period is the time period corresponding to the second set. The second set includes one or more second RO groups, and the ROs in the second RO group are mapped to the second SSB. The second SSB is any one of the M SSBs, M is a positive integer, and Q is a positive integer.

[0285] In one possible implementation, the number of target ROs within the second time period is determined according to the least common multiple of the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs within the associated pattern period.

[0286] In one possible implementation, the target RO is the RO mapped to the second SSB, and the time domain positions of different target ROs are different, and the preamble sets corresponding to the second SSBs mapped by different target ROs are the same.

[0287] In one possible implementation, the target RO is a dedicated RO, and the dedicated RO supports multi-physical random access channel (PRACH) transmissions and does not support single PRACH transmissions.

[0288] In one possible implementation, referring to Fig.15 , the above communication device 1500 further includes:

[0289] The sending module 1520 is used to send a first indication, where the first indication is used to indicate that Q is determined in a first manner, or the first indication is used to indicate that Q is determined in a second manner; wherein the first manner is that Q is determined based on the ratio of the number of target ROs in the second time period to the number of target ROs in the association mode period; and the second manner is that Q is determined based on the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs in the association mode period.

[0290] In a possible implementation, the sending module 1520 is further used to send a second indication, where the second indication is used to indicate that a dedicated RO is used to transmit a random access request, or the second indication is used to indicate that a shared RO is used to transmit a random access request.

[0291] In a possible implementation, the communication device 1500 may be a chip or a network device.

[0292] It should be understood that the division of the various modules of the above communication device 1400 and the communication device 1500 is only a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into one physical entity, or they can be physically separated. And these modules can all be implemented in the form of software calling through processing elements; they can also be all implemented in the form of hardware; some modules can also be implemented in the form of software calling through processing elements, and some modules can be implemented in the form of hardware. For example, the detection module can be a separately established processing element, or it can be integrated in a chip of a terminal device or a network device. The implementation of other modules is similar. In addition, all or part of these modules can be integrated together, or they can be implemented independently. In the implementation process, each step of the above method or each of the above modules can be completed by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in a processor element or an instruction in the form of software.

[0293] For example, the above modules may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), or one or more microprocessors (DSP), or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA). For another example, these modules may be integrated together and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

[0294] Fig.16A structural diagram of a communication device 1600 provided in an embodiment of the present application, the communication device 1600 may include: at least one processor; and at least one memory connected to the processor in communication. The communication device 1600 may be a terminal device or a network device. The memory stores program instructions that can be executed by the processor. If the communication device 1600 is a network device, the processor calls the program instructions to execute the actions performed by the network device in the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application. If the communication device 1600 is a terminal device, the processor calls the program instructions to execute the actions performed by the terminal device in the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0295] like Fig.16 As shown, the communication device 1600 is in the form of a general-purpose computing device. The components of the communication device 1600 may include, but are not limited to: one or more processors 1610, a memory 1620, a communication bus 1640 connecting different system components (including the memory 1620 and the processor 1610), and a communication interface 1630.

[0296] Communication bus 1640 represents one or more of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, a processor or a local bus using any of a variety of bus structures. For example, these architectures include but are not limited to Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MAC) bus, Enhanced ISA bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus and Peripheral Component Interconnection (PCI) bus.

[0297] The communication device 1600 typically includes a variety of computer system readable media. These media can be any available media that can be accessed by the terminal device, including volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

[0298] The memory 1620 may include computer system readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) and / or cache memory. The terminal device may further include other removable / non-removable, volatile / non-volatile computer system storage media. Fig.16Not shown, a disk drive for reading and writing a removable non-volatile disk (e.g., a "floppy disk"), and an optical disk drive for reading and writing a removable non-volatile optical disk (e.g., a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc read only memory (DVD-ROM) or other optical media) may be provided. In these cases, each drive may be connected to the communication bus 1640 via one or more data medium interfaces. The memory 1620 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g., at least one) of program modules that are configured to perform the functions of the various embodiments of the present application.

[0299] A program / utility having a set (at least one) of program modules may be stored in memory 1620, such program modules including, but not limited to, an operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules, and program data, each of which or some combination may include an implementation of a network environment. The program modules generally perform the functions and / or methods of the embodiments described herein.

[0300] The communication device 1600 may also communicate with one or more external devices (e.g., keyboard, pointing device, display, etc.), one or more devices that enable a user to interact with the terminal device, and / or any device that enables the terminal device to communicate with one or more other computing devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.). Such communication may be performed through the communication interface 1630. In addition, the communication device 1600 may also communicate with the network adapter ( Fig.16 The network adapter may communicate with one or more networks (e.g., a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) and / or a public network, such as the Internet) via the communication bus 1640. It should be understood that although Fig.16 Not shown, other hardware and / or software modules may be used in conjunction with the communication device 1600, including but not limited to: microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays, disk arrays (Redundant Arrays of Independent Drives, RAID) systems, tape drives, and data backup storage systems.

[0301] The processor 1610 executes various functional applications and data processing by running the programs stored in the memory 1620, such as implementing the method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0302] It is understandable that the interface connection relationship between the modules illustrated in the embodiment of the present application is only a schematic illustration and does not constitute a structural limitation on the communication device 1600. In other embodiments of the present application, the communication device 1600 may also adopt different interface connection methods in the above embodiments, or a combination of multiple interface connection methods.

[0303] In the above embodiments, the processor involved may include, for example, a CPU, a DSP, a microcontroller or a digital signal processor, and may also include a GPU, an embedded neural network processor (Neural-network Process Units, NPU) and an image signal processor (Image Signal Processing, ISP). The processor may also include necessary hardware accelerators or logic processing hardware circuits, such as ASICs, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the technical solution of the present application. In addition, the processor may have the function of operating one or more software programs, and the software programs may be stored in a storage medium.

[0304] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a program. When the computer-readable storage medium is run on a terminal device, the terminal device executes the communication method provided by the embodiment shown in the present application, or when the computer-readable storage medium is run on a network device, the network device executes the communication method provided by the embodiment shown in the present application.

[0305] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, which includes a program. When the program is run on a terminal device, the terminal device executes the communication method provided by the embodiment shown in the present application, or, when the program is run on a network device, the network device executes the communication method provided by the embodiment shown in the present application.

[0306] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various units and algorithm steps described in the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in a combination of electronic hardware, computer software, and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0307] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0308] In several embodiments provided in the present application, any function can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium if it is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application can be essentially or partly embodied in the form of a software product that contributes to the prior art, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including several instructions for a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0309] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be included in the protection scope of the present application. The protection scope of the present application should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method includes: Selecting a first random access opportunity (RO) group to send a random access request within a target time period, where the target time period is determined according to a first time period, the first time period is the time period corresponding to a first set, and the first set includes one or more first RO groups; Wherein, the ROs in the first RO group are mapped to a first synchronization signal block (SSB), the target time period includes K associated pattern periods, and K is a positive integer.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The target time period is the first time period.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The target time period is the maximum value of the time periods corresponding to M sets, and the ROs in the RO group in the m-th set among the M sets are mapped to the m-th SSB among the M SSBs, where 0 < m < M + 1, m is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The target time period is the least common multiple of the time periods corresponding to M sets, and the ROs in the RO group in the m-th set among the M sets are mapped to the m-th SSB among the M SSBs, where 0 < m < M + 1, m is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: Q is determined according to the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs within the associated pattern period. Q is the number of associated pattern periods within a second time period, the second time period is the time period corresponding to a second set, there is at least one second RO group in the second set, the ROs in the second RO group are mapped to a second SSB, the second SSB is any one of the M SSBs, M is a positive integer, and Q is a positive integer.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: Q is determined according to the ratio of the number of target ROs within the second time period to the number of target ROs within the associated pattern period. Q is the number of associated pattern periods within the second time period, there are no target ROs not assigned to the second RO group within the second time period, the second time period is the time period corresponding to a second set, the second set includes one or more second RO groups, the ROs in the second RO group are mapped to a second SSB, the second SSB is any one of the M SSBs, M is a positive integer, and Q is a positive integer.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The number of target ROs within the second time period is determined according to the least common multiple of the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs within the associated pattern period.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that: The target RO is the RO mapped to the second SSB, and different target ROs have different time domain positions, and the preamble sets corresponding to the second SSBs mapped by different target ROs are the same.

9. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that: The target RO is a dedicated RO, and the dedicated RO supports multi-physical random access channel (PRACH) transmission and does not support single PRACH transmission.

10. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that: The method further includes: Receiving a first indication, where the first indication is used to indicate determining Q in a first manner, or the first indication is used to indicate determining Q in a second manner; Wherein, the first manner is the manner described in claim 6 or claim 7; The second manner is the manner described in claim 5.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The method further includes: Receiving a second indication, where the second indication is used to indicate to use a dedicated RO to transmit a random access request, or the second indication is used to indicate to use a shared RO to transmit a random access request.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: The method includes: Receiving a random access request within at least one time period, where the at least one time period includes a target time period, the target time period is determined according to a first time period, the first time period is a time period corresponding to a first set, and the first set includes one or more first random access opportunity (RO) groups; Wherein, the ROs in the first RO group are mapped to a first synchronization signal block (SSB), the target time period includes K associated pattern periods, and K is a positive integer.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The target time period is the first time period.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The target time period is the maximum value of the time periods corresponding to M sets, and the ROs in the RO group in the m-th set among the M sets are mapped to the m-th SSB among the M SSBs, where 0 < m < M + 1, m is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer.

15. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The target time period is the least common multiple of the time periods corresponding to M sets, and the ROs in the RO group in the m-th set among the M sets are mapped to the m-th SSB among the M SSBs, where 0 < m < M + 1, m is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that: Q is determined according to the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs within the associated pattern period, Q is the number of associated pattern periods within a second time period, the second time period is a time period corresponding to a second set, there is at least one second RO group in the second set, the ROs in the second RO group are mapped to a second SSB, the second SSB is any one of the M SSBs, M is a positive integer, and Q is a positive integer.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that: Q is determined according to the ratio of the number of target ROs within the second time period to the number of target ROs within the associated pattern period, Q is the number of associated pattern periods within the second time period, there are no target ROs not assigned to the second RO group within the second time period, the second time period is a time period corresponding to a second set, the second set includes one or more second RO groups, the ROs in the second RO group are mapped to a second SSB, the second SSB is any one of the M SSBs, M is a positive integer, and Q is a positive integer.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The number of target ROs within the second time period is determined according to the least common multiple of the number of repeated transmissions of the random access request and the number of target ROs within the associated pattern period.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that: The target RO is an RO mapped to the second SSB and having different time domain positions, and the preamble sets corresponding to the second SSBs mapped by different target ROs are the same.

20. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that: The target RO is a dedicated RO, and the dedicated RO supports multi-physical random access channel (PRACH) transmission and does not support single PRACH transmission.

21. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that: The method further includes: Sending a first indication, where the first indication is used to indicate that the Q is determined in a first manner, or the first indication is used to indicate that the Q is determined in a second manner; Wherein, the first method is the method as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18; The second method is the method according to claim 16.

22. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 21, characterized in that: The method further comprises: A second indication is sent, where the second indication is used to indicate that a dedicated RO is used to transmit a random access request, or the second indication is used to indicate that a shared RO is used to transmit a random access request.

23. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processor and a memory, wherein the memory is used to store a program; and the processor is used to run the program to implement the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

24. The communication device according to claim 23, characterized in that The communication device is a chip, or the communication device is a terminal device.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: include: One or more functional modules, wherein the one or more functional modules are used to execute the communication method described in any one of claims 1-11.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processor and a memory, wherein the memory is used to store a program; and the processor is used to run the program to implement the communication method as described in any one of claims 12 to 22.

27. The communication device according to claim 26, characterized in that The communication device is a chip, or the communication device is a network device.

28. A communication device, characterized in that: include: One or more functional modules, wherein the one or more functional modules are used to execute the communication method described in any one of claims 12-22.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a program, and when the program is executed on a terminal device, the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 11 is implemented; or, when the program is executed on a network device, the communication method as described in any one of claims 12 to 22 is implemented.

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